Lamont takes wait-and-see approach as more state workers comply with vax mandate

This morning finds roughly 1,200 state workers in non-compliance with Gov. Ned Lamont”™s order to get vaccinated against Covid-19, enough progress since Tuesday that the governor has elected not to suspend them from employment ”“ at least not yet.

According to Lamont, about 96% of executive branch employees are now fully vaccinated or will submit to weekly testing, up from 93% yesterday.

“I”™m really happy that the folks are stepping up, doing the right thing, getting vaccinated and getting back to work safely,” Lamont told a group of reporters at an event yesterday.

The deadline for showing proof of vaccination, or an agreement to be tested weekly, was 11:59 p.m. Monday. Non-compliant employees were facing unpaid suspensions after that ”“ something that still could take place if those employees have not complied by next Monday.

“A lot are still coming in,” Lamont said. “Some of them are duplicates, some of them are ”˜I was vaccinated, I thought you knew it.”™ So we”™ve got to resolve this.”

Last week, the governor asked the Connecticut National Guard to prepare to be deployed under state active duty to support operations until replacement employees can be hired or non-compliant employees come into compliance.

The mandate does not apply to workers in the judicial or legislative branches.