CNN "The Situation Room" - Interview with Ned Lamont

Interview

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Joining us now, the Connecticut Governor, Ned Lamont.

Governor Lamont, thanks so much for joining us.

Lots to discuss, but I want to get your reaction first. The president says he's taking this drug hydroxychloroquine that has potentially some serious side effects.

When it comes to public health, would you tell your residents to follow his example?

LAMONT: No.

I would tell them to wear a surgical mask. And I would tell the president, you want a line of defense that works, try a surgical mask.

BLITZER: Well, let me get your thoughts on this claim from the president when it comes to the very critical issue of testing.

Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: So, when we have a lot of cases, I don't look at that as a bad thing.

I look at that as -- in a certain respect, as being a good thing, because it means our testing is much better. So if we were testing a million people, instead of 14 million people, we would have far fewer cases. Right?

So, I view it as a badge of honor. Really, it's a badge of honor. It's a great tribute to the testing and all of the work that a lot of professionals have done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAMONT: I think what he means to say is, the absolute number of infections is less the metric. It's the percentage of infections to the number of testing.

We are now down less than 10 percent. And that's a big plus. Let's face it. About a month or so ago, people were at 30 percent of all the people tested were deemed to be infected. Now that it's down to 10 percent, and, actually, today, it was less than 5 percent, I think that's what he meant to say. [18:10:02]

That's how you're making good progress.

BLITZER: Connecticut, your state, is moving into its first phase of reopening tomorrow.

The former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb is advising you on this. And he says, transmission has come down dramatically. What metrics are you seeing that give you some serious confidence to move forward on reopening with these restrictions?

LAMONT: Yes, former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb and Zeke Emanuel both spoke to the state today.

They said, the scientific community has followed our metrics very carefully. Our hospitalization is down. Fatalities are down. We got a lot of PPE right now. We have got the gowns and masks.

And, finally, we got the contact tracing in place. So they gave us the green light. This is the time to take a baby step and start cautiously reopening.

They also really emphasized, you're so much safer outdoors than indoors. So start with the outdoor eating, for example.

BLITZER: Hair salons were supposed to reopen in Connecticut tomorrow, but you -- I understand you have pushed that back to June 1.

What's going to happen in the next two weeks that will make those kinds of businesses any safer?

LAMONT: It's going to mean the salons have a little more time to get the plastic shields up and prepare.

It means a lot of the stylists have a little more time to get the day care and child care that they need. People were very anxious that they were going too fast. And they -- I think they really appreciated an extra 10 days.

BLITZER: Connecticut's beaches -- you have got a lot of beaches that are beautiful -- they have been open. What's your message to residents going into this holiday weekend as far as the beaches are concerned?

LAMONT: Be careful.

I know it's warm. I know it's sunny. I know this is Memorial Day weekend. But our beaches are beautiful. Keep your distance. Make sure you enjoy them, but don't love them too much. If it gets too crowded, we got a problem.

BLITZER: Certainly do.

All right, Governor Lamont, good luck to you. Good luck to everyone in Connecticut. Thanks so much for joining us.

LAMONT: Right. Thanks, Wolf.

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