Connecticut issues first $1,000 fines to residents violating travel advisory

[New York Post, AP]

Connecticut on Monday issued its first $1,000 fines to two residents who failed to fill out health forms required upon returning home from states with high coronavirus infection rates.

The residents who were fined traveled back to Connecticut from Louisiana and Florida several weeks ago, Gov. Ned Lamont said Monday.

One of the two also neglected to quarantine for the state’s mandated 14 days, landing the unidentified violator an additional $1,000 fine.

“I hate to do it, but we’re going to be serious and show people we’re serious about this,” Lamont said.

“Overwhelmingly, people are doing the right thing. For those few of you who aren’t, please be on notice.”

One person fined is from Windham County and the other is from Hartford County.

As of Tuesday, 32 states and two territories are included on a shared travel advisory list that applies to travelers heading to Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.

States land on the list if they have a 10 percent or higher positive coronavirus infection rate over a seven-day rolling average, or a new daily positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents.

By Kenneth Garger