Jenna Carlesso and Kasturi Pananjady // CTMirror.org

Just over a year ago, a cadre of doctors, nurses and other health care workers gathered under a canopy in the driving rain outside Hartford Hospital. They watched as Dr. Ajay Kumar, the chief clinical officer, became the first person in Connecticut to be inoculated against COVID-19.

As COVID-19 cases edge up in Connecticut and elsewhere, state Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani said residents should assess who will be gathering with them for the holidays and consider personal protections based upon the vaccination status of the group.

Connecticut’s COVID-19 landscape has changed rapidly in recent weeks.

Vaccine mandates, education cited as helping to get the most buy-in