As bitter heat wave heads to CT, doctor warns of need for ‘ventilation.’ Here’s why.

Hartford Courant – Sunday, June 22, 2025
By Pamela McLoughlin

As temperatures outside climb this summer and the impending heat wave sends people into air conditioning, it’s important for them to remember the best way to avoid spread of illnesses, including covid, is to, “ventilate,” according to Dr. Scott Roberts, Medical Director for Infectious Disease Prevention at Yale New Haven Health.

That can be tricky when the temperature is 100 and only air conditioning seems to bring relief.
That may mean opening windows or getting outside more. And it’s especially important to follow the ventilation advice if you’re having a large number of guests indoors, Roberts said.

The National Weather Service has issued and extreme heat watch for Sunday through Tuesday evening, with a forecast for “dangerously hot conditions with heat index values potentially exceeding 105 degrees.” The watch is for “all of southern New England except the east slopes of the Berkshires and the Cape and Islands,” according to the service.

“I have not seen covid rates so low since the pandemic started,” Roberts said, noting there are currently four cases at Yale New Haven Hospital, which has some 1,500 beds.

However, he said, the trend the last few summers has been for covid to increase in July and August, giving the virus a head start for fall, when numbers typically rise.

Some of the reasons for covid going up at the end of the summer may be the way the virus itself behaves and another may be because conditions mimic winter because of less ventilation due to people staying inside in air conditioning when the temperature spikes, he said.

He said children at summer camp in air conditioning because of heat outside – and not enough ventilation – is reason for concern about spread as well.

Opening windows and getting outside may help reduce risk, he said. “Crowded” or “congested ” conditions indoors could “facilitate the spread,” of covid, he said.

The flu is not of concern in the state right now, he said.

The coldness and lower humidity because of air conditioning could facilitate spread of the covid virus as well, Roberts said.

He said he doesn’t recommend halting indoor gatherings, but rather, if having one to provide ventilation.

An air purifier with Hepa filter is also useful in cutting risk of spreading covid, Roberts said.

He said the new variant, nimbus, has been causing throat pain that has “anecdotally ” been described as like razor blades, but he believes is the same sore throat pain that has affected covid-sufferers all along, as he hasn’t seen data otherwise.

He said the variant accounts for one-third of all cases in the United States and is not much different than the previous variant.

He said they are awaiting word on updated vaccine recommendations. In recent years the CDC has scheduled a vaccine in the fall.

Gov. Ned Lamont said that, as a result of the forecast for Connecticut to have “a multi-day stretch of exceptionally hot and humid conditions,” the Connecticut Extreme Hot Weather Protocol will be activated effective from noon, or 12 p.m. Sunday, June 22, 2025, through at least 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

According to Lamont, cooling centers will be available throughout the state. Those who need a place to get out of the heat can locate their nearest cooling center by calling 2-1-1 or viewing the list that will be published online at 211ct.org.

The National Weather Service also notes that heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events, and that the coming “extended period of extreme heat and humidity is on tap for the Sunday through Tuesday time frame.

“The worst of the heat and humidity will be Monday and Tuesday when some locations may see Heat Index Values approach 110 degrees,” according to the service.

Eversource said its customers in Connecticut use about 35% more electricity to keep cool when the temperatures rise, “and that increase can be even greater when the state experiences multiple heat waves like it did last year.

“While high electricity usage during a heat wave can put a strain on the electric system, the energy company is prepared to meet the increased demand, and its crews are ready to respond to any outages or issues that may arise,” the company said. “Eversource system operators are constantly monitoring the system and are ready to reroute power and shift other resources as necessary.”

“We’re always preparing for whatever the weather may bring so our customers have reliable electric service during every season, especially the hot and humid days of summer when air conditioners and fans are cranking,” said Eversource President of Connecticut Electric Operations Steve Sullivan, in a statement.

“To make sure the grid can handle the increased demand during extreme heat in the summertime, we regularly conduct ground and aerial inspections of the electric distribution system so we can detect and address any issues in advance of a potential problem,” he said. “This is also the time of year when energy bills tend to spike as a result of that higher usage, and we certainly saw that last summer when the state experienced record-breaking heat, including several back-to-back heat waves. We’ve been reminding our customers of the simple steps they can take to manage their energy use, and we want to make sure they are aware of every option that can help keep their bill from skyrocketing along with the temperatures.”

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