Gov. Ned Lamont has leaned on many health experts in recent months to guide him through the coronavirus pandemic. One of his top non-administration advisors has been Dr. Albert Ko, department chair and professor of epidemiology and medicine at the Yale School of Medicine.
In April, just as the disease was beginning to rapidly spread in the state, Ko was appointed co-chair of the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group, which was in charge of consulting with and advising the Lamont administration on reopening the state’s economy following an unprecedented shutdown of non-essential businesses.
The Reopen Advisory Group published comprehensive guidelines for when businesses can reopen and what safety guidelines they must follow to keep customers and workers safe.
Ko was a leading figure early on in the crisis, attending daily press conferences to inform the media and public where Connecticut stood in terms of dealing with the pandemic and how best to stop the disease from spreading.
During his regular day job, Ko’s research at Yale has centered on the health problems that have emerged as a consequence of rapid urbanization and social inequity.