Coronavirus Update-Cases Per Capita & Property Tax Assistance

April 1st - CT DPH reports 3,557 laboratory-confirmed statewide cases with 1,986 or 56% in Fairfield County and no change in Wilton with 49. Statewide deaths are 85. The number of cases requiring hospitalization are up 26% to 766. We continue to think the actual number of cases statewide is higher than reported.  If you have received a confirmed or presumptive positive test and you have not been contacted by the Wilton Health Department, please contact the department.  

After yesterday’s chastising of residents not behaving as if they have the virus and as if those around them do as well, I want to sincerely thank the significant majority of you who are following the rules. I hear from many residents, so I know how much it is appreciated by your fellow community members.  Wilton’s cases per capita rate is the second lowest among our neighboring towns. We would have 80 cases at Westport’s rate, 65 at Norwalk’s and 59 at the Ridgefield/Darien rate. Instead we are at 49. Keep up the vigilance!

Activity at the Transfer Station has increased, with many new users.  Please follow the signs and remember to stay left of the building, drive over the scale and practice social distancing while dropping off.  The next couple of weeks are forecasted to be the height of the spread.  In order to minimize the impact on employees and residents, expect an announcement next week about further reductions in drop off hours for town services. 

Many residents have emailed about activity at golf courses.  Although golf courses were not originally on the list of essential businesses, they were subsequently added to the list. 

For those interested, here are the slides I mentioned in last night’s update, as presented by Dr. Fauci of the CDC and Dr. Birx, formerly of the CDC.

Today, the Governor issued Executive Order 7S, which among others, requires municipalities offer either a property tax deferment or low interest rate program, suspends reapplication for state senior tax relief, authorizes Boards of Selectmen and Boards of Finance to authorize certain items that otherwise would have been authorized by a town meeting, provides grace periods for insurance premiums and requires rules to increase safety at retail stores. 

If you have any questions, email me or the appropriate town department.  

Thank you,

Lynne Vanderslice

First Selectwoman

What should you do to stop the spread?

  • Stay home.
  • Maintain a distance of 6 feet between you and another person.  This standard applies whether inside or outside.
  • Consolidate your shopping and errands to minimize the numbers of days you must leave your home.  
  • Please do not to run to the store every time you hear a delivery has arrived. Widespread overbuying is the major cause of shortages.  With businesses and schools closed and not ordering, new supply chains are open.
  • Take advantage of the delivery options offered by many Wilton businesses.
  • Practice your team sport on your own, not with your teammates.  The internet is full of videos and suggestions on how to do this. 
  • Do walk outside. If your street is walkable, please consider walking there rather than a public trail. When the NRVT parking lot, or that of another trail, is more than 50% full, please find another place to walk.  There are 127 miles of town-owned roads, more than 80 private roads and more than 3 miles of sidewalk on state-owned roads.
  • Please respect the town’s closure of fields and recreation facilities.  

Visual of Connecticut Cases by Town