Coronavirus Update-Cases, Discarded Trash & Budget Impacts

April 6th – Today saw the single biggest jump in new test results with 3,416 reported.  This rate of growth is very much needed as CT lags our neighboring states in tests per capita.  Our positive rate is higher than our neighbors to the north, which is likely a combination of our lag in testing and our proximity to NYC. New 24-hour tests are rolling out this week. 

CT DPH reports 6,906 or a 22% increase in laboratory-confirmed statewide cases with 3,719 or 54% in Fairfield County and 79 in Wilton. As of this morning, only 10 cases in Wilton were associated with our long-term care facilities (LTC).  Of the 309 new cases in Fairfield County, 236 were in Stamford, which leads the state with 888 cases.  Approximately 4% of total reported cases remain unassigned to a municipality.  The number of cases requiring hospitalization increased to 1,221, with 572 in Fairfield County.  All hospitals are taxed, but particularly those in southern Fairfield County, as they are admitting patients from New York and southern most municipalities have high case levels totaling over 1,200 combined.  As you may have read, the hospitals expanded capacity and are seeking additional capacity.  

Each night, please remember our hospital workers, emergency responders and all those who come to work each day to serve the public, despite the risk. Honor their sacrifice by behaving as if you have the virus and as if those around you do as well.

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. Department members are out in the field, so they can be reached more quickly through email.   

On your many walks, you have likely notice trash along the side of the roads.  This is an ongoing issue in town, but Health Director Barry Bogle advises that now is not the time to be picking up other people’s discarded trash.  The safer alternative is to wait.  In a normal year, we would be holding our Annual Town wide Cleanup at the end of April.  This year, we hope to be able to hold the event in the late fall and invite you all to join us. 

Residents often suggest the best deterrent to littering is for the police to ticket.  But, for a police officer to ticket a resident, they have to actually see the resident litter.  The reality is most residents don’t litter when there is a police officer present.  With 3 patrol officers and one sergeant answering 9-1-1 calls and patrolling 127 miles of town owned roads, 80+ private roads and RT 7 and the other state-owned roads, they can’t be everywhere at once. The best solution is for all of us commit to not litter.  Now and throughout the year, please speak about this with your family members and anyone you employ. 

At tonight’s Board of Selectmen meeting, we reviewed possible revenue risks to this year’s results and next year’s proposed budget and our actual and possible direct costs as a result of the coronavirus.  Including,

• Housing to isolate and quarantine emergency responders
• Housing for residents, who cannot isolate or quarantine at home and for our vulnerable population
• Temporary assistance to LTC facilities
• Board of Education (BOE) janitors redeployed to perform cleaning at these facilities.  
• VNA nurses, including school nurses, redeployed to perform nursing duties and assist within the health department
• Temporary personnel to assist in the health department and cover vacancies
• School campus supervisors redeployed to patrol fields and recreational facilities.  
• Increased medical benefits costs 

At tonight’s meeting, I also shared that my forthcoming order will include an order for the police to issue a $92 trespassing fine to each individual using a closed field or recreation facility.  The Wilton Police Department prides itself on and has been recognized statewide for its community policing and its relationship with the community. This is something they and I wish was not required.  

Great seeing people in their masks today.  We encourage everyone to do the same. 

As of this hour, the Governor has not issued a new executive order.

As always, if you have any questions, please email the appropriate town department or me.  Email is the preferred means of communication because most employees are working from home.  I have immediate access to my email and try to respond promptly.  If you contact me on Facebook, know that my response will be delayed, as I only check my F S Lynne Vanderslice Facebook account a few times a day. I generally don’t use Messenger and have limited ability to access it.   

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