Coronavirus Update-Closings Extended, Memorial Day, Presidential Primary, Cases & More
April 10th – Today, the Governor announced the extension of closings for non-essential businesses and non-profits to May 20th.
Memorial Parade Committee Chair Bud Taylor announced the cancellation of the May 25th Memorial Day Parade. The committee was coming up against deadlines for financial commitments for parade participants and other expenses. With the schools and now non-essential businesses remaining closed, the decision is prudent and understandable. Plans are being developed to as to how the community can remember and honor those who served our country.
We know everyone loves the parade and the pancake breakfast. Hopefully later this year, we can organize a non-Memorial Day event with both.
It is important to remember that it has been just shy of 5 weeks since the first laboratory-confirmed case in the State and in Wilton. There are hopes the peak will occur within the next two weeks, but that won’t mean this is over. Health officials indicate that it will require at least the same number of weeks to come down from the peak.
There are concerns across Connecticut municipalities about the Presidential Primary on June 2nd. Many of Wilton’s poll workers are retired and thus at higher risk. Today, in response to a question about the primary, the Governor indicated a number of Governors are considering putting off their primaries until July. Wilton’s registrars, Town Clerk and I will be advocating for such a change.
Today, CT DPH reports 10,538 laboratory-confirmed statewide cases with 5,180 or 49 % in Fairfield County and 91 in Wilton. Results for 2,786 new tests were released with a 27% test-positive rate. The overall test-positive rate is 29%. Approximately 4% of total reported cases have not yet been assigned to a municipality. Deaths have risen to 448. The number of cases requiring hospitalization increased to 1,562 with an additional 21 or 685 in Fairfield County.
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.
Earlier today, the Governor issued Executive Order 7X, which includes, among others, the May 20thextensions and relief for renters.
For those of you celebrating the Easter weekend, it is tempting to think about spending just one day with your extended family, but, please don’t. Please stay at home with just those with whom you regularly reside. I will be having FaceTime Easter dinner with my husband and son. This weekend and beyond, please behave as if you have the virus and as if those around you do as well.
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.
- Respect the Governor’s prohibition on social or recreational gatherings of more than 5 people, including leisure gatherings.
- Consolidate your shopping and errands to minimize the numbers of days you must leave your home.
- 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