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Coronavirus Update- Face-Covering Requirements, Carry In-Carry Out on the Trails, Questions About Reopening & Case Data

Posted on: April 20, 2020 - 8:57pm

April 20th –As of 8:00 p.m. tonight, residents are required to wear a mask or face-covering in public if they cannot maintain a distance of 6 feet.  There are some exceptions based on age and medical conditions.  Employees of essential businesses are required to wear a mask or face-covering, whether or not they interact with the public.  Again, there are exceptions for medical conditions. 

We all know it is very difficult to maintain 6 feet distance inside any Wilton store or on a crowded trail.  Please, wear a mask or face-covering.  In addition, while at the store, please be respectful of the store employees and adhere to one-way aisles and distancing at check-out and the deli.  Please be respectful of fellow shoppers by maintaining distance from those in front and behind you and by not touching or reaching over another shopper’s cart.  

Speaking of respectful, Wilton’s Carry In-Carry Out policy applies to all locations in Wilton, whether on a town-owned trail or the NRVT.  Please take your trash and your doggie bag with you to dispose of at home. 

A number of residents have asked about the Town’s plans to re-open. Most aspects of re-opening will be decided by the State.  Last Wednesday, Governor Lamont held a press conference with the co-chairs of his advisory committee on reopening. One of the co-chairs, Dr. Albert Ko reviewed a PowerPoint side titled When Can We Reopen? The slide contains the following six bullet points, which aren’t dissimilar from the White House Task Force’s presentation: 

  • 14-day decline in cases/hospitalizations
  • Mass testing, contact testing & self-isolation 
  • Protect high-risk populations
  • Adequate supply of PPE
  • Continued physical distancing regulations
  • Adequate healthcare capacity for all

The 14-day decline refers to 14 days of sustained decline. Obviously, the number of cases won’t decline, but the rate of growth in cases can decline.  We aren’t there yet.  Statewide, cases grew by 6,434 since last Monday, roughly the same growth as during the prior week.   

Today CT DPH reports 19,815 laboratory-confirmed statewide cases with 8,320 or 42%, a 1% uptick in Fairfield County and 115 in Wilton. Today’s increases in cases, which includes catch-up, were the highest single-day increases for the State and Fairfield County.  Approximately 2.6% of total reported cases have not yet been assigned to a municipality. Today’s test positive rate jumped to 61%.  Currently 1.76% of the State’s population has been tested.  Deaths rose by 204 to 1,331 with Fairfield County at 512.  The number of patients currently hospitalized increased by 18 to 1,919 with a decrease of 13in Fairfield County to 733.

As always, if you have any questions, please email the appropriate town department or me at lynne.vanderslice@wiltonct.org. 

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.  
  • Wear a mask when in public.
  • 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.  If the store parking lot is more than half full, return home and shop at another time.
  • 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