Coronavirus Update-Flower Baskets, June 6th Release, Unemployment Data, Data Corrections & Wilton Deaths
May 27th –Tomorrow, flower baskets will adorn the lampposts in Wilton Center. The baskets are made possible by the generosity of Wilton donors and the effort of volunteers with Making Wilton Beautiful. This spring, the flowers will receive a special start through the assistance of a local gardener. We all hope the flowers and the promise of warmer weather will bring joy to residents and visitors during these crazy times.
On today’s call with the Governor and his staff, DECD Commissioner David Lehman shared that details on Phase 2 reopening requirements will be released on June 6th. This includes guidelines for youth sports, libraries, gyms and indoor dining.
Last week, the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics released April unemployment data for the State and CT municipalities. The published unemployment rates, of 7.9% for CT and 5.2% for Wilton, do not represent true unemployment as unemployed individuals not actively seeking employment were removed from the report. In 2019, Wilton’s labor force averaged 8,469 with 8,202 employed and 267 unemployed. The April numbers were a labor force of 7,444, with 7057 employed and 387 unemployed. 1,025 unemployed residents were dropped from the report. If those 1,025 unemployed residents are added back in, Wilton’s April unemployment rate is 16.7%.
Last night, I shared Lilly field will be available for senior class family photos. Lilly field is also being made available for the filming of graduation speeches and for spring sports photos for Wilton’s senior athletes.
As a reminder, the CT Department of Economic and Community Development is offering a free infrared thermometer to businesses and nonprofits with 100 or fewer employees. Interested businesses should complete the online application.
Today, CT DPH issued a correction for 356 previously reported duplicate Coronavirus cases and 808 duplicate tests performed. Yesterday’s reported cases should have been 40,947. Corrections versus new cases were not provided by county, but today Fairfield Country cases were down by 41 and yesterday’s large case growth in Darien and Westport was reversed. This is good news for those two towns and the area.
Fairfield County hospitalizations again decreased. Today by 5 to 220. Deaths in Fairfield County rose by 11 to 1,242. Wilton’s Town Clerk received April death certificates from Norwalk. The Clerk now has 26 certificates on file indicating Coronavirus as the cause or probable cause of death. Today, the CT DPH is reporting a total of 35 deaths in Wilton with Coronavirus as the cause or probable cause of death. The difference is likely due to the timeliness of reporting, along with possible address corrections.
Statewide, CT DPH reported 341 new cases, before correction for a total of 41,288 laboratory-confirmed cases, as of 8:30 p.m. yesterday. 228 cases have not yet been assigned to a municipality. 5,215 new tests were performed, before corrections, for a pandemic-to-date total of 229,769 in Connecticut. Statewide deaths rose by 34 to 3,803. Statewide hospitalizations decreased by 10 patients to 684.
“Out of respect for each other, as Americans that care for each other, we need to be wearing masks in public when we cannot social distance.” Dr. Deborah Birx, Coronavirus Response Coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
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