Print
Share page with AddThis

Coronavirus Update-Medical Benefit Cost Savings, Right to Deny Service & Detailed Case Data

Posted on: July 23, 2020 - 11:13pm

July 23rd - Daily highlights from the CT DPH report as of 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 22nd versus Tuesday’s report:

  • Wilton: no new cases reported. 
  • Hospitalized Patients: Statewide, 9-net patient increase. Fairfield County, 4-net patient increase.  
  • Deaths: Statewide, 4 deaths. Fairfield County, 2 deaths.

As of July 1st, the Town transitioned to the State Partnership Plan for health benefits for police, fire, parks and grounds and administrative town union employees.  Town non-union employees also transitioned to the Plan.  The Plan is a win-win for employees and the Town.  I want to thank our union leadership and membership, along with Wilton’s Director of Human Resources and Administration.  They all worked collaboratively and expeditiously to make this happen.  

The transition is expected to generate approximately $600,000 in savings versus our previous self-insured plan.  $300,000 of the savings was already reflected in the FY2021 approved budget. This assisted the Board of Selectmen in achieving a FY2021 budget 1.77% lower than our FY2020 budget.  In August, the Board of Selectmen will discuss whether any of the additional savings should be used to reinstate some of the funding reductions to the FY2021 Wilton Library and Trackside grants.

The Commissioner of Economic Development issued updates to the sectors rules for non-essential businesses and restaurants.  Of particular interest:

  • Non-essential businesses have the right to refuse service to anyone not wearing a mask. 
  • Restaurants servers are no longer required to wear gloves.
  • Hotels are now permitted to provide non-essential services and amenities (e.g., valets, ice machines).

The CT Data Center reported the following for Wilton as of 8:30 p.m. July 22nd and versus the dates prior to the start of Phase 1 and Phase 2:

  • 231 cases, 24 additional since June 16th and 31 since May 19th.
  • 2,358 residents tested, 1,208 since June 16th and 1,608 since May 19th.
  • 3,084 tests performed, 1,632 since June 16th .
  • 42 deaths, 1 since June 16th and 5 since May 19th.

CT DPH reported the following for Fairfield County and Statewide as of 8:30 p.m. July 22nd:

  • 17,164 cases, 731 additional since 6/16         48,232 cases, 2,803 additional since 6/16
  • 1,399 deaths, 47 additional since 6/16           4,410 deaths, 191 additional since 6/16
  • 22 hospitalized, 46 less than 6/16                   72 hospitalized, 114 less than 6/16

“You have to have responsibility for yourself but also a societal responsibility that you’re getting infected is not just you in a vacuum.” Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of 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