Coronavirus Update-New Cases, November Absentee Ballots & Detailed Case Data

August 17th – Highlights from the CT DPH report as of 8:30 p.m. Sunday August 16^th versus August 13th:

• Wilton: 3 additional cases reported.  
• Statewide: 1.1% of tests performed reported positive.
• Hospitalized Patients: Statewide, 14-net patient decrease. Fairfield County, 6-net patient decrease.  
• Deaths: Statewide, 3 deaths.  Fairfield County, 1 death

Of the nine surrounding communities, all reported one or more positive cases. See chart below.  

We don’t have demographic data for the new cases in Wilton, but younger residents continue to make up a larger share of statewide new cases.  The table below compares the breakdown by age range for new cases reported as of August 16^th versus year-to-day cases as of two months ago on June 16^th, the day prior to the start of Phase 2. 

Residents have inquired about procedures for absentee ballot voting in the November election:

• All Connecticut eligible voters may elect to vote with an absentee ballot.
• Eligible voters must complete an application to receive a ballot. 
• Applications for ballots will also be mailed to eligible voters by the Secretary of State.  These applications will be voter specific to facilitate processing.  We encourage you to use the mailed application. 
• If you can’t or don’t want to wait, the application for the November election is available on the Connecticut Secretary of State’s website.
• Your completed application may be returned to the Wilton Town Clerk in person via the drop box service at Town Hall, or by email, or by mail, or by fax.
• Ballots will be mailed to voters beginning on October 3^rd.
• Your completed ballot may be returned to the Wilton Town Clerk by placing in the secure ballot box in front of Police Headquarters or by mail. If you choose to hand deliver your ballot, you must schedule an appointment with the Town Clerk. 
• The Wilton Town Clerk and Registrars have procedures to safeguard your ballot until it is counted, while it is being counted and to ensure you and other voters only vote once. 

Detailed Case Data:

The CT Data Center reported the following for Wilton as of 8:30 p.m. August 16^th and versus the dates prior to the start of Phase 1 and Phase 2:

• 246 cases, 39 additional since June 16^th and 46 since May 19^th.
• 3,201 residents tested, 2,051 since June 16^th and 2,451 since May 19^th.
• 4,306 tests performed, 2,854 since June 16^th.
• 42 deaths, 1 since June 16^th and 5 since May 19^th.

CT DPH reported the following for Fairfield County and Statewide as of 8:30 p.m. August 16^th:

• 18,317 cases, 1,936 additional since 6/16      51,267 cases, 5,838 additional since 6/16
• 1,411 deaths, 59 additional since 6/16           4,456 deaths, 237 additional since 6/16
• 11 hospitalized, 57 less than 6/16                   42 hospitalized, 144 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.       

If you have any questions, the fastest way to reach me is through email at lynne.vanderslice@wiltonct.org.  If you tag me on Facebook, it may get lost within the high volume of notices I receive.   

Thank you and please excuse typos during this time period.

Lynne Vanderslice

First Selectwoman