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Coronavirus Update-Please Participate in Contact Tracing, How Long Is 6 Feet, Travel Advisory Change, Absentee Ballot Applications, Online Tax Reminders and Payments, Plastic Bag Tax & Case Data

Posted on: July 2, 2020 - 7:12pm

July 2nd- CT DPH again reported no change in total cases in Wilton as of 8:30 pm July 2nd.  As throughout the pandemic, we don’t have complete confidence in the CT DPH’s case numbers. Wilton Health Department contact tracers are aware of positive cases that haven’t yet appeared in the CT DPH system. CT DPH informed the Department that some rapid testing centers are not current with their reporting of positive cases to the State. These facts mean it is critical residents report a positive Coronavirus test result to the Health Department by calling or emailing barry.bogle@wiltonct.org.  All information is confidential. 

If you have a positive test result and even if you have already spoken with the individuals with whom you had contact or even if you don’t intend to participate in the Department’s contact tracing efforts, it is still important to contact them. The Health Department needs to understand what has occurred.  The better informed they are, the better informed are their decisions about if and what actions should be taken.    

I’m often asked by residents, when outside, how do they know how long is 6 feet. Here are two easy ways:

  • While at home, use a tape measure to measure out 6 feet from a wall or family member so you can gauge the distance when in public.
  • Measure your arm.  My arm is 24 inches, so I know to visualize three arm-lengths away from someone when in public and not wearing a face covering. 

Today CT DPH updated the travel advisory to include the following:  

Can travelers be tested for COVID-19 instead of self-quarantine? Quarantine is the best option to prevent spread of disease. However, if a 14-day self-quarantine is not possible, travelers from the impacted states may enter Connecticut if they have had a negative viral test (not an antibody test) for COVID-19 in the 72 hours prior to travel.

This is a weakening of the CT travel advisory quarantine .   

In advance of the August 11th primary, the Secretary of the State of CT is mailing absentee ballot applications to every active Democrat and Republican in Connecticut.  Applications are expected to arrive this week or next and come with a self-addressed return envelope.  Please remember if you plan to vote absentee, the actual ballots are not available until July 21st.  

If you paid your real estate, auto or personal property taxes online last year and signed up for text message or email invoicing and/or reminders, today you received a text or an email about your bill.  The email or text was from the Town of Wilton. Each type of tax was in a separate email or text.  Online is the most convenient way to pay your taxes. You receive an immediate confirmation via email. There is no fee to pay by ACH. 

The suspension of the plastic bag tax ended on July 1st.  Please remember to bring your own reusable bags. 

The CT Data Center reported the following for Wilton as of 8:30 pm on July 1st and versus the dates prior to the start of Phase 1 and Phase 2:

  • 218 cases, 11 additional since June 16th and 18 since May 19th
  • 1,589 residents tested, 303 in the last 7 days, 359 since June 16th and 759 since May 19th
  • 2,037 tests performed,  363 in the last 7 days, 483 since June 16th
  • 41 deaths, no change since June 16th and 4 additional since May 19th

The State does not provide detailed data on antibody testing. 

CT DPH reported the following for Fairfield County and Statewide as of July 1st:

  • 16,733 cases, 352 additional since 6/16         46,572 cases, 1,201 additional since 6/16
  • 1,376 deaths, 24 additional since 6/16           4,326 deaths, 119 additional since 6/16
  • 31 hospitalized, 37 less than 6/16                   101 hospitalized, 85 less than 6/16

This was the third day in a row with no new deaths in Fairfield County.  101 hospitalized patients statewide was an increase of 1 from the day prior. 

“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