Coronavirus Update-Virtual Library, Food Pantry, Case Data & State Nursing Home Surge Plan

April 11^th – The Wilton Library building may be closed, but it doesn’t mean Library employees aren’t working from home to provide services and programming.  Library cardholders can download e-books, audiobooks and more. Need a library card?  You can obtain one online.  To learn about upcoming programming, sign up on the Library homepage for their weekly newsletter. 

There have been a number of questions about the Wilton Food Pantry.  Like every resident, it has become increasing difficult for Social Services Director Sarah Heath to find all the items we normally provide, but the Village Market is helping us with access.  Understandably food donations are down, but we have funds raised through Wilton Rocks for Food and cash donations are up. If you would like to help, we are accepting donations of non-perishable food, household and personal care items along with grocery store gift cards. Please drop them off at the shed in the parking lot in front of Police Headquarters.  We do not accept donations at the food pantry itself, in order to ensure the privacy of our clients. If you have questions, feel free to contact Sarah. 

As of today, 39,831 residents or 1.1% of the State’s population has been tested for the virus.  29% of those tested received a positive result.  CT DPH does not provide daily hospital admissions or discharge data, but related information received from the Governor on Thursday indicated a 30% hospitalization rate. As shown in these graphs, the statewide number of patients in hospitals continues to grow, while the growth in Fairfield County has leveled off in the last few days.  This doesn’t mean those of us in Fairfield County should change our behavior.  We still need to behave as if we have the virus and as if those around us do as well.

Today, CT DPH reports 11,510 laboratory-confirmed statewide cases with 5,407 or 47 % in Fairfield County and 92 in Wilton. Approximately 4% of total reported cases have not yet been assigned to a municipality.  Deaths have risen to 494, with 220 in Fairfield County. The number of cases currently hospitalized increased to 1,593 with 676 in Fairfield County.  

As shown in this chart, Wilton’s case growth rate for this week continues in the bottom half of areas communities.  Stamford’s doubling of cases is a concern for the area.  

Earlier today, the Governor issued Executive Order 7Y, which allows for the implementation of the Governor's previously announced nursing home surge plan. Jonathan Harris, Senior Advisor to the Governor, provided the following information in an email announcing the order: “The order establishes the first two COVID-19 recovery centers at Sharon Health Care Center in Sharon and Northbridge Healthcare Center in Bridgeport, and gives authority to Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner Renée D. Coleman-Mitchell to create additional centers at other locations throughout the state as needed. Commissioner Coleman-Mitchell announced that she intends to authorize the formation of a recovery center at the Torrington Health and Rehab Center in Torrington, and is in the process of finalizing details for additional recovery centers in other locations that are anticipated to be announced in the coming days.

Residents of long-term care facilities represent our most vulnerable population during this pandemic, as the virus can spread quickly within the enclosed environment such as a nursing home.  Staff are also vulnerable and need enough supplies of personal protective equipment to prevent them from falling ill.  We are committed to doing everything we can to make sure our nursing home residents get the care they need and that nursing home staff are protected with enough equipment."

As always, if you have any questions, please email the appropriate town department or me.  Email is the preferred means of communication because most employees are working from home.  I have immediate access to my email and try to respond promptly.  If you contact me on Facebook, know that my response will be delayed, as I only check my F S Lynne Vanderslice Facebook account a few times a day. I generally don’t use Messenger and have limited ability to access it.   

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.
• 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, please 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