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Coronavirus Update-Significant Increase in Cases & CDC Guidance

Posted on: April 3, 2020 - 8:43pm

April 3rd- The results for today’s 1,715 new tests show a significant jump in the test-positive rate to 64%.  Since last Friday, 11,615 results have been received, of which 3,623 or 31% were positive.  That compares with a 15% test-positive rate as of last Friday. This has been expected, as we received warnings that the number of cases would increase significantly over this past week and the weeks to come. 

This week’s activity clearly supports staying home and avoiding going out into the public unless absolutely necessary. Please, behave as if you have the virus and as if those around you do as well.

CT DPH reports 4,914 laboratory-confirmed statewide cases with 2,716 or 55% in Fairfield County and 71 in Wilton. Statewide deaths rose to 131. The number of cases requiring hospitalization increased to 909, with 408 in Fairfield County. 

We continue to think the actual number of cases statewide is higher than reported.  If you have received a confirmed or presumptive positive test and you have not been contacted by the Wilton Health Department, please contact the department. Department members are out in the field, so they can be reached more quickly through email.  

Today, the CDC issued a recommendation to wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission, such as Connecticut. The CDC recommends cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials.  Please do not wear medical masks, which are in short supply and are needed by medical and emergency personal. Many of you are already making cloth masks. I encourage you to share your patterns or techniques with other residents.  

Volume at the Transfer Station has doubled with more and more first-time users.  The facility is closed this weekend. In advance of Monday’s re-opening, information will be provided in tomorrow’s or Sunday’s update to assist new users and infrequent users. 

Beginning Monday, April 6th, drop off services at Town Hall and the Annex will be available only on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Both buildings will be closed on Wednesdays and Fridays. Drop box hours at the Annex will remain as three hours from the department’s normal start, while drop box hours at Town Hall will be reduced to 8:30am to 10:30am.  Many town services are available online.  

As of this evening, the Governor has not issued a new executive order. 

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 don’t regularly check Messenger.  

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.
  • Consolidate your shopping and errands to minimize the numbers of days you must leave your home.  
  • Please do not to run to the store every time you hear a delivery has arrived. Widespread overbuying is the major cause of shortages.  With businesses and schools closed and not ordering, new supply chains are open.
  • 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