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First Selectman: Vaccine Update; Links to Register

1/27 Press Release from Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe

The State of Connecticut is currently scheduling and vaccinating those who are 75 and older as a part of the vaccine rollout phase 1b. Individuals between the ages of 65 and 74 are next in line for eligibility and information will be posted on the Westport Weston Health District (WWHD) website when the state opens up clinics to this group. More information for frontline essential workers and individuals with underlying medical conditions with increased risk for severe illness will be forthcoming.

Many Westporters are eager to get their vaccines. Some have registered themselves into the CDC's Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS), scheduled their appointments and have received first and, in some cases, second vaccine doses. Others have found technical challenges, a lack of information and guidance or difficulties getting their first or second doses scheduled. Currently, vaccination dates are not being scheduled sooner than three-weeks out. The process is moving slowly and as a result, frustrations are high.

Additionally, the supply of vaccines is simply not keeping up with the demand. There is a total of 1.3 million Connecticut residents who are eligible for the vaccine during Phase 1b. The state must ration the 46,000 doses it receives each week. At this rate, it will take months before all the eligible residents are vaccinated. Simply stated, there is a national vaccine shortage and it is impacting us locally. 

The WWHD staff have been consistently ordering more vaccines than it is receiving. The WWHD runs up to three vaccine clinics per week at varying locations: WWHD on Bayberry Lane, the Westport Center for Senior Activities, the Weston Senior Center, and the Easton Senior Center. The WWHD has a limited supply of vaccines and advises that eligible Westporters not wait for an appointment at a Westport clinic. Rather, go to the first available appointment and plan to schedule your second vaccine immediately after. The State’s 2-1-1 line now includes a public vaccine clinic directory to search for local clinics.

We are aware that some have found success bypassing VAMS and registering through hospital portals in the surrounding cities. These third party VAMS sites appear to be more direct and do not require waiting for confirmation emails and codes. For links to some local participating vaccination centers, please see further below. 

We are also aware that some residents do not have the mobility to obtain a vaccine in another nearby community or might not be able to leave their homes. Once supplies are available, the town is planning for a larger-scale local vaccination site as well as a travelling clinic to those who are most vulnerable and homebound. The State’s long-term distribution plan focuses on five or six large mega-vaccination clinics set up across the state and with neighborhood CVS/Walgreens pharmacies being a potential local option. However, there are multiple challenges with distribution, administration and the vaccine supply itself that must be overcome at the state and federal levels first.

Please keep in mind that neither the Westport Department of Human Services nor the Westport Center for Senior Activities has access to the VAMS portal, nor can they schedule a vaccination on a resident’s behalf.  Human Services staff is working diligently to answer questions and offer resources to help. Ultimately, the State's official helpline (dial 2-1-1) is the best option for registration by phone or to have your technical questions answered.

Do not be discouraged as the inevitable complications and delays occur. Your patience is needed during these trying times. Please remember to continue to wear a face covering, social distance and maintain good hygiene.

For more information on the vaccine in Westport, visit www.westportct.gov/vaccine or print Westport’s Vaccination Tip Sheet here: https://www.westportct.gov/home/showpublisheddocument?id=37255

For information on the WWHD’s plans to schedule and conduct vaccinations, go to www.wwhd.org

The State of Connecticut’s vaccine information site can be found here: https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/COVID-19-Vaccination---75-and-older

Third Party VAMS Sites:

 

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Westport Cumulative COVID-19 Cases Up 35; Deaths Unchanged

The Westport-Weston Health District reports that Westport has added 35 positive or probable COVID-19 cases, and has added 0 new deaths. This includes data from this past Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Westport total positive or probable cases: 1,207 cases. Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 26 deaths.

State Daily Test Positivity: 4.73%

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Superintendent: Weekend Reports 6 New COVID-19 Cases in 3 Schools; 4 at Long Lots

The Westport Public Schools COVID-19 Dashboard. Numbers may not reflect new cases.

From Superintendent Thomas Scarice this morning:

Dear Westport Families and Staff,

In our efforts to remain transparent with reports of positive Covid-19 cases associated with our schools, we will continue to provide these updates as information is confirmed. As of the time I am writing to you this morning we have 6 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 from Friday evening through the weekend. The reports came from the following schools: 

  • Long Lots Elementary School - 4

  • Saugatuck Elementary School - 1

  • Staples High School - 1

Those impacted have been notified by school and District officials. As a reminder, families are asked to report positive of COVID-19 cases of students using our reporting voicemail or email regardless of whether the students are in remote or hybrid models of instruction. Please follow this link for more information on reporting.

Additionally, we want to remind families that students with pending Covid-19 tests should not return to school until receiving negative results. This approach is critical in helping us continue minimizing the potential for transmission in our schools.

Respectfully,

Thomas Scarice

Superintendent of Schools

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Sunday COVID-19 Summary

This summary includes the total cases, deaths, and current hospitalizations in our town, county, and state.

The State does not publish any data on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday - so this summary does not include any information collected on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Data from the past three days will be published cumulatively in tomorrow evening’s daily update.

All data comes from Connecticut Open Data portal. Numbers as of 01/21/21:

Westport:

  • 1,172 positive or probable cases (total) +58 from last week

  • 26 deaths (total) +1 from last week

  • 39,357 tests (total)

Fairfield County:

  • 69,065 positive or probable cases (total) +3,340 from last week

  • 1,886 Deaths (total) +56 from last week

  • 250 currently hospitalized; +2 from last week (as of 01/21/21)

Connecticut:

  • 237,815 positive or probable cases +14,393 from last week(total)

  • 6,819 deaths + 225 from last week (total)

  • 1,058 currently hospitalized -40 from last week (as of 01/21/21)

State Daily Test Positivity:

  • 4.93% of COVID-19 tests administered came back positive (01/21/21)

  • DOWN from 6.20% on 01/14/21

The next update will be published tomorrow evening, and will include all data identified on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of this weekend.

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Long Lots COVID-19 Testing Site Quiet This Week; State’s Overall Testing Up; Weekly Testing Down 50% Compared to Thanksgiving

The Hartford Healthcare COVID-19 testing site at 47 Long Lots Road was empty this morning (pictured), and according to employees, that’s been the case for several weeks. “In the early morning, maybe 20 cars will be in line. But after, just one or two at a time show up” one of the frontliners described. “I think people are just tired of it, of COVID and being tested.”

Just three months ago, the line at the drive-thru site breached the entrance to the campus, causing traffic delays on Long Lots Road and prompting Westport Police to station officers on site for traffic control. Hundreds waited from their cars to get tested, some days those waiting could expect to sit for over three hours.

More testing options have become available in Westport, including walk-in clinics as well as at-home tests. With the increase in easier ways to become tested, this quarter - which includes the Christmas and New Year holidays - is on-track to have the highest amount of tests administered compared to the Spring and Fall, however data shows testing overall has declined in the past few weeks across the State.

Connecticut COVID-19 Testing Data (data.ct.gov)

Spring: March 1 - May 31:

  • 276,878 tests

  • (avg 3,009 tests/day)

Summer: June 1 - August 31:

  • 1,020,640 tests

  • (avg 11,090 tests/day)

Fall: September 1 - November 30

  • 2,442,157 tests

  • (avg 26,836 tests/day)

Winter-to-date: December 1 - January 21

  • 1,657,625 tests

  • (avg 31,877 tests/day)

Thanksgiving Week: November 23 - November 29th

  • 221,878 tests

  • (avg 31,696 tests/day)

Christmas Week: December 22 - December 28:

  • 209,025 tests

  • (avg 29,860 tests/day)

Most Recent: January 15, 2021 - January 21, 2021:

  • 112,137 tests

  • (avg 16,019 tests/day)

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Superintendent: 4 New COVID-19 Cases in 3 Schools

The Westport Public Schools Reopening Dashboard

From Westport Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Scarice last evening:

Dear Westport Families and Staff,

In our efforts to remain transparent with reports of positive Covid-19 cases associated with our schools, we will continue to provide these updates as information is confirmed. As of the time I am writing to you this evening we have 4 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of note, there were no reported cases of COVID-19 cases yesterday. The reports today came from the following schools: 

  • Coleytown Elementary School - 1

  • Greens Farms Elementary School - 2

  • Saugatuck Elementary School - 1

Those impacted have been notified by school and District officials. As a reminder, families are asked to report positive of COVID-19 cases of students using our reporting voicemail or email regardless of whether the students are in remote or hybrid models of instruction. Please follow this link for more information on reporting. 

Additionally, we want to remind families that students with pending Covid-19 tests should not return to school until receiving negative results. This approach is critical in helping us continue minimizing the potential for transmission in our schools.

Respectfully,

 

Thomas Scarice

Superintendent of Schools

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Superintendent: 6 New COVID-19 Cases in 4 Schools

Data from the Westport Public Schools COVID-19 Dashboard 01/18/21

From Superintendent Thomas Scarice last night:

Dear Westport Families and Staff,

In our efforts to remain transparent with reports of positive Covid-19 cases associated with our schools, we will continue to provide these updates as information is confirmed. As of the time I am writing to you this evening we have 6 newly confirmed case of COVID-19 that came in over the weekend. The reports came from the following schools:

  • Kings Highway - 2

  • Bedford Middle School - 1

  • Coleytown Middle School - 1

  • Staples High School - 2

Those impacted have been notified by school and District officials. As a reminder, families are asked to report positive of COVID-19 cases of students using our reporting voicemail or email regardless of whether the students are in remote or hybrid models of instruction. Please follow this link for more information on reporting. 

Additionally, we want to remind families that students with pending Covid-19 tests should not return to school until receiving negative results. This approach is critical in helping us continue minimizing the potential for transmission in our schools.

Respectfully,

 

Thomas Scarice

Superintendent of Schools

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