Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 9; State Positivity Rate 1.78%, Hospitalizations Continue to Fall
The Westport-Weston Health District reported 9 new COVID-19 cases for Westport since yesterday. The State’s daily test positivity rate was down to 1.78% while hospitalizations were down 9 in a continuing trend of COVID patients being released from Connecticut hospitals.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 2,065 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 32 deaths.
State Daily Test Positivity: 1.78% [down from 2.83%]
State Hospitalizations: 250 patients [-9]
Superintendent: Saugatuck Elementary COVID Cases on the Rise; Full School Testing Friday for All Consenting Families
Superintendent Thomas Scarice Dear Saugatuck Families,
As we have been reporting there has been an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases at SES. As of today, 15 total cases have been identified over the past week. Although there appears to be very limited transmission within the school as new cases span multiple grades and classrooms, by definition, a sudden rise in the number of cases at this rate would constitute an outbreak.
As a proactive measure we have reached out to the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH), including the state epidemiologist, to review the cases and our current mitigating measures. This discussion affirmed that community transmission (i.e. after school activities, large community social events, etc.) has likely contributed to the recent rise in cases at SES. As a result, it appears that in-school mitigating measures have been effective. DPH only recommends school closures if there is an inability to staff the school. This is not an issue at this point in time.
As an additional control measure for early detection, and to blunt any additional spread, it was recommended by CT DPH to offer a round of surveillance testing for all students and staff at SES. Testing will be held Friday October 1 and administered by our testing partner, Progressive Diagnostics.
For parents who have already consented to the voluntary testing program, your child will be included in the testing this Friday. If you have not yet consented to the district voluntary testing program, you are strongly encouraged to complete the “school testing student consent form” on the hyperlink below by the end of the day tomorrow. Additionally, the “school testing” link below will provide information about the district voluntary testing program.
If you would ONLY like to take part in the testing offered this Friday and NOT the weekly screening, please email the health office staff so that your name can be removed after the Friday testing.
School Testing Student Consent Form
I would like to thank you for your support as we work together to keep our children and community safe.
Sincerely,
Thomas Scarice
Superintendent of Schools
Governor Lamont Extends COVID-19 Orders through February 2022
Governor Ned Lamont’s OfficeGovernor Ned Lamont today announced that as the Connecticut General Assembly has given final legislative approval to renew the COVID-19 civil preparedness and public health emergency declarations through February 15, 2022, he has signed an executive order – Executive Order No. 14 – authorizing nine previously issued executive orders to remain in effect through the duration of the renewed declarations, and revising and narrowing two previously issued executive orders.
The governor explained that this new executive order is necessary so that certain previously issued orders can continue beyond September 30, 2021, which is the date that the declarations had previously been scheduled to expire. He informed legislative leaders of his intent to issue this order in a letter delivered to them last week.
“I believe Connecticut has been smart in our response and we’ve been taking the right steps to help mitigate the spread of this virus to the best of our abilities,” Governor Lamont said. “That’s why we’ve gotten to a place where we currently have among the best results in the nation, and I’m just asking people to be cautious just a little bit longer until we can get this behind us.”
Executive Order No. 14 takes the following actions:
Extends the duration of nine previously issued executive orders through February 15, 2022. These include:
Executive Order No. 7P, Section 1, which concerns the authority to provide non-congregate housing to at-risk populations when housing them in group shelters or other communal settings would put them at greater risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. It is important to note that despite claims by some commenters to the contrary, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has explicitly told Connecticut that reimbursement of about $2 million per quarter will not continue without such an order remaining in effect.
Executive Order No. 9, Section 1, and Executive Order No. 13A, which provide the authority to require masks in schools, childcare facilities, and certain higher-risk settings, as well as providing municipal authority to require universal masking in certain settings.
Executive Order No. 9Q, Section 3, and Executive Order No. 13C, which support the state’s comprehensive and nation-leading vaccination campaign by ensuring coordinating funding and reimbursement for vaccinations and allowing the Department of Public Health to share vaccination information with healthcare providers and local health districts.
Executive Order No. 12D, which continues the requirement that before initiating the summary process for eviction, landlords file an application with UniteCT, the state’s nation-leading program to provide fiscal assistance to landlords and renters to prevent evictions that could lead to homelessness and the resulting increased risk of contracting and transmitting COVID-19.
Executive Order No. 13E, which implements a streamlined training program for temporary nurse aides.
Executive Order No. 13F and Executive Order No. 13G, which require long-term care facility workers, state hospital workers, state employees, preK through 12 school workers, and the staff of childcare facilities to get vaccinated, with test-out options for those not working in long-term care facilities and hospitals.
Extends agency or municipal orders that were issued pursuant to any unexpired COVID-19 order.
Repeals Executive Order No. 11D, Section 2 and Executive Order No. 11D, Section 3, which concern the emergency procurement of essential goods and services, and renews them with a revised version that restores nearly all statutory contracting procedures and requirements except that, to provide for flexible process for goods and services essential to the COVID-19 response, keeps in place emergency authority for agency heads to use expedited non-competitive procurement processes. The revised order continues to require the department head or agency head to certify in writing that such expedited procurement is necessary to respond to the pandemic.
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 3; State Positivity Rate 2.83%, Hospitalizations Down 5
The Connecticut Department of Health reported 3 new COVID-19 cases for Westport since yesterday. The State’s daily test positivity rate was up to 2.83% while hospitalizations were down 5.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 2,056 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 32 deaths.
State Daily Test Positivity: 2.83% [up from 2.23%]
State Hospitalizations: 259 patients [-5]
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 10 over Weekend; First Death Reported in Several Months
The Connecticut Department of Health reported 10 new COVID-19 cases for Westport over the Weekend, with one new COVID-19 related death reported in Westport for the first time in several months. The death toll now sits at 32 community members lost since March 2020. The State’s daily test positivity rate was up to 2.23% while hospitalizations were down 18.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 2,053 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 32 deaths.
State Daily Test Positivity: 2.23% [up from 1.88%]
State Hospitalizations: 264 patients [-18]
Superintendent: 11 New COVID-19 Cases in District over Weekend; 7 Reported at Saugatuck El.
From Superintendent Thomas ScariceDear Westport Families and Staff,
We have had 11 new cases of Covid-19 associated with our schools reported over the weekend. The positive cases came from the following schools.
Coleytown Elementary School - 1
Greens Farms Elementary School - 2
Saugatuck Elementary School - 7
Staples High School - 1
Please remember that families are asked to report positive Covid-19 cases of students using our reporting voicemail or email. 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 minimize the potential for transmission in our schools.
Respectfully,
Thomas Scarice
Superintendent of Schools
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 7; State Positivity Rate 2.28%, Hospitalizations Up 13
The Westport Weston Health District reported 7 new COVID-19 cases for Westport since yesterday. The State’s daily test positivity rate was up to 2.28%, and hospitalizations were up 13.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 2,035 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 31 deaths.
State Daily Test Positivity: 2.28% [up from 2.15%]
State Hospitalizations: 282 patients [+13]
MTA Announces Increased Mask Enforcement on Metro North Trains
MTA Chief Safety Officer Patrick Warren and MTA Police Chief Joseph McGrann. Photo by Marc Hermann for the MTA. Metropolitan Transportation AuthorityThe Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is advising customers that beginning Thursday, September 23, MTA officers will be stepping up mask enforcement throughout the system and those who do not comply with mask requirements will be more likely to face a $50 fine. Mask-wearing is a federal requirement on trains, buses and paratransit vehicles.
Following Labor Day, the MTA began on a blitz of mask distribution, with MTA staff and police officers strategically stationed at subway and railroad hubs, and bus terminals, distributing tens of thousands of free masks to unmasked riders. This continues an approach established in September 2020, when the MTA implemented a $50 fine to help increase mask compliance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The goal of heightened enforcement is to increase mask usage across all agencies, and to return to 2020 and early 2021 compliance levels where nearly 100% of riders wore masks onboard subways, buses, commuter railroads and paratransit vehicles. Since the $50 fine was implemented on September 14, 2020, MTA police officers have had over 88,000 positive encounters with customers. This has included the distribution of more than 50,000 free masks overall, 25,000 in the two weeks since the blitz began on September 7.
“Promoting mask usage is an important component to protecting one another,” said Patrick Warren, MTA Chief Safety Officer. “To support the use of masks we have provided tens of millions of free masks to customers, complemented by a robust communication endeavor. These efforts have seen mask usage recently rise on buses and trains. This next phase of our blitz will reinforce that wearing a mask is not optional. Vaccinated or not, you must wear a mask when traveling on public transit.”
“Our officers have surged into major hubs to remind riders to wear their mask, and have handed out 25,000 free masks in just two weeks,” said Joseph McGrann, Acting Chief of the MTA Police Department. “In the coming weeks officers will step up enforcement efforts on commuter rails and work with our partners at the NYPD for the subway and bus system. The message is clear, wear a mask. Riders who are still not getting this message will now see the cost associated with that thinking.”
Since the mask blitz began at key transit hubs, mask usage has increased. Latest surveys show that mask compliance onboard buses is approximately 94%, 87% on subways, 92% on the LIRR and 95% on Metro-North.
To date the MTA has made 11.1 million masks available for customers. Through the Authority’s trailblazing Mask Force, which launched in July 2020, more than 800,000 free masks have been distributed to customers.
Free masks remain available for any customer that forgets a mask at subway station booths and onboard commuter railroad trains. Distribution efforts continue to be complemented with digital messaging and announcements in stations.
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 3; State Positivity Rate 2.15%, Hospitalizations Down 25
The Westport Weston Health District reported 3 new COVID-19 cases for Westport since yesterday. The State’s daily test positivity rate was down to 2.15%, and hospitalizations were down 25.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 2,028 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 31 deaths.
State Daily Test Positivity: 2.15% [down from 2.83%]
State Hospitalizations: 269 patients [-25]
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 5; State Positivity Rate 2.83%, Hospitalizations Down 15
The Westport Weston Health District reported 5 new COVID-19 cases for Westport since yesterday. The State’s daily test positivity rate was up to 2.83%, and hospitalizations were down 11.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 2,025 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 31 deaths.
State Daily Test Positivity: 2.83% [down from 2.14%]
State Hospitalizations: 294 patients [-15]