Superintendent: 5 New COVID-19 Cases, 4 in Saugatuck El.
Dear Westport Families and Staff,
We have had 5 new reported cases of Covid-19 associated with our schools today. The positive cases came from the following schools.
Greens Farms Elementary School - 1
Saugatuck Elementary School - 4
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.
Finally, on a related front, the district began administering the state sponsored voluntary surveillance testing for students 12 and under yesterday. We had 269 students tested with 1 positive case identified from this group. That case is included in our overall numbers for today.
Respectfully,
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]
Norwalk Boat Show Back Again
The Norwalk Boat Show returned to Cove Marina last weekend, running from Thursday through Sunday after being canceled last year due to COVID. Scores of exhibitors from the area were joined by others from as far away as Florida to show off their new models, accessories and everything for the boating enthusiast and sport fisherman. Thousands of visitors strolled the docks, boarded and trued stunning luxury yachts most people would only see from a distance. Many attended seminars and classes and enjoyed dining and cocktails with the gorgeous views and sunsets overlooking the harbor.
Click on any photo to enlarge. Photos by J.C. Martin for the WestportLocalPress.com
