Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 32; State Hospitalizations, Positivity Rate Both Down for Second Day
The Aspetuck Health District and the State Department of Public Health reported 32 new COVID-19 cases for Westport over the past 24 hours. The State’s daily test positivity rate was down again today, sitting at 19.35% while hospitalizations were also down as 22 patients were released from hospitals, totaling 1,895 patients. 66.2% of those hospitalized are not fully vaccinated.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 3,228 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 33 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 19.35% [down from 20.27%]
State Hospitalizations: 1,895 patients [-22]
Morning Weather Report: Overnight Wind Chill Nears -12 Degrees
Today
Partly sunny, with a high near 42. Wind chill values between 20 and 30. Breezy, with a north wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 7. Wind chill values between -10 and zero. Blustery, with a northwest wind 14 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph.
Tomorrow
Mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 19. Wind chill values between -10 and zero. Northwest wind 15 to 17 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 6. North wind 8 to 16 mph.
UPDATE: Police Ask for Public’s Help in Locating Missing 22 Year Old after Saugatuck River Search
Westport Police Department: On January 13, 2022, at approximately 5:15 p.m., the Westport Police Department began a missing person investigation. It was reported that around 4:30 p.m. a twenty-two-year-old female launched a canoe into the Saugatuck River. A short time later a witness saw the female in the canoe in the area of the Ruth Steinkraus Bridge in the center of town. The witness briefly lost sight of the canoe and when he saw it again it was empty. At the time the female was seen in the canoe the water level was relatively low, so it is possible that she got out of the canoe and walked to shore.
Currently, the Westport Police and Fire Dive Team is searching the waters where the person was last seen. A thorough search on land is also being conducted.
The missing person is identified as twenty-two-year-old Sera Levy. Ms. Levy is Caucasian, approx. 5’6”, weighs roughly 130 lbs., and has chin length brown hair. She was last seen wearing a yellow coat and blue pants.
The police are asking any resident that lives along the Saugatuck River to please check your home surveillance for any footage that may be helpful. If anyone has information regarding Ms. Levy’s whereabouts, please contact the Westport Police Department immediately at 203-341-6000.
10:30 PM UPDATE
As of 10:30 PM on January 13, 2022: Westport PD has developed information that the missing person exited the river and made her way to a local business where she was captured on surveillance. Although WPD has not located the missing person at this time, the search for her in our local waters has been suspended. We ask anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ms. Levy to please contact the Westport Police Department.
1:13 AM
The missing woman has been found and is safe
"The missing person is identified as twenty-two-year-old Sera Levy. Ms. Levy is Caucasian, approx. 5’6”, weighs roughly 130 lbs., and has chin length brown hair. She was last seen wearing a yellow coat and blue pants." Contributed photoLetter to the Editor: Skip the Apps - Order Direct from Local Restaurants
To the Editor,
The Covid Omicron surge is once again playing havoc, especially with patrons not going out to eat at restaurants again. Take out of course is the answer to still enjoy good meals, but also to support our local venues as they struggle through this waive.
At issue though, is peoples’ use of third-party apps and delivery services such as Uber Eats, Door Dash and Grub Hub. They charge as much as a 30% fee to the restaurant for delivery and an unbelievable 25% for an order that is picked up by the customer themselves. According to Bob O’Mahoney, co-owner of Viva Zapata, “those fees are our profit margin.”
The answer is old school, and to bypass these services. The Chamber of Commerce is launching an initiative called “Order Direct – Pick it up.” We are asking residents to either call up or use a restaurant’s own website or app to make a take out order either online or by phone and then pick it up. This simple adjustment in thinking and action will put these excessive fees back into the pocket of our local friends and businesspeople.
Howard Bass CEO of Manna Toast said, “we offer pickup and delivery through our website and try our best to encourage customers to order directly, as the third-party platforms take 30% off the top.”
We are not alone in this thinking. The giant national pizza chain Domino’s has been running commercials for the last two months saying the same, to support small local merchants. Domino’s franchise owner Steve Dolan said, “The best way for customers to support local restaurants now is to go back to [them] directly and don’t use delivery apps.”
The goal is for people to order take out and pick up their own food, but if you need or must have a delivery then these services are of course available to be used, especially if no alternative exists. As Angelo Capponi, owner of Bene e Bene said, “70% is better than 0%, but we also offer take out, and we hope people will come to us. They can just call us up.”
While this concept is coming to a head now amidst the pandemic, it’s something that should be embraced moving forward. Clearly use of third-party apps is easy, but the cost to our local economy is huge. Please reach out to your favorite restaurant, find out how they would like you to Order Directly and Pick it Up.
Thanks to Miggs Burroughs for the artwork.
Matthew Mandell
Executive Director
Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce