This evening, Friday, October 16 New Canaan First Selectman Kevin Moynihan provided a community COVID-19 update reporting that there have been eight new positive COVID-19 test results for New Canaan residents since our outcall last Friday. Four of the cases are out of state college and prep school students whose cases have been removed from our local metrics for keeping our schools open. The other four cases are of varying ages and unrelated to each other.
Monihan said, "Therefore, while the virus is present in our community we are not seeing community transmission at our schools, but rather from interactions outside of the school system. Our Health Director also notes that there have been 253 additional negative tests reported for New Canaan residents to the CT Department of Public Health since last Friday.
For complete information about our COVID-19 cases since March see the COVID-19 page of our website at www.newcanaan.info.
Please read Moynihan's complete COVID update below:
New Canaan’s COVID numbers remain relatively low compared to other parts of Connecticut and other parts of the United States. While we may seem to be an oasis right now, we cannot operate like we're an island because more than 2000 people come into town from surrounding towns and New York City every day to work, shop or dine.
We must all continue to be diligent and work together to keep our local businesses and schools open and operating safely. We again remind all residents to continue to practice social distancing when out in public, wear masks when social distancing cannot be maintained, and wash or sanitize hands frequently especially after contact with public surfaces. And we remind everyone that in our downtown village district mask wearing is REQUIRED from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm since social distancing is difficult to achieve on busy sidewalks. We ask parents to remind your teenagers to wear masks when downtown and not to congregate in front of businesses.
Halloween Guidelines and Reminder that Town Halloween Block Party on Elm Street will Not Take Place
Many residents have inquired about the approaching Halloween holiday. Due to COVID-19, Halloween in New Canaan must be different this year. The Town Halloween Block Party on Elm Street will not take place this year. We urge residents to read and follow the CT Department of Public Health and CDC guidelines for safe Halloween activities as set forth on the DPH and CDC websites. In brief, the CDC considers traditional trick-or-treating to be a high-risk activity. Rather, they recommend alternative lower risk activities and small events that allow for reduced exposure and ease of contact tracing.
Testing
Covid-19 testing is available at area hospitals and urgent care facilities. There is also convenient PCR testing at CVS pharmacy stores in Stamford on High Ridge Road and Hope Street with results in 2-3 days. In addition there is free PCR testing at Community Health Center (CHC) on Day Street in Norwalk with results in 2-3 days. Both the CVS and CHC testing sites do not require a physician’s prescription and CHC does pediatric testing as well. If you are symptomatic please self-quarantine while test results are pending in order to protect our community at large. Please remember if you are symptomatic, stay home from work or school.
Travel
Finally, we remind you that if you travel to any of the states on the Governor’s list of coronavirus hot states (except for less than 24 hours), you must quarantine for 14 days upon your return home or fulfill the testing requirements outlined in Executive Order 9B and complete the travel form found on the state website. For the most current complete list of applicable states and to download the travel form please visit the State’s coronavirus website (https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/travel).