In this evening's community update, New Canaan First Selectman Kevin Moynihan reported that there have been ten new positive COVID test results for New Canaan residents since his outcall last Friday. Six positive cases are unrelated while the other four cases are connected to prior cases from last week -- so community transmission is occurring.
"Fortunately, we have not seen evidence of community transmission in our schools' thanks to the mitigation strategies being implemented district-wide. Most often, we are seeing cases occur from small gatherings where people have their guards down and feel comfortable at home with a few friends or family members. This virus has shown us that it only takes one infected person to spread COVID 19 to several others in intimate settings where no masks are worn or social distance is not maintained. The asymptomatic spread of the virus can occur in gatherings of any size," Moynihan said.
New Canaan Health Director also notes that there have been 293 additional negative tests reported for New Canaan residents to the CT Department of Public Health since last Friday. "We urge residents to report positive cases directly to the New Canaan Health Department so contact tracing can be started immediately in order to contain the spread of the virus," said Moynihan.
The office line is 203-594-3018 and after hours or on weekends please call 203-585-8209 to speak with the Health Director.
For complete information about our COVID-19 cases since March see the COVID-19 page of our website at www.newcanaan.info.
Please read below for additional information from Moynihan including a reminder that on Halloween, "if a home’s lights are not on that they not approach the property at all and respect their wishes to not participate."
New Canaan’s COVID numbers continue to be relatively low compared to our neighboring municipalities but we must remember that thousands of people from neighboring communities come into New Canaan each weekday to work, shop or dine. New Canaan is not an island immune from what is going on around us. Stamford and Norwalk have both gone red on the State alert map this week. We must be aware that spikes that are occurring around our town can and will affect us.
With community transmission occurring and the increasing spikes in neighboring towns occurring, we strongly urge seniors and other vulnerable residents to avoid crowded areas and gatherings of any size and to return back to social isolation practices that will keep them safe. Seniors are encouraged to contact the Lapham Center at 203-594-3620 to find out about available alternative programming that is being offered. The Lapham Center provides a variety of online Zoom classes and Zoom social events for seniors to remain engaged in the community while staying safely in their homes. To request assistance with food shopping, prescriptions or transportation, please contact Human Services at 203-594-3093.
Halloween
In regards to Halloween, we implore residents to follow the CDC and CT Department of Public Health guidance for safe and acceptable activities as referenced on our town website. Traditional trick or treating is regarded as high risk so we ask parents to place goodie bags of candy on tables outside your home for children to grab and go while continuing to social distance and not make contact with homeowners.
We ask parents to remind children that if a home’s lights are not on that they not approach the property at all and respect their wishes to not participate. We urge families to remain in your neighborhoods and not to travel to other areas of town so as to alleviate congregating, potential virus spread and traffic issues. Also, per the Governor’s emergency orders large house parties are forbidden and indoor house gatherings are capped at 25. Please keep our community safe by making appropriate choices for Halloween activities.
We remind you that COVID testing is available at area hospitals and urgent care facilities as well as at CVS pharmacy stores in Stamford on High Ridge Road and Hope Street. In addition there is free PCR testing at Community Health Center (CHC) on Day Street in Norwalk. All of these provide results in 2-3 days. 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 your family and our community and stay home from work or school.
Finally, the Governor last week updated the travel advisory to include CT, NY, NJ, and RI as exempt from the travel advisory. We remind you that if you travel to any of the states or countries on the list (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 also complete the travel form found on the state’s coronavirus website (https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/travel).