This evening, Tuesday, February 2nd New Canaan First Selectman Kevin Moynihan provided a COVID community update reporting that last week, we saw another significant decline in positive COVID test results with 22 cases, down from the previous week’s 48. In addition, we’ve had 10 new cases reported thus far this week.
Moynihan said that cases continue to be due to family transmission; our Health Director reminds families to try to isolate a positive family member to the extent possible from the rest of the household. She also urges residents to eliminate all unnecessary social gatherings to continue to control the spread of COVID-19 in our community.
Testing
Our COVID-19 community testing at Lapham Center continued last week with three days of testing. With all results back from last week’s Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday testing there were 6 positives out of 170 tests for a positivity rate of 3.53%. These test results are included in the above-reported numbers. Our local testing data continues to trend below the fluctuating State of CT positivity rate that this week has dropped to about 4%.
For updated information on the weekly cases, by age brackets, visit the red COVID-19 alert box on the town website at www.newcanaaan.info.
The link for this week's Thursday and Saturday test dates and next Tuesday's test date is contained in the email version of this outcall or you can find it in the red COVID-19 alert box on the town website at www.newcanaan.info. (The SignUpGenius link for testing this Thursday and Saturday and next Tuesday is: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/COVIDtestingFeb4andFeb6andFeb9). Please note that we cannot accommodate walk-ins at the test site.
For the Waveny LifeCare testing at Lapham Center you must sign up each person in the household under their own name and date of birth. Please be sure to include complete insurance information in the text box in the SignUpGenius registration. Results will be provided within 72 hours by email with a message notifying you the results are ready in your portal so please provide your cell phone number as your contact number. Please note every individual being tested must have their own unique email in order to receive the results via email through the patient portal with the lab. Parents may have to create free email accounts (such as Gmail) for minor children in order to receive the results. The same email address cannot be used for multiple family members or the lab portal will have an error with the results.
Vaccine
Our Health Department continues to focus its efforts on vaccination of our residents in Phase 1B who are over age 75. If you are over age 75 and have not yet been vaccinated or do not yet have an appointment to be vaccinated please call our Health Department at 203-594-3037 for help obtaining an appointment including possibly at our local Lapham Center weekly vaccination clinic. This week the State DPH allocated 200 doses of Moderna vaccine to our Health Department, all of which will be administered tomorrow at Lapham Center to New Canaan seniors age 75 and over by appointment only. There are no open appointments at this time so please do not show up if you have not received an appointment from our Health Department.
For Seniors 75 and over who are tech savvy you can also register with state DPH through VAMS. To register on-line, go to Online VAMS Enrollment (ct.gov). You must have an email address in order to receive the email invitations to sign up for an appointment. The State has set up a Vaccine Assistance Line 1-877-918-2224 and if a senior needs help with the VAMS website they can call the Vaccine Assistance Line for guided instructions or you can call our New Canaan Human Services Department at 203-594-3076 for assistance.
Vaccinations of seniors between age 65 and 74
Governor Lamont yesterday announced that vaccinations of seniors between age 65 and 74 will begin in 10 days to 2 weeks. In preparation for the state expansion to this age group (including any remaining seniors age 75 and over) our Health Director has created a simple online registration form to register for the New Canaan Health Department vaccination list. The link for this voluntary vaccination sign up form is in the email version of this outcall (https://forms.gle/9SF2Pmnn8sVDhyfS8). Since seniors 75 and over are still being vaccinated no scheduling of seniors 65 to 74 will occur until given the directive from the State DPH.
Travel
We also remind residents that if you travel to any of the states or countries on the CT Travel Advisory list (except for less than 24 hours), you must quarantine for 10 days upon your return home or fulfill the testing requirements outlined in Executive Order 9S and also complete the travel form found on the state’s coronavirus website (https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/travel).
Finally, we again urge you to please do your part in controlling the spread of the virus by wearing a mask anywhere where you cannot social distance, wash hands frequently and avoid any large gatherings where you will be exposed to non-family members.