New Canaan COVID Update: Uptick in Cases, Upcoming Vaccination Clinics, Community Testing, and More

Coronavirus update from First Selectman Kevin Moynihan, Monday, April 19

Positive COVID cases in New Canaan

Last week we had an increase in the number of reported positive COVID-19 cases for New Canaan residents with 38. The previous week we had 30.  We’ve had 14 new cases reported this week so far. 

With all results back from last week’s three days of community testing at Lapham Center, there were 3 positive cases detected out of 171 residents tested, a 1.75 % positivity rate.  The State of Connecticut's 7-day rolling average positivity rate is currently 3.07%.  For updated information on the weekly cases, by age brackets, visit the red COVID-19 alert box on the town website at www.newcanaan.info. 

Masks and social distancing

Our Health Department strongly urges residents to continue to wear masks indoors and outdoors when social distancing cannot be maintained and to practice regular hand washing or sanitizing. We all must continue to do our parts in controlling the spread of COVID-19 in the community. 

It is very important that anyone with symptoms of COVID 19 not attend work or school or any extracurricular activity, limit close contact with others and get tested as soon as possible. While you are awaiting test results you should stay home to the extent possible and limit your contacts outside your immediate family.

 COVID Vaccination Clinics on April 21 and April 28

Our Health Department will be vaccinating another 600 this Wednesday, April 21^st at Lapham Center for individuals who are age 18 and over because this will be a Moderna vaccination clinic. (Moderna vaccine is only approved under emergency authorization by FDA for those aged 18 and over.)  No walk ins are permitted. 

Those who are registered for this Thursday’s vaccination clinic are reminded to bring both sets of VAMS forms completed before you arrive for your appointment. The VAMS forms can be found in the red COVID alert box on the town website (www.newcanaan.info). There are still many open vaccination slots for this Wednesday’s clinic and the link to register on SignUpGenius here. The clinic is open to all individuals age 18 and over that live, work, or go to school in CT.

If you are scheduled for a 2^nd dose vaccination appointment this week the Health Department would like to remind you to bring your white vaccination card to your 2^nd dose appointments so the Health Department can add the 2^nd dose vaccination information to your card.

If you are homebound (physically or medically unable to get to a vaccination site) and would like a vaccination at home please contact the New Canaan Health Department at 203-594-3020 to schedule a homebound vaccination with the public health nurse.

This coming Friday, April 23^rd, an email will be sent out via Everbridge with a SignUpGenius invitation to schedule appointments for our Lapham Center vaccination clinic next Wednesday, April 28^th. More details about the clinic will be included in the email Friday after the Health Department receives details about its weekly vaccination dose allocation from the CT Department of Public Health. (It is expected there will be a Janssen (J&J) update Friday from the FDA/CDC/DPH regarding the current pause on that vaccine.)

As a reminder, New Canaan residents may also register through VAMS here if you would like a vaccination appointment anywhere in Connecticut. Those who need assistance by phone to schedule vaccination appointments elsewhere in CT can call the state Vaccination Assistance Line at 1-877-918-2224.

Besides VAMS, eligible residents may also try one of the pharmacies on the CT COVID-19 Vaccine Pharmacy list that is posted in the red COVID-19 alert box on the town website.  The closest area pharmacies are Walgreens and New Canaan Pharmacy in New Canaan.  You can go to Walgreens’ website (www.walgreens.com) to find appointments at Walgreens in New Canaan and other Walgreens in the area. 

New Canaan residents who are eligible may also register for vaccination appointments at Stamford Hospital.  For more information and to sign up directly with Stamford Hospital please visit COVID-19 Vaccination Information at Stamford Hospital’s website or call Stamford Hospital at 203-276-7300.  

COVID-19 COMMUNITY TESTING 

Our COVID-19 community testing with Waveny LifeCare will continue at Lapham Center with three days of testing this week and next.  The link for this week's Thursday and Saturday and next Tuesday’s testing dates is: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/COVIDTESTINGAPRIL22ND24TH27TH). Please note that we cannot accommodate walk-ins at the test site.

CT TRAVEL ADVISORY   

Finally, as Governor Lamont announced, Executive Order 9S, Section 1 regarding travel is no longer in effect.  Connecticut residents and travelers to Connecticut should follow travel-related guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Connecticut Department of Public Health which can be found on the State’s coronavirus website (www.ct.gov/coronavirus/travel).