New Canaan Weekly Report from First Selectman Kevin Moynihan

This evening, Thursday, August 19th New Canaan First Selectman Kevin Moynihan provided the community with a coronavirus update and provided a weekly report, vaccination and testing update, and more. Please read below.

WEEKLY COVID-19 REPORT 

Our COVID-19 positive cases have remained stable with 21 cases so far this week, which is the number that we had last week. These local positive cases continue to occur across all age brackets and predominantly in the unvaccinated. We are seeing local cases occur among multiple family members so we urge you to try to isolate positive family members to the extent possible.  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.

 In the past four weeks, we’ve had a total of 18 “break-through” positive cases of fully vaccinated residents, all of which have been associated with travel or being in close contact with someone who recently traveled to an area with low vaccination/high transmission rates. The 18 break-through cases are out of 14,222 fully vaccinated New Canaan residents which equates to 0.13%, so becoming infected with COVID-19 for those fully vaccinated continues to be rare and we encourage everyone who can be vaccinated to get vaccinated. The majority of the break through cases are asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms so the vaccine is effective in preventing severe illness and death in these known local cases. We urge residents to refer to CDC travel guidance for additional information if you are planning a trip to an area that has low vaccination/high transmission rates, as additional mitigation measures may be needed in the destination you may be planning to travel to. 

The Centers for Disease Control has now placed Fairfield County in the “High Transmission” category of COVID-19.  Fairfield is the fifth county in the state to be upgraded to the High Transmission category.  The CDC High Transmission category -- which is the most severe as defined by the CDC -- is 100 or more cases per 100,000 people or a positivity rate of 10 percent or higher over the past seven days. 

Last week, the CT DPH website alert data listed New Canaan as being orange in terms of case rate. Orange  indicates case rates between 10 and 14 per 100,000 population. Several towns in Fairfield County also are orange. [You can check out the CT DPH town alert map at https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/COVID-19-Data-Tracker which is updated by DPH weekly on Thursday nights.]  

VACCINATION UPDATE 

CT DPH recently has broken down local vaccination data into smaller age brackets. According to state DPH data as of August 12th, 99.68% of our seniors over age 65, 86.78% of those age 45 to 64, 99.81% of those age 25 to 44, 99.35% of those aged 18-24, and 89.27% of those aged 12-17 years old have received at least one dose of vaccine. Overall, 76.63% of our total New Canaan population has received at least one dose and 70.29% of our total population is now fully vaccinated. Our Health Department has administered 13,927 doses to date. 

The New Canaan Health Department continues to provide vaccinations by appointment of all 3 vaccines for those still in need of either a first or second dose.  The Pfizer, Moderna and Jansen (J&J) vaccines are all available. 

To schedule a vaccination appointment with the New Canaan Health Department please call 203-594-3020 or email Shannon.vallerie@newcanaanct.gov.  The Health Department office is located in Vine Cottage, 77 Main Street, next to Town Hall.

As a reminder, J&J is a single dose vaccine for ages 18 and over, Moderna is a two dose vaccine taken at least 28 days apart for ages 18 and over, and Pfizer is a two dose vaccine taken at least 21 days apart for ages 12 & over. Pfizer is the only FDA EUA approved vaccine for those aged 12-17 years old.

 Per the CT DPH, vaccine providers can administer 3rd booster doses only to those categorized as moderately or severely immune compromised at this time. This includes individuals:  receiving cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood, received an organ transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system, received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system, advanced or untreated HIV infection, moderately or severe primary immunodeficiency such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, and those receiving active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your  immune system. It is recommended individuals speak with their primary care providers prior to scheduling an appointment for a 3rd booster dose. The booster doses only pertain to Pfizer & Moderna at this time. 

CT DPH has stated they are evaluating guidance for 3rd booster doses for the general population of those vaccinated 8 months or more ago and that may begin after September 20th but final guidance has not been issued to date.  CT DPH continues to stress the importance of those currently unvaccinated to get vaccinated and those who have not completed their two dose series to complete their series. No 3rd dose boosters will be administered to the general population until we receive final guidance from CT DPH.                            

 COVID-19 TESTING 

The Town will again stand up weekly community testing in partnership with Waveny LifeCare Network for residents who have traveled or otherwise wish to be tested. PCR COVID-19 testing will be available for New Canaan residents only two days a week beginning next Tuesday and Thursday, August 24 and August 26 from 7:00 a.m.to 10 a.m. at the Paddle Hut in Waveny Park at the Waveny Pool entrance on Lapham Road.  Pre-registration is required and you must bring your insurance card and a photo ID to your test appointment.  We again thank Waveny LifeCare Network for assisting the Town to provide convenient local PCR testing to our community.  (Note:  The SEMA4 lab test fee may be paid by your insurance, but the swabbing service at the Waveny Paddle Hut with Waveny Lifecare Network nurses will be paid for by the Town at this time.) 

To register for COVID 19 testing for next Tuesday, August 24, or Thursday, August 26, please click on the following SignUpGenius link here and complete registration for each individual to be tested. As a reminder, SEMA4 lab requires a separate email and registration for each individual being tested so if your child does not have an email address we suggest creating a free Gmail or similar free email account for your child’s registration. 

Our Health Department also has limited amount of rapid antigen testing available for New Canaan residents only who are symptomatic and seeking quick results. Contact the Health Department at 203-594-3020 to schedule a rapid test at their office at Vine Cottage. 

For additional testing locations in the area you can call 2-1-1, contact your primary care provider or visit the town website by clicking here for list of COVID-19 testing sites in our area. 

Stay safe, New Canaan. 

N
Submitted by New Canaan, CT

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