Darien Coronavirus Updates: First Selectman Relaxes Bag Rules

DARIEN, CT — The town has relaxed its year-old ban on single-use paper and plastic bags, which will temporarily allow Darien businesses to provide bags at check-out during the new coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, First Selectman Jayme Stevenson announced Wednesday.

The decision to relax the ordinance came after several local businesses expressed concerns to Stevenson that the reusable bags that customers had grown to accustomed to using are a potential "source of bacteria and contamination." Germs from COVID-19 can live on some surfaces for several hours or longer, according to health experts.

"We want to make sure businesses that are open can help keep their employees safe," Stevenson told Patch.

Read Stevenson's resolution easing the bag ordinance.

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As of Wednesday, Darien had 14 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to state officials. The town has not recorded a death due to the virus, but Connecticut has had 19 deaths, 12 of which were in Fairfield County.

Darien Town Hall remains closed to the public, and so are schools and the town's other facilities.