3 COVID-19 Deaths Reported In Last Week, But Active Cases Dropped

GREENWICH, CT — There have been three new COVID-19 deaths reported in Greenwich over the past week, bringing the death toll in town since the pandemic began to 93.

Despite the increase, First Selectman Fred Camillo said active cases have declined over the past week from 68 to 52. Altogether, there have been 5,757 COVID-19 cases in Greenwich since March 2020. Cases per 100,000 have remained the same at 12.8 since Sept. 22.

According to Camillo 79.37 percent of the eligible population in Greenwich (52,482) has been fully vaccinated, and 85.87 percent have had at least a first dose.

At Greenwich Hospital as of Wednesday morning, there were four COVID-19-positive patients being treated, with one in the Intensive Care Unit on a ventilator, according to hospital president Diane Kelly. Across the Yale New Haven Health System's five hospitals, 58 COVID-19-positive patients were being treated on Wednesday, down from 73 the week before.

Greenwich Hospital is continuing to work on getting staff vaccinated. The deadline to get all employees inoculated is Oct. 1. Kelly said as of Wednesday afternoon, there were 30 employees who were not yet vaccinated out of 1,878. The total number of people includes physicians who are on call but might not be employed, Kelly said.

Those who don't comply with the mandate face termination, but Kelly hopes it doesn't get that far.

"They have until tomorrow to get their first vaccine, and we've already started that Human Resource process so that may nudge people in that direction," Kelly said. "They'll receive their first warning this week followed by a second warning, then our policy is a third warning is your final. We hope we don't get there with anybody."

Forty people have received exemptions from the vaccine and will get tested weekly, Kelly said.

Camillo said "it's looking good" as far vaccinations go in town departments.

"Most of the departments are really high. We're in good shape but we don't have final numbers yet," he said, noting that a deadline might not be enforced because of the high rate.

Earlier this week, Greenwich Hospital announced that booster shots and third doses will be available at the hospital inside the Noble Conference Room beginning Oct. 2. Appointment can be made online.

Pfizer boosters are available for long-term care residents and those 65 and older, 18 to 64 with underlying conditions, and 18 and older at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure.

Third doses for patients who are immunocompromised and might not have received strong immunity after the original two-dose series of Pfizer or Moderna are available as well.

Differences between a third dose and a booster can be found here.

Kelly, who received the Moderna vaccine, said getting the booster can only be beneficial.

"If the booster is available to me and I meet one of these criteria I would go ahead and get it. I see no reason not to. I see all the reasons that could benefit," she said.