Greenwich Remains Vigilant Against COVID-19 As Case Numbers Drop

GREENWICH, CT — First Selectman Fred Camillo said on Wednesday that Greenwich is "being vigilant" and monitoring the COVID-19 situation as case numbers continue to decline both locally and nationally.

Camillo and Dana Marnane, vice president of communications for Greenwich Hospital, held their biweekly COVID-19 update on Wednesday.

As of Oct. 12, there were 29 active cases in Greenwich, and 5,799 total cases since the pandemic began in March 2020.

"We're seeing a downward trend all over the country which is a good sign that maybe this thing is starting to extinguish itself. We're being vigilant and still monitoring everyday," Camillo said.

At Greenwich Hospital, there were five COVID-19 patients being treated as of Oct. 13 with one patient in the Intensive Care Unit on a ventilator. Marnane said all the patients are unvaccinated.

Across the Yale New Haven Health System's five hospitals, there were 65 COVID-19 patients being treated.

On the vaccination front, Marnane said just over 99 percent of Greenwich Hospital staff have been vaccinated. She noted that at most, 12 employees currently face suspension and/or termination for noncompliance.

Officials in Connecticut and around the country are making preparations to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine to children once final approval is granted at the federal level.

Greenwich Hospital is currently working on a strategy to distribute shots to children.

"We will be ready," Marnane said. "We anticipate hearing something by the end of the month as to whether we can start vaccinations."

Camillo said vaccination rates in town departments are high overall, with percentages ranging from the 70s to the 90s.

"Some people just have an objection to it. Even though I support people doing it and I've been urging people to get the vaccine, I don't like mandating something. There may be a medical reason or a religious reason," Camillo said. If there was a setback with the pandemic, he said he'd consider a mask mandate for unvaccinated town employees.

"The majority of people in town are vaccinated. We're in a very good place. We'll just continue to advocate and urge and suggest and hope people do it. At the end of the day, I know a few people who work here who don't want to get vaccinated but they wear masks, and they're fine."

The mask mandate at town facilities is still in effect. Camillo said he suspects once that is lifted, people will still choose to wear masks.

"And that's fine if they want to wear it," he said. "I bring a mask with me all the time."