Coronavirus Hamden: Mayor Leng Updates On Precautionary Measures

HAMDEN, CT — The town, working in conjunction with the state and local health district, is taking precautionary measures and “working to provide important” safety information regarding the new coronavirus, according to Mayor Curt Balzano Leng.

Leng said the town has been advised by the health district, and therefore “strongly recommend that residents who are immune system compromised or a related medical condition should immediately restrict contact with and avoid the public in confined spaces (please contact your doctor with any questions or clarification needs) and our elderly residents should also strictly limit and be cautious about contact with the public in confined spaces.”

Leng announced late Monday night that the town is implementing the following additional precaution and prevention steps, which began Monday, consistent with the state’s recommendations and following consultation with the Quinnipiac Valley Health District and other professional sources and staff:

- All Town of Hamden Public Buildings are being sanitized overnight with extensive cleaning, using cleaning protocols given by the Health District. Following this effort, additional daily cleanings routines are being developed and will start rolling out tomorrow at recommended time intervals for our Hamden Public Buildings, especially those with community areas and focusing on commonly touched surfaces and areas. Additional overnight cleaning efforts will remain more robust and will expand if needed or recommended by the Health Department

- The Town is setting limitations on large group events, assemblies and meetings at Town facilities with close to or more than 100 expected participants to reduce the risk of exposure for all. This is effective Tuesday, March 10, and follows and remains consistent with the State recommended limitations and actions;

- The Town of Hamden, until further notice, is also banning all out of state business travel, with only emergency exceptions considered and requiring the approval of the Director of Emergency Management;

- The Town will be working with the Elderly Services Department and Quinnipiac Valley Health on extra efforts we can take at our senior center, at senior events and by informing seniors, consistent with the prevention efforts recommended by the State to work to further protect our population that is 70+ and at higher risk;

- The Hamden School District Superintendent discussed matters with the Quinnipiac Valley Health District, participated in the State-wide conference call as well and is continuing to work with his staff to ensure compliance with expert recommendations.

- The Mayor, Director of Emergency Management and several members of the Town’s Emergency Management Team will participate in a State Department of Emergency Management DEHHS Region 2 COVID-19 Conference Meeting scheduled for the morning of March 11 and will participate the same day in a Federal Presidential Conference Call Discussion of these matters scheduled for the afternoon. The Town would report any additional information gathered from these two key discussions later the same day if applicable;

- There will be daily coordination with the Hamden Emergency Management team and all Town Departments and Agencies, as well as further coordination efforts with the business and non-profit communities in the days and weeks ahead.

- Hamden will work to keep residents as informed with any additional information issued from Federal or State Agencies and our local Health Department, with updates, prevention recommendations or changes to policies or protocols

Beyond these protocols and action steps, the Town of Hamden would like to “highly encourage” all residents and visitors to please ensure you are doing the most important and highly recommended actions you can do to help prevention efforts, which is Encourage Healthy Behaviors:

• Encourage and engage in frequent hand washing, for a minimum of 20-seconds.
• Use hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60 percent alcohol content when you may not be able to wash your hands.
• Refrain from touching your eyes, mouth, face, and nose.
• If you are not feeling well, stay home and away from people
• Cover sneezes and coughs with your arm.
• Anyone who is not feeling well and especially if you have a fever, should stay home.

If you are not feeling well or exhibiting symptoms, you should contact your doctor and discuss or call the State’s Emergency Coronavirus Hotline if you have questions and don’t have a doctor to call. Anyone with questions relating to coronavirus can call 2-1-1 or text "CTVOID" to 898211. The 2-1-1 hotline is available 24 hours a day.

Avoid hand shaking and teach others to elbow bump as a means of social greetings.

For events or meetings with large numbers of people within arm’s length of each other, encourage those who are at higher risk due to age (70 or older), cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, or chronic lung diseases like COPD, as well as those with severely weakened immune systems, not to attend or dial in.

Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious foods.