Coronavirus Manchester: First Local Cases, 'Soft' Park Closings

MANCHESTER, CT — Town Officials on Sunday confirmed the first positive tests for conoravirus in Manchester. There are four in all, they said. Town officials were also laying down the rules about the "soft closing" of all parks in town amid what they termed social distancing violations.

Officials provided no exact details of the cases in making the announcement. Manchester General manager Scott Shanley said the test results "come as no surprise."

He added, "For the past several weeks, the town has been peparing for the inevitbale rise in confirmed cases and continues to coordinate a response with our state and regional health partners ti limit the spread f the virus."

Mayor Jay Moran added, "I am calling on all Manchester residents to follow the instructions to "flatten the curve and slow the spread of the disease. Manchester is a resilient community made up of resilient people, and while the challenged posed by COVID-19 continue to surface, I am confident our great town will emerge from this stronger than ever."

As of last Thursday, all public parks were closed to "group activities" indefinitely.

Town officials said, despite the rules suggested by municipal and health officials, "It is still evident within our parks there are still some individuals not adhering to the social distancing guidance laid out by Centers for Disease Control."

The town is "taking action to immediately help mitigate risk within our parks and greenspaces," officials said. The actions include:

• Basketball rims have been removed from backboards
• All pickle ball and tennis courts have been locked
• Playscapes are now fenced off
• The Kennedy/Hillstown Soccer Parking Area will be closed

Park ambassadors will be monitoring group activity.

Town officials were promoting the town's hiking, biking and walking trail systems. Click here for the trail guide.