Norwalk Coronavirus Update: 2 More Deaths; Total Reaches 23

NORWALK, CT — Two more Norwalk residents passed away of complications from the new coronavirus (COVID-19) as of Wednesday, bringing the number of reported deaths to 23, according to Mayor Harry Rilling.

The number of confirmed cases in the city climbed to 644, and reached 4,417 in Fairfield County as of Wednesday. Statewide, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases eclipsed 8,700 as of Wednesday evening, and 335 deaths have been reported, according to Connecticut health officials.

"I offer condolences to their families and will hold them in my heart and mind. I wish them peace as they grieve the loss of their loved ones," Rilling said in a statement. "I do not want today's relatively low number of reported positive cases to be interpreted that things are slowing down. We are still in the middle of a public health crisis. I ask everyone, from our teens to our seniors, to adhere to physical distancing guidelines since many of us could be carriers and not even know it. I ask us all to be intentional and deliberate in the decisions we make and realize those choices affect our entire community."

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This is part of Mayor Rilling's Wednesday statement:

• Members of the public continue to discard used gloves and masks in parking lots and shopping carts, creating a public health risk. Mayor Rilling is ordering retail establishments to place specially labeled trash receptacles for gloves and masks in the parking lots and near cart return areas. Additionally, the Norwalk Police Department is watching shopping centers and will ticket anyone observed littering.
• Mayor Rilling will join Norwalk Chief of Police Tom Kulhawik for a virtual “Coffee with a Cop” on Thursday, April 9, at noon. Mayor Rilling served on the Norwalk Police Department for 41 years, and was Chief of 17 years. Virtual “Coffee with a Cop” can be viewed on Instagram Live on the @NorwalkCTPD page.
• Governor Lamont issued “Safe Workplace Rules for Essential Employers” guidelines yesterday. All workplaces considered essential must follow these rules to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
• City officials remind those who are over 70 years old to stay at home, if possible. All non-essential travel, shopping, and non-essential medical appointments should restricted. If they do need to go out, seniors should to the greatest extent possible avoid public transportation.
• Governor Lamont’s Executive Order 7S requires municipalities to enact new measures to assist local taxpayers. The Finance Committee of the Common Council will be discussing a 90 day grace period for any taxes on real property, personal property or motor vehicles that are due July 1 at its April 9 meeting, and it is expected to be voted on by the Full Council on April 14. Mayor Rilling strongly recommends the Council approve a 90 day “no questions asked” extension for any Norwalk taxpayer.

Members of the public are encouraged to sign-up for the City’s CodeRED Emergency Alert Notification System at norwalkct.org/codered. Updates on City services, hours, and community resources will be routinely published at norwalkct.org/citynews. The latest health updates can be found at norwalkct.org/coronavirus.