Norwalk Coronavirus Update: 3 More Deaths, No New Cases

NORWALK, CT — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Norwalk stood at 1,917 as of Monday, with no new cases reported Sunday, but the number of death increased by three to 115, according to Mayor Harry Rilling.

"It makes me sad to share that three more residents have died from COVID-19," Rilling said. "My heart goes out to their families, friends, and loved ones who are grieving. While reporting no new cases today is certainly welcomed, I hope it does not give anyone belief that this virus has been defeated. The virus is still here and we must continue to take necessary precautions to keep our community safe and healthy."

Statewide, the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grew by 697 to 38,116 as of Monday, and there were 41 coronavirus-related deaths to bring the total to 3,449.

Hospitalizations for the virus continue to drop in Connecticut, with that number at 920 as of Monday, a decrease of 17 from the day before. (Don't miss local and statewide news about coronavirus developments and precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.)

Norwalk's new mall, The SoNo Collection, will reopen on May 20, as are other malls in the state under guidelines from Gov. Ned Lamont.

Additionally, city officials began accepting permit applications from local restaurants to reopen open this week for outdoor dining.

"My staff is working hard to get permits approved so businesses can safely reopen this week," Rilling said. "We are really trying to find the right balance between supporting businesses and ensuring public safety. I waived permit fees to help our local businesses, but that does not mean we will relax guidelines that are in place to protect the health and safety of the public."

This is from Rilling's Monday announcement:

• Governor Lamont and Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo announced that the reopening of hair salons and barbershops, originally slated for May 20, was being pushed back to early June. More information on this announcement can be found at ct.gov.
• Phase One of the Reopen Norwalk Plan begins on Wednesday, May 20. City officials remind residents to verify their license plate information online before heading to a park or beach. Nonresidents will be ticketed and towed, so it is important the public checks information online. Residents can visit norwalkct.org/passes 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to verify their vehicle status and obtain more information.
• Mayor Rilling hosted a Zoom Town Hall with Chief of Economic and Community Development Jessica Casey, Director of Planning and Zoning Steve Kleppin, and Director of Business Development and Tourism Sabrina Church. The Town Hall was recorded and can be watched on the City of Norwalk YouTube Channel.
• The City is hosting a webinar tomorrow, May 19, at 3 p.m. to discuss in more detail the outdoor dining permit application process and to answer questions from local businesses. The webinar can be accessed by visiting norwalkct.org/meetings.

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.