Coronavirus: Marconi Urges Ridgefield to 'Fight Complacency'

RIDGEFIELD, CT — First Selectman Rudy Marconi is asking residents to "fight complacency" as the stare down the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, a vaccine shortage and a new, more infectious mutant strain of the disease.

"With the unrolling of the vaccine and the onset of COVID fatigue, we are all impatient to return to a normal life. But with winter upon us and a new variant of the virus threatening, this is the time to dig our heels in and take extra precautions. Wear your mask whether vaccinated or not, practice social distancing, avoid crowds and wash your hands often."

The "new variant" is strain B.1.1.7, commonly known as the "UK variant," and has been detected in four additional patients in Connecticut who recently tested positive for COVID-19. This brings the total number of confirmed cases of the mutant strain in the state to eight, according to state health officials.

"This new strain, which is considered to be more easily transmitted, is spreading quickly throughout the world, and it's highly likely that these are not the only eight cases in Connecticut," Gov. Ned Lamont said Monday.

There have been 888 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ridgefield, and 55 residents have died due to the virus, according to the state Department of Public Health.

There has been a serious upswing in cases at Laurel Ridge Health Care since Thanksgiving after a relatively stable Summer and early fall.

There has been one more case among Laurel Ridge staff — 48 to date — than there has been among residents, but no deaths.

As of last week, coronavirus the vaccine became available only to the remnants of the phase 1a group (frontline healthcare workers, medical first responders, residents and staff of long term care facilities) and the new phase 1b cohort, those aged 75 and older.

Lamont said residents 65 and older will be vaccinated "in a couple of weeks," followed by front-line workers and people with high-risk conditions in February and early March.

In Ridgefield, vaccinations are given by appointment only online and made through the Vaccine Administration Management System. A Help Line — 203-431-2718 — is now open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

As the vaccine is currently in short supply, town officials encourage residents to get vaccinated anywhere they can get an appointment within a reasonable distance. Those who choose to wait for a Ridgefield appointment must cancel their other appointment before they can make a new one and there is no guarantee that another appointment will be available in Ridgefield.

Due to the limited vaccines, the clinic will only be open on Thursday of this week.