Latest Ridgefield Coronavirus Updates: Death Toll Now 7

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Two more residents of Ridgefield Crossings have died from the new coronavirus, bringing the death toll from the disease to seven, First Selectman Rudy Marconi said in a statement released Sunday afternoon.

There are 64 active cases of COVID-19 in the Town, ranging in age from 12 to 101, according to Health Director Ed Briggs.

These were the fifth and sixth deaths of residents of the Benchmark Senior Living facility, which remains under lockdown. The first death at the facility was also the first in the state from COVID-19.

Since Saturday, an additional 469 Connecticut residents tested positive

for the new coronavirus, bringing the total to 1,993 cases across the state, state officials said. Thirty-four people have died.

"As more people retreat from New York City, many have come to Ridgefield," Marconi said. "All our friends and neighbors from South Salem, North Salem and all the areas we have always welcomed continue to be welcome. As we are all doing, please continue to take the necessary precautions of social distancing, washing your hands, sanitizing, etc."

Ridgefield officials have taken several steps to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. All recreation areas including basketball, tennis, pickle ball and paddle courts are closed. The dog park and all playgrounds are closed. The high school track is available for walking and jogging by individuals practicing social distancing; no group jogging is allowed.

The Ridgefield Golf Course remains closed, "until we can be assured that it can be managed without encouraging groups to congregate," according to a press release from the OEM. "We have also had two positive cases there and while two weeks have passed since the diagnosis, we are acting out of an abundance of caution." The golf course is open for walking or hiking, only if social distancing is practiced.

Ridgefield Responds, a charity under the nonprofit Friends of Ridgefield, is now taking donations that will be used towards Ridgefield's recovery efforts and will be used for those unemployed or laid off due to COVID-19 for help with rents and mortgages. Contributions may be sent to: Friends of Ridgefield –Ridgefield Responds, 400 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877. Be sure to notify employers who sponsor matching contributions.

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The Ridgefield Fire and Public Works departments are working as usual. Town buildings are closed to the public. Ridgefield Public Schools are closed until at least April 20, but distance learning continues online. Teachers are available in their "virtual classrooms" from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday for the duration of the closing.

Police are modifying their response to non-investigative type complaints. The types of complaints that officers will take over the phone are those that do not require an officer to be present. If it is determined that an officer is needed to respond to an incident, they will keep a safe distance away from the public as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All fingerprinting, child safety seat installations, and unwanted medication drop off has been suspended until further notice.

The Ridgefield Library is temporarily closed. The library has online resources, including downloadable books, audiobooks, streaming video and music, language learning, and research databases available through its website.

Residents are encouraged to sign up to receive coronavirus messages on the Connecticut Alert website. Those without an email address may use noemail@ridgefield.org.