6 Town Employees Positive For Coronavirus In Stratford

STRATFORD, CT — Six town employees have tested positive for the new coronavirus, a Stratford official confirmed Tuesday.

That’s five employees in addition to Finance Director Jay Wahlberg, who died April 9 of complications from the virus. The cases among town staff occurred across multiple departments, with most workers who contracted the virus showing symptoms around mid-March, according to Mike Downes, chief of staff to the mayor, who said he was unable to provide additional specifics.

There were 11 virus-associated deaths and 265 confirmed cases of the virus as of Monday among Stratford residents. Statewide as of Monday, there were 13,381 confirmed cases and 602 virus-associated deaths.

Stratford is making an effort to balance the need to provide continued service to residents while also prioritizing the health of its staff, Downes said.

In town departments where an employee exhibited symptoms, any workers who had been in contact with the person were asked to self-quarantine for two weeks, according to Downes, who added that none of the finance department staff became ill after the two weeks following the emergence of Wahlberg's symptoms. Town employees who develop symptoms are being advised to contact their primary health care provider, Downes said.

Town Hall has been closed to the public since March 17 and the building received a two-day deep cleaning in late March. Stratford employees started working staggered schedules March 23 to reduce exposure and those who had concerns about working in Town Hall were given the option to request accommodations.

The town ordered laptops so as many workers as possible could do their jobs remotely. Stratford is at the beginning of a two-week period of remote staffing, which may be extended, according to Downes.

“Most people have the capacity to work remotely, at least for several days,” he said.