Stratford Coronavirus Update: Police To Enforce 5-Person Rule

STRATFORD, CT — Stratford police will be actively patrolling and enforcing an order issued Thursday by the governor prohibiting groups from congregating in numbers larger than five, according to a news release from the mayor's office. The order is intended as a precaution against the new coronavirus, which has rapidly spread across Connecticut.

"I cannot stress the importance of this enough; social distancing is absolutely essential to slowing the spread of the coronavirus," Mayor Laura Hoydick said in the news release. "I expect every resident will do their part to ensure that they are staying home as much as possible, and not congregating in groups of over five participants. It is also incumbent upon parents to ensure that their children are not out in groups over the permitted size."

Hoydick added that although the town is keeping parks and beaches open, residents must observe social distancing when they go to public recreation areas.

"Police will be enforcing this, and I have directed patrols to increase accordingly. They will be enforcing this not only at the beaches and parks, but anywhere they see groups over the permitted size," she said in the news release.

Officers have been instructed to educate residents about the executive order limiting groups to five people, according to the news release.

"Let’s all work together to keep each other safe," Police Chief Joe McNeil said in the news release.

As of Friday, there were 18 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in Stratford and 752 in Fairfield County, according to state data.

If residents see groups over the size of five participants congregating at any location in town, they are encouraged to call Stratford police at 203-385-4100, or reach out through the 411 app, available for download on the Stratford Police Department website at www.stratfordctpd.com.