Weston, Redding & Easton Coronavirus Updates:

WESTON/REDDING/EASTON, CT — The state Department of Public Health has confirmed there are 13 cases of the new coronavirus in Weston, seven in Redding, and three in Easton, as of Friday.

One Weston resident has died from the virus, reported March 25.

Weston has closed both its tennis and basketball courts, as of Saturday. This stems "partially in response to information being posted in groups in our neighboring communities calling for people to come to our courts to get their play in," according to a notification on the town website.

Weston athletic fields and running track will remain open for adults and children under the age of 16 who are supervised by adults. All athletes must maintain a distance of at least six feet from one another. Beginning March 30, the athletic complex will be supervised by school security staff during normal school hours "and they will be supported by the Weston Police Department if needed," according to the notification from the Town.

Weston Public Schools, and the schools in the Easton/Redding/Region 9 District, are all closed until April 20. Students are currently engaged in distance learning.

Gov. Ned Lamont and public health officials said there have been 27 deaths and 173 people are hospitalized. The governor said, "it's the beginning of the surge." There were six new deaths reported in the past day, Lamont said.

The total number of positive cases is the "biggest number" yet, according to Lamont, but the percentage of positive tests was "lower" at 15 percent. Officials also said that the coronavirus may hit its peak in Connecticut during the second week of April.

The governor has declared a "Stay Safe, Stay Home" program. All non-life-sustaining businesses in Connecticut have been closed, and Lamont has asked Connecticut residents to limit social gatherings to just five people. He has placed additional restrictions on retail operations:

• Restaurant payment and pickup operations are limited to the entrance of customers or third party delivery personnel into locations to the minimum extent necessary to pick up and/or pay for orders, use touchless payment systems, and require remote ordering and payment.
• Retail operations that have been allowed to remain open and permit customers inside are required to take appropriate and reasonable measures to ensure customers maintain six feet distance between each other, and manage resulting lines to maintain such distance while people wait to enter. Employers may not require employees to place items in customers' reusable bags, and the tax on single-use checkout has been suspended.
• All firearm transactions must be conducted by appointment only.

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The State of Connecticut has instituted a Recovery Bridge Loan Program for businesses or nonprofits with 100 or less employees. Details and the application form are available online.