Westport Coronavirus: 14 Partygoers May Have Been Exposed

WESTPORT, CT — At least 14 people who attended a going-away party in Westport on March 5 may have contracted coronavirus after one man at the private event tested positive for the illness, town officials announced Wednesday afternoon.

The man, who has not been identified, has since left the United States and is recuperating in his unnamed home country, said Westport-Weston Health District Health Director Mark Cooper during a news conference in front of Town Hall.

At least 40 people, both children and adults, attended the party, officials said. Westport Public Schools announced Wednesday it closed schools. And Westport Town Hall and the Westport Library both will be closed to the public until March 16.

"The state strongly encourages that school districts first look at closing for a two-week time frame, and that's what we're doing," Westport Public Schools Human Resources Director John Bayers said.

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Cooper spoke with the patient and a list is being drawn up of all of the people who attended the party. He said they are awaiting tests of 14 partygoers to determine if they contracted the virus.

"So far, there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Westport," Cooper said. "But we are presuming these individuals may have it."

On Wednesday, state officials confirmed that an elderly New Canaan man contracted COVID-19 ans is being treated in Norwalk Hospital. Like Westport, New Canaan closed its public school system for 14 days.

Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe said he spoke with Gov. Ned Lamont about the lack of available test kits in Connecticut, adding that the governor "is as frustrated as we are about that."

The library and Town Hall will be cleaned while the buildings are closed.

"We want to make sure that Town Hall doesn't become a site of transmission of the virus," Marpe said.

The Westport Senior and Teen centers also will be closed and cleaned over the next few days, according to Elaine Daignault, director of Westport's Human Services Department.

Below is a Wednesday afternoon update from Westport Public Schools:

Dear Westport Families,

Our district has been actively planning for coronavirus (COVID-19) and the possibility of a prolonged school closure. As of Thursday, March 12th, all district schools will be closed until further notice.

School Closures and Continuity of Learning
This week, state officials provided districts with information regarding short-term school closures (up to two weeks). At that time we were informed that if districts were to decide to close schools for up to two weeks, they would be required to make-up lost days by adding days to the school calendar and/or changing vacation days to school days. Adding back lost school days would enable the district to meet its obligations concerning state and federal laws, including those associated with special education services. Any closure beyond two weeks would require further consultation with the Connecticut State Department of Education.

If the decision is made to close school beyond a few days, activities, to the extent possible, will be provided to students and families that would allow for continuity of learning and to help students transition back to school. These activities are encouraged, but not required. Activities are intended to:

• keep students academically active;
• reinforce and sustain current learning; and
• preview curricular content.

These activities will not be graded and students will not be required to submit completed work. There are many opportunities for students to engage in appropriate learning activities through their Chromebooks (grades three through eight), which all students in those grades should have at home.

Special Education
Many students receiving special education and related services will be able to access the learning materials that are being sent home from classroom teachers. Some work has been modified for specific student learning needs. In addition, where appropriate, related services providers (occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech/language pathologists, social workers and school psychologists) have provided activities that can occur at home. None of these learning materials are meant to replace instruction; rather it is provided to engage students while they are home.

Once school reopens, student services will resume. School days missed will be made up as described above.

Future Communication
We will continue to share pertinent information with regard to this rapidly evolving challenge. In the interim, we encourage all families and staff members to take part in every-day preventive practices to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and maintain healthy school environments.

Anthony Buono Ann Leffert
Assistant Superintendent for Interim Director of Pupil Personnel
Teaching and Learning Services