Town Of Wilton Publishes Coronavirus Update For March 8

Press release from the Town of Wilton:

March 8, 2021

March 8th - "A year ago today, Sunday March 8, 2020, Governor Lamont announced Connecticut’s first COVID-19 positive resident, a resident of Wilton. A year later, more than 20% of Wilton residents have been vaccinated and the Town’s Emergency Management Team is developing the plan to implement the rollback of restrictions announced last week by the Governor. The path forward to normalcy is becoming clearer. We hope to have more details about the changes later this week.

CDC Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Residents

Today, the CDC issued interim guidance for fully vaccinated residents. People are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after they have received the second dose in a two-dose series or the one dose for a single-dose vaccine. When not in a healthcare setting, the following can be done.

• Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing.
• Visit with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing.
• Refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if asymptomatic.

Fully vaccinated people should continue to:

• In public, wear a mask and physical distance.
• Wear masks, physical distance, and practice other prevention measures when visiting with unvaccinated people from multiple households.
• Avoid medium- and large-sized in-person gatherings.
• Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
• Follow guidance issued by individual employers
• Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations

Rescue Plan Funding

The Federal American Rescue Plan, which is expected to receive final approval and the President’s signature later this week, includes $1.6 billion in aid to Connecticut municipalities and $1 billion in aid to Connecticut schools. The exact details as to the amount of aid for the Town of Wilton and the Wilton Public Schools and when the funds will be received is not yet known. As we understand it, monies for municipalities are to reimburse costs, replace lost revenues and fund other efforts determined by the Town. Fortunately, on the Town side, we do not have significant unreimbursed costs or lost revenue. Use of funds by the schools will be provided to the BOE and Dr. Smith.

The distributed funds are not intended to be used to provide one-time property tax relief. More details will be shared as they become available.

Vaccine Data

This weekend, we received a shipment of Moderna vaccines, which allows the Wilton Health Department to hold a second vaccine clinic for in-person education employees. At a minimum, we expect all Wilton Public School classroom employees, who choose to receive the vaccine through the Town and are not in quarantine, will be vaccinated by the end of this week. Clinics are expected to be held next week for additional in-person education and childcare workers employed in Wilton.

Today the Governor released the following data for Connecticut:

• 137,000 doses of the vaccine are being received into the State this week.
• 75% of residents 75 and up have received a first dose.
• 64% of residents 65 to 74 have received a first dose.
• 25% of residents aged 55 to 64 have received a first dose. This amount includes medical workers vaccinated in Phase 1A.

This week’s expected doses are down from the 150,000 received last week. Likely due to last week’s one-time bump of 30,000 J & J vaccines that was not expected to be repeated this week. In addition to targeting doses to education and childcare workers, CT DPH is targeting doses to cities, where the rate of vaccination is significantly lower than the surrounding suburban communities. Per CT DPH, as of the end of last week, 50% of residents 75 and up in Bridgeport were vaccinated versus 101% in Wilton and 47% aged 65 to 74 versus 82% in Wilton. 55% of residents 75 and up in Hartford versus 86% in Avon and 41% aged 65 to 74 versus 77% in Avon.

These data points mean, unless there is an increase in weekly doses received, residents 55 to 64 could be waiting into April to receive the vaccine and newly eligible residents as of March 22nd will not likely receive an appointment in March. If you are eligible and still don’t have an appointment, you are encouraged to search all providers on the links on the Town’s Coronavirus Resources webpage or call the State telephone number listed. If you double booked appointments, please cancel your no longer needed appointment, so it can be used by another resident.

Please practice the 5 W’s and behave as if you have the virus and as if those around you do as well.

5 W’s

• Watch your distance
• Wear a mask/face covering when you can’t maintain 6 feet of distance whether indoors or outside
• Walk, run or bike to the right in single file when passing another person on the NRVT, sidewalks and trails
• Wait to host indoor gatherings
• Wash your hands

If you have a question, please email me at lynne.vanderslice@wiltonct.org."

Lynne Vanderslice

First Selectwoman

This press release was produced by the Town of Wilton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.