Westport Operations Director Sara Harris announced that due to the nice weather and warmer than normal temperatures this weekend, car and pedestrian traffic has been increasing at the Westport beaches. “In an abundance of caution and to ensure public health and safety, the parking lots will close tomorrow when they reach 50% capacity, as was done during the summer. We will reopen as spaces become available,” she announced.

While in the Compo Beach area, wear masks when walking on the beach boardwalk, using the restrooms or area sidewalks, or at any other time when you are unable to maintain a six-foot distance from others.

The state said today its Westport COVID-19 case count was up 1 at 479 (448 confirmed and 31 probable) and deaths unchanged at 23. (This is 14.2 cases per 100,000.)

First Selectman Jim Marpe issued the following statement today:

The State of Connecticut has implemented a color-coded map indicating the average daily rate of COVID-19 cases among persons living in community settings per 100,000 population by town.

According to a 14-day rolling average, Westport now has a rate of 13.3 corresponding to the orange color category of 10-14 cases per 100,000. The colors are meant to provide communities an accurate account of the prevalence of COVID-19 so that the appropriate personal precautions can be managed. Given this status, the CT Department of Public Health (DPH) recommends adherence to the rules of phase 2.1 listed below. The map and additional data links can be seen on Westport’s town page at www.westportct.gov/covid19.

• Restaurants will return to or remain at 50 percent capacity with a maximum of 8 people limited to a table;
• Restaurants and entertainment venues will be required to close by 9:30 p.m., except for food takeout and delivery services, which will be allowed to continue after 9:30 p.m.;
• Personal services, such as hair salons and barber shops, will remain at 75 percent capacity;
• Event venues will be limited to 25 people indoor, 50 people outdoor;
• Performing arts venues and movie theaters will have a capacity of 100 people;
• Religious gatherings will be limited to 50 percent capacity or 100 people maximum; and
• A public health advisory is issued urging residents to remain indoors between 10pm and 5am, unless for essential activities.