Saturday, March 25, 2023

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Health and Fitness

Marpe: Westport COVID-19 Classification Now Orange

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.

Superintendent Scarice: Positive COVID-19 Case at Coleytown Elementary

Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice today issued the following update to school families:

Dear Westport Families and Staff,

This afternoon, Mrs. Janna Sirowich, Principal of Coleytown Elementary School, was made aware of an individual in the school who tested positive for COVID-19. The affected person will be excluded from the school environment and has been instructed to quarantine at home. 

Upon learning of the positive COVID-19 case, the administration began immediate contact tracing. Those determined to be “close contacts”, including the health office staff at Coleytown Elementary School, have been notified. These individuals spent a significant amount of time in the presence of the positive case, and as a result, were informed that they will be excluded from the school environment and recommended to quarantine for 14 days from the date of contact, October 30. Other nursing staff will be assigned to the Coleytown Elementary School health office during the quarantine period.

As I have shared in prior communications of a similar nature, working closely with the Westport/Weston Health District and our medical advisor, it has been confirmed that the staff and students have implemented our mitigating measures by maintaining distance to the maximum extent possible, and by wearing masks. However, the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE)/Department of Public Health (DPH) guidance (Addendum 5 and Addendum 9) indicates that decisions for exclusion from school and quarantine will be based on the individual circumstances of each case, including those who have spent a significant amount of time (i.e. more than 15 minutes) in the presence of a positive case, regardless of mask wearing.

Superintendent Scarice Issues COVID-19 Update

Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice today issued the following update to school families:

Dear Westport Families and Staff,

This afternoon the district was made aware of two related positive COVID-19 cases in our schools. The affected individuals, one from Kings Highway Elementary School, and the other, from Bedford Middle School, have not been in the schools in recent days. They will remain excluded from both school environments and have been instructed to continue quarantining at home. 

Upon learning of the positive COVID-19 cases, the administration began immediate contact tracing. It has been determined that no other individuals at either school were identified as “close contacts.”

As I have shared in prior communications of a similar nature, working closely with the Westport/Weston Health District and our medical advisor, it has been confirmed that the staff and students have implemented our mitigating measures by maintaining distance to the maximum extent possible, and by wearing masks. However, the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE)/Department of Public Health (DPH) guidance indicates that decisions for exclusion from school and quarantine will be based on the individual circumstances of each case, including those who have spent a significant amount of time (i.e. more than 15 minutes) in the presence of a positive case, regardless of mask wearing.

Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 10, Deaths Unchanged

The state said today its Westport COVID-19 case count was up 10 at 438 (417 confirmed and 21 probable) and deaths unchanged at 23. The current case rate is 7.9 per 100,000.

Connecticut’s daily coronavirus infection test rate soared beyond 6% on Thursday — roughly six times the daily rate the state faced all summer and early into the fall.

A somber Gov. Ned Lamont warned residents to brace for the worst, but he opted not to reverse the Oct. 8 easing of restrictions on business activities.

Instead, the governor granted more municipalities flexibility to tighten rules on businesses within their own borders — though he warned he could order new restrictions statewide as soon as next week.