First Selectman Jim Marpe issued the following statement today:

Yesterday, Governor Lamont announced that 145 of Connecticut’s 169 municipalities are now in the red zone alert level, the highest of the state’s four alert levels on the weekly COVID-19 Alert Map. The red zone indicates municipalities that have an average daily COVID-19 case rate over the last two weeks of greater than 15 per 100,000 population. Westport remains in the red zone and has witnessed further growth in cases. This week, Westport is calculated at 33 cases out of a population of 100,000, compared to 22.4 cases last week. There are no municipalities in the State that were in the red zone last week that have been recategorized to a lower alert level this week.

According to the CDC, more than 1 million COVID-19 cases were reported in the United States over the last 7 days. This statistic is alarming and demonstrates that we must remain vigilant. We must anticipate that cases will continue to spread as individuals are travelling, returning home from college, gathering, and shopping in the weeks ahead. Wearing masks, social distancing and avoiding gatherings is a must if we are to control this pandemic.

This year, many of the traditional activities surrounding Thanksgiving and the upcoming holiday season have the potential to be a threat to our health and safety. I urge all residents to refrain from the typical large and plentiful holiday gatherings. As of November 6th, the State-wide cap on gathering in private residences is 10, down from 25. Please keep your Thanksgiving celebration to no more than 10 individuals, and preferably celebrate at home only with the people with whom you live. Gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of contracting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu.

Avoid the crowds on Black Friday or prepare for strict adherence to the 50% capacity rule at retail stores. Consider cyber Monday as an alternative. Always maintain a 6-foot distance from others and wear a face covering.

I urge you to review the CDC and the CT Department of Public Health (DPH) guidelines for the Thanksgiving holiday, including travelling, gathering, and alternatives to gathering and protocols for college students returning to or visiting Connecticut:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays/thanksgiving.html
https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Covid-19-Knowledge-Base/Holiday-Guidance

Testing
For information on testing sites, please visit the WWHD (wwhd.org/covid-19-testing-sites/) for a list of local test sites, or the state-wide listing at: https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Covid-19-Knowledge-Base/COVID-19-Testing

If you have a pending test due either to symptoms of COVID or exposure to COVID, please refrain from going out into the community until you have received test results.

Winter Sports
As mentioned in several of my last messages, much of the increase in COVID cases and the resulting school closures are a result of gatherings, parties and sports team activities. Effective Monday, November 23, the Governor has ordered all club and team sports, including CIAC sports, to postpone all organized winter sports until January 19, 2021.

Schools
As you may be aware, Staples High School and the Bedford and Coleytown Middle Schools are on distanced learning through the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. Westport Public School Superintendent Tom Scarice and I remind everyone that the ability for our schools to remain open for in-person learning depends primarily on the actions of our entire population. We continue to urge all to follow the appropriate protocols so that our community can remain open, but safe.

COVID Notification App
For your added protection as you visit supermarkets or anywhere else you have the potential to be exposed to a positive COVID case, download the State’s exposure notifications app to your smartphone to be alerted when you’re near someone who has tested positive. Privacy is protected. The app can be found at http://www.ct.gov/covidalertct.

Please follow the guidance to social distance, wear a face covering and practice good personal hygiene.

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The state said its Westport COVID-19 case count was up 3, at 623 (569 confirmed and 54 probable) and deaths unchanged at 24 (16 confirmed and 8 probable).

The state said its Westport COVID-19 case count was up 20, at 620 (566 confirmed and 54 probable) and deaths unchanged at 24 (16 confirmed and 8 probable).

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

Dear Westport Families and Staff,

Shortly after I sent an update earlier this evening of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in the District, we received word of one connected to Stepping Stones Preschool. Through the swift initial contact tracing involving Mrs. Lynda Codeghini, Preschool Director, Mrs. Sue Levasseur, our Health Services Supervisor, and Mr. Michael Rizzo, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services, we were able to quickly identify the affected students and staff.

Those impacted have been notified by school and District officials. As a reminder, families are asked to report positive of COVID-19 cases of students using our reporting voicemail or email regardless of whether the students are in remote or hybrid models of instruction. Please follow this link for more information on reporting.

Respectfully,
Thomas Scarice
Superintendent of Schools

The state said its Westport COVID-19 case count was up 13, at 600 (550 confirmed and 50 probable) and deaths unchanged at 24 (16 confirmed and 8 probable).