With 12 new one-day COVID-19 cases reported in Wilton on Tuesday evening, Jan. 12, Wilton has now recorded 83 new cases this month alone. If the surge continues, January could be Wilton’s worst month yet since the start of the pandemic.
Wilton’s previous ‘worst’ month was November 2020, which saw a total of 163 cases for the month. In the first 11 days of November, there were 52 COVID positive cases–31 fewer than the first 11 days of January.
Tuesday’s dozen new cases bring Wilton’s total since the start of the pandemic to 685 cases.
A surge was expected following the Christmas and New Years holidays, as some people gathered or traveled over the vacation period. The question remains if the trend can be turned around. The upcoming three-day weekend may present another ‘opportunity’ for people to engage in activities that increase their risk for exposure.
GOOD Morning Wilton has tracked the town’s two-week rolling average number of daily cases per 100,000 people, and as of Tuesday evening, Wilton is now at 35.9 cases/100,000–a higher number than anything Wilton hit in the spring and just four points below the peak of 39 cases on Nov. 22.
More People May be Added to Next Vaccination Phase
On Tuesday afternoon, the members of CT’s Vaccine Allocation Subcomittee agreed to add several hundred thousand people to the list of people they will recommend to Gov. Ned Lamont to receive the vaccine in Phase 1.b.
According to the Hartford Courant, expanding the list would double the number of people included in this next phase, from 850,000 CT residents to approximately 1.55 million CT residents.
Among those on the expanded list are now adults age 65 and older, as well as individuals age 16-64 with at least one underlying health condition that puts them at increased risk from COVID-19. The subcommittee limited the addition to only 12 conditions listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), below, opting not to include other conditions that the CDC considers possible added risks, including asthma and dementia.
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Down Syndrome
- Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
- Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
- Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell disease
- Smoking
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
The groups would join teachers, frontline essential workers, and residents of congregate settings, including prisons and group homes in Phase 1.b.
With the expanded list for Phase 1.b., the subcommittee recommended a phased roll-in approach, beginning Monday, Jan. 18, for people age 75 and older. Adding more people would extend the time it would take to complete administering vaccines to the entire phase.
In her nightly update to residents, First Selectwoman Lynne Vanderslice tried to manage residents’ expectations about the process for vaccinating residents included in Phase 1.b., writing:
- “Currently and at least in the short-term, the supply of the vaccine is limited.
- “Appointments may not be immediately available.
- “An expanded Phase 1B will be much longer in duration than the original 10-week estimate, meaning some residents may not receive their initial dose until six or more weeks into an expanded Phase 1B.”
Lamont is expected to decide whether to accept the subcommittee’s recommendations later this week.
Vanderslice also answered questions she said residents have recently asked:
- Is the COVID-19 vaccine free? Yes, there is no charge for the vaccine.
- Must I receive my vaccine in the town in which I reside: During Phase 1.a., qualified individuals may choose any available time at any available location. The same is expected for the upcoming Phase 1.b.
- Does our Health Director’s guidance of a 14-day quarantine for Wilton Public Schools staff and students exposed, with no symptoms, differ from the CDC guidance? No. Despite suggesting possible alternatives for local health districts, the CDC continues to recommend a 14-day quarantine period.
- Are the playgrounds open? All town and school playgrounds are open. Please see the Town’s reopening plan for Phase 2.1 here for the status of all town-owned properties.
Can GMW indicate the age groups, without breaking any HIPPA rules, of the COVID cases in January? Your reporting indicates that January may become Wilton’s worst month yet and I wonder are these cases of COVID of youth (under 18 yrs)? young adult (under 30 yrs), adult (31 yrs – 59 yrs)? elderly adult (60+ yrs).