By the Numbers (July 24)

Here are the current updates related to the COVID-19 public health crisis in Wilton and across Connecticut in the Last week, as of Friday, July 24:

  • Increase of four (4) new cases and one (1) death in the last week
  • New total of cases:  234
  • Total deaths:  42
  • 2,429 residents tested
  • 3,181 tests performed

CT DPH reported the following for Fairfield County as of July 23:

  • Total Fairfield County Cases:   17,421 (+237 since July 22)
    • Confirmed:  16,777
    • Probable:  644
  • Total Fairfield County Deaths: 1,402 deaths  (+1 since July 22)
    • Confirmed:  1,089
    • Probable:  313
  • Total Current Fairfield County Hospitalized patients:  23 (+3 since July 22)

Friday’s update from the state included an anomaly, as the data for statewide cases included reports provided by an out-of-state lab on tests conducted on CT residents between May 23 and July 20 and not reported to the State of Connecticut until Friday. This data set provided by the out-of-state lab includes approximately 12,000 tests, 440 of which were positive. The remaining 104 positive cases in Friday’s report are newly reported cases in the day-to-day update, giving a 0.79% positivity rate for the day (versus a 3.7% positivity rate for the delinquent data cases).

CT DPH reported the following for statewide as of July 23:

  • Total CT cases:  48,776  (+544 since July 22)
  • Total CT deaths:  4,413 (+3 since July 22)
  • Total Current State hospitalized patients:  71 (-1 since July 22)
  • Total tests performed in CT:  711,102 (+25,233 since July 15)

It is important to note that these newly reported updates include data that occurred over the last several days to a week. All data in this report are preliminary, and data for previous dates will be updated as new reports are received and data errors are corrected. Hospitalization data were collected by the Connecticut Hospital Association. Deaths* reported to either OCME or DPH are included in the daily COVID-19 update.

Visit the state’s coronavirus webpage for several additional charts and tables containing more data groups, including a town-by-town breakdown of positive cases in each municipality and a breakdown of cases and deaths among age groups.

Travel Quarantines

There are now a total of 31 states included on Connecticut’s list of mandatory travel quarantine locations. Anyone traveling into Connecticut from one of these states that has a new daily positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or a state with a 10% or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average is directed to self-quarantine for a 14-day period from the time of last contact within the identified state.

In addition, Gov. Ned Lamont has now ordered that anyone entering from one of the identified states must fill out a travel health form upon arrival. Travelers can fill out the form online at ct.gov/travelform. 

This travel advisory and order for quarantine applies to both out of state visitors and CT residents traveling home from any of the states on the list.

Impacted states are subject to change. Gov. Lamont has also ordered that a violation of quarantine requirements can now lead to a fine of $1,000. State officials recommend that anyone planning travel outside of CT should review information on the state website if you plan to travel outside CT.

  • Testing Alternative. If an affected traveler is unable to self-quarantine for the required period, the self-quarantine requirement will not apply provided that the affected traveler has had a negative test result for COVID-19 in the 72 hours prior to arriving in Connecticut and provides written proof to the Commissioner or her designee of such a result. If a test was obtained in the seventy-two hours prior to travel but the result is still pending at the time of arrival in Connecticut, such affected traveler shall remain in self-quarantine in Connecticut until the test result is received and the written results are submitted to the Commissioner or her designee.  (According to First Selectwoman Lynne Vanderslice, the words “unable to quarantine” refers to situations where the person must attend to essential personal matters such as a funeral or attending to a family member in hospice. Unable to quarantine does not include returning to work.)
  • Exempted Travel. Workers traveling from affected States to Connecticut who work in critical infrastructure as designated by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, including students in exempt health care professions, are exempted from this self-quarantine requirement when such travel is related to their work in Connecticut.
  • Travel Health Forms Required. All affected travelers, prior to or upon arrival in Connecticut, shall complete a Travel Health Form
  • Enforcement Provisions. Any affected traveler who violates this subsection by willfully refusing or failing to self-quarantine or complete the Travel Health Form truthfully and accurately shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for each such violation

The states impacted by the quarantine order have increased to 31.  They are :

Alaska
Alabama
Arkansas
Arizona
California
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Iowa
Idaho
Indiana
Kansas
Louisiana
Maryland
Missouri
Mississippi
Montana
North Carolina
North Dakota
Nebraska
New Mexico
Nevada
Ohio
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin

Mask Usage on NRVT

According to Vanderslice, masks on the Norwalk River Valley Trail continue to be a subject of inquiry. Except in the case of a medical exemption, masks are required when in public and when individuals cannot maintain six feet of distance.

Vanderslice suggested two ways to maintain six feet of distance on the NRVT:

  • When two people approach each other from the opposite direction, if both move to the edge of the trail, the distance in between will be at least six feet.
  • When a group approaches another person or another group, they too should move to the edge of the trail and go single file until everyone passes.

She also suggested pedestrians have a mask to put on in case they encounter people who haven’t moved to the edge.

New Rules

The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development last week announced some updates that were made to the state’s previously announced industry-specific rules during the COVID-19 pandemic. The updates provide more specific guidance, as well as new recommendations for a broad range of sectors.

Highlights include:

  • New rules for indoor recreation (movie theaters, bowling alleys, etc.) and expanded guidance for outdoor events.
  • Changes impacting offices, personal services, hair salons and barbershops, retail, libraries, etc.:
    • Nonessential businesses have the right to refuse service to anyone not wearing a mask.
    • In the event an employee tests positive for COVID-19, it is recommended the business implement a 24-hour passive decontamination and follow CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting.
    • For bathrooms, the posting of signage encouraging reduced capacity and reminding individuals to wash their hands and wear masks is suggested.
  • Changes impacting restaurants:
    • Servers are no longer required to wear gloves.
    • Indoor performances are now allowed (with the exception of musical vocalists).
  • Hotels are now permitted to provide nonessential services and amenities (e.g. valets, ice machines)

The updated rules are effective immediately. Businesses and nonprofits that have already completed the self-certification process as part of Phases 1 and 2 do not need to re-register but must comply with any new rules for their sector.