COVID-19 Message
November 12, 2020
Good evening. This is First Selectman Jayme Stevenson with a weekly COVID-19 update for Thursday, November 12th. The State of Connecticut Department of Public Health reports that Darien has 26 new cases over the past 14 days and calculates our 14-day rolling average to be 13.5 cases per 100,000 keeping us in the Orange Alert status. There are at least 27 cases in our school community resulting in the quarantine of at least 348 individuals – a substantial increase in school community cases and quarantines since my last message. Darien is the only town in southwest Connecticut not yet in Red Alert status.
I understand that COVID fatigue has set in but now is when we all need to dig deep in our resolve to keep our families and community safe. The classroom has proven to be one of the safest places for children to be. Let’s all do our part to make sure schools can stay open. Your habits at home and in the community have a direct effect on our ability for our schools to stay open for in person learning.
If you or a family member is required to quarantine, you must stay home for the duration of your quarantine. A student quarantining from school, for example, must not participate in activities outside the school community until the quarantine period has ended. There is no option to test out of a quarantine. A testing option only exists for returning travelers.
The Town of Darien in currently evaluating COVID testing providers for in-town testing. We anticipate making an announcement with more information about testing providers very soon. In anticipation of a viable COVID-19 vaccine, we have convened a Vaccination Committee to plan for vaccine distribution which is expected in early 2021 or sooner. It is still unclear how vaccine distribution will prioritized but we will be prepared for community distribution when it is available.
Governor Lamont announced today a 7-state prohibition on interstate youth hockey competitions and the launch of COVID Alert CT, an exposure notification app available for Apple and android devices. For more information about this new exposure alert tool or to sign up, please visit www.ct.gov/covidalertct.
I know everyone is doing their best. Please continue to do your part to eliminate community spread by wearing masks, distancing in public and at private gatherings and following good handwashing hygiene.
Please visit the Town of Darien (www.darienct.gov) and State of Connecticut (www.ct.gov/coronavirus) websites for more COVID-19 information including updated Sector Rules and the COVID-19 Alert Framework.
Thank you,
Jayme Stevenson