Good evening. This is First Selectman Jayme Stevenson with important COVID-19 update for Thursday, March 4th.
There have been 52 new cases and one hospitalization during the two-week period since February 19th. There are 1200 total cases from 775 unique households. Darien Public Schools report 12 active cases resulting in 145 quarantines. Darien’s positivity rate has declined to 1.8%...a rate not seen since last July.
You can find statewide COVID-19 data at www.ct.gov/coronavirus and town wide data at www.darienct.gov/covid19.
As of March 1st teachers, school staff, licensed child care providers and anyone 55+ became eligible for vaccine. The Darien Heath Department will be vaccinating over 650 teachers and staff tomorrow and Saturday and licensed childcare providers will be vaccinated beginning next week.
Anyone 55+ or otherwise eligible in Phase 1a should register through a third-party clinic such as Grieb’s Pharmacy at www.griebspharmacy.com , Walgreens at www.walgreens.com/schedulevaccine and Stamford Hospital at https://stamfordhealth.org. Additionally you can register directly through the State’s online Vaccine Enrollment Portal at https://dphsubmissions.ct.gov/OnlineVaccine or by calling 1-877-918-2224.
As a reminder, the schedule for further expansion of vaccine eligibility is as follows:
March 22nd: Ages 45-54
April 12th: Ages 35-44
May 3rd: Ages 16-34
Please be patient as the state works through vaccine supply allocations as eligibility expands.
The Darien Library has been impacted by COVID-19 and will be closed from Friday, March 4th until Wednesday, March 10th. Service updates will be posted at www.darienlibrary.org/update.
I’m pleased to share that Governor Lamont announced an easing of COVID restrictions beginning March 19. Travel quarantines will no longer be mandated (https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/travel) and capacity limits will be eliminated for restaurants, non-theatre indoor recreation, libraries, museums, aquariums, gyms/fitness centers, retail and offices, personal service establishments and houses of worship. Mask mandates and spacing requirements are continued. The Governor hopes to make additional modifications on April 2nd.
Virus trends are positive and vaccines are being delivered. Please keep up the great job you’ve been doing distancing and wearing masks. Your continued diligence is helping us see the light at the end of the COVID tunnel.
Thank you and good evening.