Coronavirus 2022
Darien School Bus

Schools Superintendent: Students Not Required to Wear Masks on School Buses Now

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Darien Schools Superintendent Alan Addley told parents in an email early Saturday afternoon that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is no longer requiring that students wear masks when on school buses or vans. “[M]ask wearing will be optional in schools and on school buses on Monday, Feb. 28,” Addley wrote in the two-paragraph message. Here’s the full text of Addley’s message:

Dear Staff and Families:

This is a quick update to yesterday’s communication. Late afternoon on Friday the CDC exercised its enforcement discretion to not require that students wear masks on school buses and vans.

Healthy Living
In their shoes

You Can Learn About Teen Dating Violence in This Immersive, Interactive Presentation

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YWCA Greenwich is urging teens, parents, anyone who used to be a teenager and anyone who cares about young people to participate in an online, interactive presentation about teen dating violence on Monday, Feb. 28. — an announcement from YWCA Greenwich

This is an immersive event exploring teen relationships. Participants will find themselves “in the shoes of” characters experiencing various forms of relationship abuse. These forms range from sexting, pregnancy, homophobia, and stalking.

Coronavirus 2022
Darien Public Schools

Superintendent: Masks To Be Optional in Darien Schools Starting Feb 28

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Starting Feb. 28 in Darien schools: masks will become optional for students and staff, lunch practices will return to pre-COVID-19 rules, social distancing won’t be required, masks will still need to be worn on school buses. Those were among the upcoming changes schools Superintendent Alan Adley announced Friday in his regular message to parents and staff. Superintendent’s Friday Message
Here’s the full text of the message, sent out late Friday afternoon:

Feb. 18, 2022

Dear Families & Staff,

Last night the Board of Education convened a special meeting to discuss the transition to local decision making regarding the wearing of masks in schools.

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Free Vaccines Offered at Person to Person on Tuesday, Feb 22

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Person to Person is co-hosting a free vaccination clinic on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at its Darien site, 1864 Post Road, along with Saint Luke’s Parish, in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH). — an announcement from Person to Person
This clinic, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., is for ages 5+ and is open to the public. All three brands of vaccine will be available (Moderna, Pfizer and J&J) so this is appropriate for anyone who needs a first dose, second dose or booster. Participants are asked to please bring a health insurance card and photo ID if they have them, but it is not necessary to have health insurance or ID to receive the vaccine.

Coronavirus 2022
Darien Public Schools

Schools Superintendent: Updates on Masking, Next Year’s Budget, Vax Clinics

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Masking for Darien students and school staff may be over by Feb. 28, as the school District Medical Team has recommended, but the state Legislature and Board of Education will each need to approve the proposal, Superintendent Alan Addley said in his regular Friday message to district parents and staff. Over 99% of students from ages 12 to 17 and staff in their schools have been vaccinated, and 55% of students and staff in elementary schools, Addley wrote. “Making this recommendation is only possible given the success of our mitigation
strategies, our high community vaccination rates […] the sharp decrease in COVID-19 cases; low hospitalization rates; the lack of spread in the schools; and the minimal, if any, serious illnesses,” he said. Addley indicated that even if the mask requirements go, wearing masks would be voluntary, since “some staff and students may need to or want to wear masks.”

Coronavirus 2022
Darien Public Schools

Superintendent’s Newsletter: Vax Clinics for Kids 5-10 Start at Noon Saturday, COVID Restrictions to Ease

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Students 5 to 11 years old can get their second vaccination shot — or their first — from 12 noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, Schools Superintendent Alan Addley said in his Friday newsletter to parents and staff. This coming week, some of the district’s COVID-19 restrictions will be easing as the number of identified cases continues to go down: Lunches will return to cafeterias and spectators (who must be masked) will be allowed to attend sports games, Addley wrote. Another vaccination clinic for students of any age, with no signup necessary (just walk in), will be held from 12 noon to 5 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, he said. Full Text
Feb. 4, 2022

Dear Families & Staff,

Earlier this week Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of below average temperatures.

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Free Vaccination Clinic Hosted at Person to Person on Friday

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Person to Person is co-hosting a free vaccination clinic on Friday, Feb. 4 at its Darien site, 1864 Post Road, in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Public Health. — an announcement from Person to Person
This clinic is for ages 12 years old and over and is open to the public. All three brands of vaccine will be available (Moderna, Pfizer and J&J) so this is appropriate for anyone who needs a first dose, second dose or booster. Participants are asked to please bring a health insurance card and photo ID if they have them, but it is not necessary to have health insurance or ID to receive the vaccine.

‘Embracing Gender Identities’ Online Presentation for Parents Coming Feb 15

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YWCA Parent Awareness and Middlesex Middle School Parent Association are sponsoring an online presentation, Embracing Gender Identities at Home and in School, at 8 p.m., Feb. 15. This program is for parents of school age children who wish to learn more about gender diversity and fluidity. Studies have shown that when students feel safe to express their identities across the gender spectrum, they will be more prepared to learn and thrive in life & school. A presentation on Zoom.com will be made by Renee Reopell, director of Gender, Diversity and Resilience at The Child Guidance Center.

Coronavirus 2022
Thomas Balcezak

Almost Half of Pregnant Women Have COVID-19 at Yale New Haven Hospital Network

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Nearly half of all pregnant women at Yale-New Haven Health’s network of hospitals have tested positive COVID-19, the organization’s officials said Wednesday at an online news conference. At the news conference, officials also said:

—Expect about four more days of a “plateau” of  COVID-19 cases in hospitals and then a decline over four to six weeks, one hospital official predicted. —Also, hospital staff members have been reporting more cases of incivility from patients and family members, said the hospital network’s CEO, Marna Borgstrom. —Borgstrom said at the end of 2021, the health system had 531 COVID-19-positive hospitalize patients. On Wednesday, Jan.

COVID-19 2022
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First Selectman: Thanks to All Who Helped With Darien’s Test Kit Distribution and Vaccinations

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To the editor,

I don’t think it is an exaggeration to say we are all weary of the coronavirus and its variants. So many people and organizations have been working so hard, for so long, to help protect us and care for those in need. Everyone, understandably, must be tired. Still, it was no surprise to me to witness so many town employees and volunteers step up to distribute thousands of COVID test kits and masks to residents at the high school over the past couple of weeks. The test kits and masks were graciously distributed to Darien by the state.

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Test Your Home For Radon Gas: Darien Health Department Has Free Test Kits

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The Darien Health Department advises residents to test their homes for radon gas especially now that many families are spending more time at home due to COVID-19. Limited numbers of free test kits are now available at the Darien Health Department office. — an announcement from Darien Health Department

Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas that is found throughout the US. Most of the time, it is harmlessly dispersed in outdoor air, but it can reach harmful levels when trapped in buildings. Exposure to elevated levels of radon has been shown to cause lung damage and cancer in humans.

COVID-19 Test Kits

Another COVID-19 Test Distribution Event in Darien on Saturday

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First Selectman Monica McNally announced late Thursday afternoon that the town has received 1,260 test kits and a supply of N95 masks from state authorities, and they’ll be handed out at a new distribution event early this Saturday afternoon. The free, drive-thru distribution event will take place the way the last one did — with vehicles entering the Darien High School campus from Noroton Avenue and leaving from Nutmeg Lane. (High School Lane will be blocked.)

The event runs from 12 noon to 3 p.m. Only Darien residents can take part, and proof of residency is required. “Walk-ins, with proof of residency, will be helped between 2:30 and 3 p.m., depending on supply,” McNally’s CodeRed announcement said. “As with the previous distribution, there aren’t enough tests for everyone in town,” McNally said.

COVID-19 2022
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Total New COVID-19 Cases in Darien Schools at 49 for Tuesday — Monday’s Figure Revised Upward

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There were 49 new COVID-19 cases reported Tuesday among students and employees in Darien Public Schools, district officials said, and Monday’s total of 55 was revised upward to 65. In related COVID-19 news, the Darien Health Department released its weekly update on Tuesday, showing 63 new COVID-19 cases reported in the seven-day period from Dec. 28 to Jan. 3. Numbers for COVID-19 new cases reached a high point in the six days from Dec.

ARPA Committee 2022
Lectern Auditorium Town Seal

Ad Hoc Committee to Recommend How Darien Will Spend $6.4 Million in Federal COVID-19 Aid

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Darien, like other local governments around the country, is getting a sudden infusion of federal aid this year to make up for extra money spent on COVID-19. Darien’s slice of the $130 billion pie amounts to $6.4 million. An ad hoc committee has been appointed to suggest where the town should spend the money. First Selectman Monica McNally mentioned the committee as part of her roundup of updates to the Board of Selectmen at its meeting Monday night. What the town decides to spend the money on is restricted, but the federal government will allow the spending to go toward “public health expenditures, address the negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, replace lost public sector revenue, provide premium pay for essential workers, invest in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure,” said Selectman Jon Zagrodzky, who’s been appointed to head the panel.

Coronavirus 2022
COVID-19 Coronavirus

Total of 195 COVID-19 Cases Reported to Darien Schools Over Holiday Break, 5 Days of Self Isolation for Each

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There were 195 Darien school district employees and students who tested positive for COVID-19 during the holiday break, school district officials said in an announcement Monday night. The district now has a five-day mandatory self-isolation policy, and about a fourth of the total, 55 people, whose positive-test results were reported to the district on Monday, have been told not to come to school within that period. Of those 55, a total of 39 who tested positive were already vaccinated, the announcement said. “Without doubt, the Omicron variant of COVID is affecting our school community,” said the announcement from Schools Superintendent Alan Addley and School Nursing Director Alicia Casucci. On Monday, the district was informed of 31 Darien High School students or employees who been tested positive, and 22 of them (more than two thirds) had been vaccinated, the announcement said.