Coronavirus 2020
Yale New Haven Zoom Conference June 2020

Yale New Haven Health: CT’S COVID-19 Trajectory is One Other States Would Like to Have

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During a weekly press briefing on COVID-19 via Zoom with leaders of the Yale New Haven Health System, which includes Greenwich Hospital, COO Marna Borgstrom said she was proud of Connecticut for having a trajectory other states envy. — This article originally was published by GreenwichFreePress.com. Connecticut’s COVID-19 numbers were not only lower than states in the West and Southwest, but also lower than neighboring states. “We are at less than 10% from where we were at our COVID-19 peak in in-patient volume,” Borgstrom said. “I feel like I have to pinch myself because we’re all reading the national news about patient admissions…Our numbers have consistently continued to come down,” she said.

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Masks COVID-19 Coronavirus 2020

LATEST DARIEN COVID-19 NEWS: Continual Updates: June 7 to 14

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This week’s news and links on the COVID-19 pandemic for Darien, as they come in:

LATEST UPDATES: Governor’s Friday, Saturday Sunday COVID-19 briefings || State provides more career help, job-seeking services, work training || Governor’s Thursday COVID-19 briefing: Data on nursing home COVID-19 cases released

See also:
LATEST DARIEN COVID-19 NEWS: Continual Updates:

June 1 to 6 || May 25 to 31 || May 18 to 24 || May 11 to 17 || May 3 to 10 || April 27 to May 3 || April 20 to 26 || April 13 to 19 || April 5 to 12 || March 30 to April 5
SUNDAY: Governor’s COVID-19 Briefing
Sunday, June 14 — Gov. Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 4 p.m.:

Data updates on testing in Connecticut

The following is a summary of the day-to-day newly reported data on cases, deaths, and tests in Connecticut. 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. Overall Summary
Statewide Total
(includes confirmed and probable cases)
Change Since Yesterday

COVID-19 Cases
45,088
+94

COVID-19-Associated Deaths
4,201
+15

Patients Currently Hospitalized with COVID-19
205
-28

COVID-19 PCR Tests Reported
347,190
+4,852

County-by-county breakdown:

County
COVID-19 Cases
COVID-19 Deaths
COVID-19 Hospitalizations

Confirmed
Probable
Confirmed
Probable

Fairfield County
15,690
616
1,052
294
68

Hartford County
10,564
654
1,023
304
52

Litchfield County
1,380
62
115
21
3

Middlesex County
1,173
56
134
37
11

New Haven County
11,653
381
895
149
63

New London County
1,173
63
75
26
6

Tolland County
817
71
48
14
0

Windham County
458
7
13
1
2

Pending address validation
264
6
0
0
0

Total
43,172
1,916
3,355
846
205

For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “COVID-19 Data Tracker.”
SATURDAY: Governor’s COVID-19 Briefing
Saturday, June 13 — Gov. Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 3 p.m.: 

Data updates on testing in Connecticut

The following is a summary of the day-to-day newly reported data on cases, deaths, and tests in Connecticut. It is important to note that these newly reported updates include data that occurred over the last several days to a week.

Consumer and Finances
Teenage driver

Not Just Some Theory: AAA Survey Shows Drivers in Crashes More Likely to Text, Phone, Run Lights

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American drivers continue to maintain a “Do-As-I-Say, Not-As-I-Do” attitude on the nation’s roadways. Worse, they fail to change their bad driving behavior even when their actions result in crashes, says AAA. — an announcement from AAA Northeast  
In the latest AAA Traffic Safety Culture Index, the AAA Foundation of Traffic Safety reports drivers, who’ve been in at least one crash in the past two years, are significantly more likely to speed or text even when they think the police may catch them. The Index also highlights the gap between drivers’ attitudes and their reported behaviors. The research found drivers perceive distracted, aggressive and impaired driving as dangerous.

Healthy Living

LATEST DARIEN COVID-19 NEWS: Continual Updates: June 1 to 6

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This week’s news and links on the COVID-19 pandemic for Darien, as they come in:

LATEST UPDATES: Governor’s Saturday COVID-19 Briefing || Governor’s Friday COVID-19 BRIEFING: Rules for drive-thru graduations, modifications of rules for drive-in religious events; suspension of involuntary discharge of residents from nursing homes or residential care homes to homeless shelters; Phase 2 of CT Reopening moved to June 17 to avoid it happening during Father’s Day weekend

See also:
LATEST DARIEN COVID-19 NEWS: Continual Updates:

June 7 to 14 

May 25 to 31 || May 18 to 24 || May 11 to 17 || May 3 to 10 || April 27 to May 3 || April 20 to 26 || April 13 to 19 || April 5 to 12 || March 30 to April 5
SATURDAY Governor’s COVID-19 Briefing

Saturday, June 6 — Gov. Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 4 p.m.:
Data updates on testing in Connecticut
The following is a summary of the day-to-day newly reported data on cases, deaths, and tests in Connecticut. 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. County-by-county breakdown:

For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “COVID-19 Data Tracker.”

FRIDAY Governor’s COVID-19 Briefing
Friday, June 5 — Gov. Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 6:30 p.m.:

Data updates on testing in Connecticut

The following is a summary of the day-to-day newly reported data on cases, deaths, and tests in Connecticut. It is important to note that these newly reported updates include data that occurred over the last several days to a week.

Business
Darien Running Company announcement it's opening in Darien

Running Supply and Events Store ‘Darien Running Company’ to Open Downtown in July

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A store offering running supplies and events, Darien Running Company, will open this July at 14 Brook St., next door to the Sugar Bowl, in downtown Darien, its owner announced Thursday morning. Megan Searfoss, who cofounded an associated store, the Ridgefield Running Company, in  2014, announced the new location in the RRC’s newsletter. The RRC had plans to expand before the COVID-19 epidemic, which forced a lot of changes on the business. Despite the pandemic, Searfoss said, she decided to go forward with plans for the new store, which she abbreviates as “DRC.” “DRC will offer the same services as Ridgefield Running Company, now retooled to provide a safe and trusted environment,” Searfoss said.

Government & Politics
Image Youtube Gov's June 3 news conference on 4-CT program

New Relief Program Targets CT Residents Hurt by Epidemic and Not Covered by Other Efforts

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A partnership between the state and various philanthropies is trying to help state residents directly hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic but who have fallen through gaps in other relief programs, Gov. Ned Lamont and other officials announced Wednesday. Here’s the  announcement from the Governor’s Office (we’ve also included a video of the announcement; for this article, the list of long quotes from various officials has been moved to the bottom):

Gov. Ned Lamont today announced that the State of Connecticut is partnering with philanthropic organizations in an effort to provide emergency assistance to vulnerable residents in the state who are most directly impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency and are otherwise ineligible from receiving assistance through federal pandemic relief programs, including those from within the undocumented community. The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was created at the outbreak of the pandemic to provide emergency assistance to those who have been impacted, excludes relief to any residents who are undocumented and any U.S. citizen who files taxes with an undocumented spouse or partner. This same measure also denies emergency benefits to the U.S. citizen children of these parents. To address this situation, the Lamont administration and its philanthropic partners are taking a several steps to providing assistance.

Healthy Living
Top part chart document COVID-19 in Darien

Town Health Director: New Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Way Down in Darien

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Darien Health Director David Knauf announced Wednesday morning that the town recently appears to be safer than it was from the COVID-19 pandemic, with a significant decline in people who have new, confirmed cases of the disease. “The medical advisor for the town informed the department yesterday he hasn’t treated a single COVID patient in a month at his private practice,” Knauf said in the news release. “Based on this data and similar trends reported in surrounding communities, it seems clear that community transmission has been significantly reduced and risk of Coronavirus illness is significantly lower than it was just a month ago.” Knauf said the Health Department “will continue to advise and conduct inspections during the reopening process” at restaurants, hair dressing salons, public pools, summer camps and beaches, along with conducting “contact tracing” of new COVID-19 cases, and other activities to lower the risk from the virus. He added: “In the meantime, please do your part by continuing with social distancing, hand washing and the wearing of face masks because it does appear those measures have made a difference.:

Here’s the entire announcement:

The Darien Health Department has been tracking reported cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.

Consumer and Finances
AccessHealthCT home page website

Lose Your Job? Furloughed? For Many, Time’s Running Out to Get COBRA Health Insurance

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People who have lost a job have a 60-day deadline to get health insurance through COBRA, a period that is soon coming to an end for many of the laid-off, says Access Health CT, the state’s agency set up to help residents get health insurance. Losing health insurance coverage either from a furlough or a layoff is considered a ‘Qualifying Life Event,’ triggering a Special Enrollment Period through the federal COBRA benefits law. Access Health CT recommends comparing options with COBRA coverage. Workers who lose health insurance as a result of job loss may not know they have options, but Access Health CT says it may offer a better, less expensive choice, and is the only place where people can qualify for financial help to lower their costs. Here’s an announcement from the state agency:

Losing insurance either from a furlough or a layoff is considered a ‘Qualifying Life Event,’ triggering a Special Enrollment Period for that individual and possibly their household.

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Athletic Field Oval Darien High School

First Selectman Reopens: Fields at All Town Parks and Schools, McGuane Batting Cages, DHS for Traffic

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First Selectman Jayme Stevenson, in a resolution dated Thursday, declared the Darien High School campus open for traffic and use of sports fields, along with baseball and softball fields at town parks and schools, as well as playgrounds in town. And it’s all effective immediately. The resolution specifically mentioned the use of “athletic fields, amenities and playgrounds at Darien High School and all Darien schools,” as well as “baseball and softball fields at Town Hall, McGuane Park, Baker Park, Cherry Lawn Park, as well as batting cages at McGuane Park.” “There is a need to make use of these facilities for various purposes,” Stevenson said in the resolution, emailed to news organizations Friday morning. She cited Darien High School graduation events, a need for students to return items at the end of the school year and a parade of fire trucks scheduled for Saturday, May 30 (which would use the high school parking lots as a staging area).

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JJxFile user photo Times Square Thank you sign uploaded April 26 2020

LATEST DARIEN COVID-19 NEWS: Continual Updates: May 25 to 31

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This week’s news and links on the COVID-19 pandemic for Darien, as they come in:

LATEST UPDATES: Governor’s COVID-19 briefing for Sunday || Governor’s Saturday COVID-19 update || GOVERNOR’S FRIDAY COVID-19 BRIEFING: barber shops and hair salons can open Monday || Limit on gatherings upped to 10 indoors, 25 outdoors || Religious gatherings now 25% capacity or 100 people indoors (whichever is smaller) or 250 outdoors, starting Monday || Utility shutoff moratorium for businesses extended to July 1

See also:
LATEST DARIEN COVID-19 NEWS: Continual Updates:

May 18 to 24 || May 11 to 17 || May 3 to 10 || April 27 to May 3 || April 20 to 26 || April 13 to 19 || April 5 to 12 || March 30 to April 5
SUNDAY COVID-19 Governor’s Briefing
Sunday, May 31 — Gov. Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 4 p.m.:

Data updates on testing in Connecticut

The following is a summary of the day-to-day newly reported data on cases, deaths, and tests in Connecticut. 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. Overall Summary
Statewide Total
Change Since Yesterday

Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 Cases
42,201
+179*

COVID-19-Associated Deaths
3,944
+32

Patients Currently Hospitalized with COVID-19
481
-52

COVID-19 Test Reported
250,046
+3,111*

*The number of tests in today’s update does not include the entirety of the data as there was an upload issue in the transmission of the electronic files to the state. The remainder of the test data that should have been included in today’s update is anticipated to be reflected in Monday’s report.

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Public Spaces After COVID-19

New Visions for Public Spaces in the Age of COVID-19: An Online Panel Discussion

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How will the global coronavirus pandemic change how public spaces are designed or modified, from classrooms to auditoriums, public restrooms to restaurants, hallways to elevators? How will the need for adequate social distancing impact how public spaces are used in a post-lockdown environment? Bruce Presents, the Bruce Museum’s program series featuring thought leaders in the fields of art and science, returns on Thursday, June 4, 7 to 8:30 p.m., with a Zoom virtual panel discussion, “Architecture 20/20: New Visions for Public Spaces in the Age of COVID-19.” — an announcement from the Bruce Museum

Providing expert insight into these new and pressing issues are four distinguished architects whose practices focus on the design of public buildings and spaces:

Steve Dumez, Principal and Director of Design at EskewDumezRipple
Craig Dykers, Founding Partner at Snøhetta
Maitland Jones, Principal at Deborah Berke Partners
Paul Schulhof, Principal at Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects

Participation in the virtual Bruce Presents on Zoom for the benefit of the Bruce Museum is $25 for Museum members, $35 non-members. To reserve a place, visit brucemuseum.org or call 203-869-0376; a link to join the online conversation will be sent to registered attendees prior to the program.

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COVID-19 CDC website

LATEST DARIEN COVID-19 NEWS: Continual Updates: May 18 to 24

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This week’s news and links on the COVID-19 pandemic for Darien, as they come in:

LATEST UPDATES: Confirmed COVID-19 cases in lower Fairfield County || Governor’s Sunday briefing || Governor’s Saturday briefing ||Mystic Pizza gets first state permit to use state roadway space for outdoor dining || Governor’s Friday COVID-19 briefing || It’s complicated: Flags at half-staff nationwide till sunset Sunday and, in Connecticut, till noon Monday || Governor’s Thursday COVID-19 briefing || Darien drive-thru testing closed Monday (Memorial Day) open again the following Friday || CVS opens new COVID-19 clinics, including two in Stamford, one in Fairfield || First Selectman Jayme Stevenson’s CodeRed message 

See also:
LATEST DARIEN COVID-19 NEWS: Continual Updates:

May 11 to 17 || May 3 to 10 || April 27 to May 3 || April 20 to 26 || April 13 to 19 || April 5 to 12 || March 30 to April 5
SUNDAY State Statistics on COVID-19 Cases in Lower Fairfield County
Sunday, May 10 — As of 8:30 p.m., Saturday (and reported publicly by the state on Sunday), 203 Darienites were identified with COVID-19, five more than the 198 reported by the state a week ago, on Sunday, May 17, according to information released by state authorities. (Reminders: Many people are thought to have the COVID-19 virus who aren’t identified; the state says “all figures are preliminary and subject to change.”)

Here’s the number of identified cases in nearby communities, according to the state government Web page for this day’s Coronavirus statistics:

Stamford — 3,072 cases (52 more than the  3,020 reported on Sunday, May 17)
Norwalk — 1,964 (78 more than the 1,886 reported on Sunday, May 17)
New Canaan — 166 (three more than the 163 reported on Sunday, May 17)
Greenwich — 777 (26 more than the 751 reported on Sunday, May 17)
Westport — 284 (17 more than the 267 reported Sunday, May 17)
Wilton — 202 (two more than the 200 reported Sunday, May 17)
Weston — 62 (no new cases — no change from the 62 reported Sunday, May 17)
Ridgefield — 206 (11 more than the 195 reported on Sunday, May 17)
Fairfield — 564 (37 more than the 527 reported on Sunday, May 17)
Bridgeport — 3,199 (368 more than the 2,831 reported on Sunday, May 17)

TEN WORST HIT CONNECTICUT MUNICIPALITIES (with total cases):  1. Bridgeport (3,199), 2. Stamford (3,072), 3. New Haven (2,327), 4.

Business
Face Mask COVID-19 2020 Coronavirus hand made

Town Human Services Council Invites Darienites to Help Local Businesses by Providing Cloth Masks

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Several members of Darien’s Human Services Planning Council, which is convened by The Community Fund of Darien, stepped forward to create the Darien Mask Brigade, where individuals and groups may “adopt” a local business/organization and support their work by providing cloth masks for their employees. — an announcement from the Darien Human Services Planning Council
Due to the coronavirus health crisis, our current reality calls for wearing masks in public places and when not able to appropriately distance ourselves from others. This places a burden on local organizations and businesses, as their employees are required to wear masks at all times in order to operate and serve the community. Masks can be homemade or purchased. Darien First Selectman Jayme Stevenson applauded the initiative.

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COVID-19

LATEST DARIEN COVID-19 NEWS: Continual Updates: May 11 to 17

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News and links on the COVID-19 pandemic for Darien:

LATEST UPDATES: Governor’s Sunday COVID-19 briefing || Governor’s Saturday COVID-19 briefing || State to distribute 50,000 thermometers to small businesses, nonprofits, places of worship

See also:
LATEST DARIEN COVID-19 NEWS: Continual Updates:

May 3 to 10 || April 27 to May 3 || April 20 to 26 || April 13 to 19 || April 5 to 12 || March 30 to April 5
SUNDAY State Statistics on COVID-19 Cases in Lower Fairfield County
Sunday, May 10 — As of 8:30 p.m., Saturday (and reported publicly by the state on Sunday), 198 Darienites were identified with COVID-19, three more than the 195 reported by the state on Tuesday, May 12, according to information released by state authorities. (Reminders: Many people are thought to have the COVID-19 virus who aren’t identified; the state says “all figures are preliminary and subject to change.”)

Here’s the number of identified cases in nearby communities, according to the state government Web page for this day’s Coronavirus statistics:

Stamford — 3,020 cases (74 more than the  2,946 reported on Tuesday)
Norwalk — 1,886 (110 more than the 1,776 reported on Tuesday)
New Canaan — 163 (five more than the 158 reported on Tuesday)
Greenwich — 751 (30 more than the 721 reported on Tuesday)
Westport — 267 (four more than the 263 reported on Tuesday)
Wilton — 200 (eight more than the 192 reported on Tuesday)
Weston — 62 (an adjustment downward of one from the 63 reported on Tuesday)
Ridgefield — 195 (three more than the 192 reported on Tuesday)
Fairfield — 527 (41 more than the 486 reported on Tuesday)
Bridgeport — 2,831 (275 more than the 2,556 reported on Tuesday)

TEN WORST HIT CONNECTICUT MUNICIPALITIES (with total cases): 1. Stamford (3,020), 2. Bridgeport (2,831), 3. New Haven (2,182), 4.

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COVID-19 illustration

LATEST DARIEN COVID-19 NEWS: Continual Updates: May 4 to 10

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News and links on the COVID-19 pandemic for Darien:

LATEST UPDATES: Confirmed COVID-19 cases in lower Fairfield County; Governor’s Sunday COVID-19 briefing; Reopen Connectiuct panel to hold public meeting, encourages public’s questions on school reopenings; More volunteers sought to help with COVID-19 effort in Connecticut. See also:
LATEST DARIEN COVID-19 NEWS: Continual Updates:

April 27 to May 3 || April 20 to 26 || April 13 to 19 || April 5 to 12 || March 30 to April 5
SUNDAY State Statistics on COVID-19 Cases in Lower Fairfield County
Sunday, May 10 — As of 8:30 p.m., Saturday, 197 Darienites were identified with COVID-19, four more than the number reported on Saturday, according to information released by state authorities. (Reminders: Many people are thought to have the COVID-19 virus who aren’t identified; the state says “all figures are preliminary and subject to change.”)

Here’s the number of identified cases in nearby communities, according to the state government Web page for this day’s Coronavirus statistics:

Stamford — 2,921 cases (49 more than the 2,872 reported on Saturday)
Norwalk — 1,764 (34 more than the 1,730 reported on Saturday)
New Canaan — 147 (no change from the 147 reported on Saturday)
Greenwich — 719 (seven more than the 712 reported on Saturday)
Westport — 261 (no change from the 261 reported on Saturday)
Wilton — 180 (two more than the 178 reported on Saturday)
Weston — 62 (readjusted to two fewer cases than the 63 reported on Saturday)
Ridgefield — 189 (no change from the 189 reported on Saturday)
Fairfield — 476 (10 more than the 466 reported on Saturday)
Bridgeport — 2,430 (52 more than the 2,378 reported on Saturday)

TEN WORST HIT CONNECTICUT MUNICIPALITIES (with total cases): 1. Stamford (2,921), 2. Bridgeport (2,430), 3.