Coronavirus 2021
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Eight Separate COVID-19 Cases Result in 94 Quarantines at Darien High School, Hindley School

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A total of 94 people have been removed from two Darien schools for 10-day quarantine after five students or employees at Darien High School and three more from Hindley School tested positive for COVID-19 between Friday and Wednesday, parents and school employees have been told. In addition to these cases, a sixth individual at Darien High testing positive on Wednesday, the school has been closed for Friday to allow for contact tracing, which may result in other people being put in quarantine. Schools Superintendent Alan Addley and Alicia Casucci, director of nursing services, sent out an announcement about the new cases Wednesday night. (The full text of the announcement is below.) Darienite.com received a copy of the announcement at 9:39 p.m.

Four individuals at Darien High School tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday and a fifth tested positive on Wednesday. That resulted quarantines for them and 67 additional people being removed from the school and told to quarantine themselves.

Community Organizations

Americares Will Try to Reduce ‘Vaccine Hesitancy’ With a New $2.6 Million Federal Grant

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Americares announced today it has been awarded $2.6 million from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to combat COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy at free and charitable clinics across the country. — an announcement from Americares

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes joined Americares President and CEO Christine Squires for the announcement at the Fred Weisman Americares Free Clinic in Bridgeport, Conn. “Vaccine hesitancy, among other factors, is preventing low-income, immigrant and communities of color from getting vaccinated, even though these communities are most adversely impacted by COVID-19,,” Himes said. “I am proud to see Americares—a well-respected relief organization based in southwestern Connecticut—encouraging vaccination so that life can get back to normal as quickly as possible.”

Stamford-based Americares will work with hundreds of clinics, the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics and state associations to dispel myths and educate staff and volunteers about the importance of vaccination. “Free and charitable clinic staff and volunteers care for underserved communities, including some with deep-rooted distrust of the health care system.

Community Fund of Darien 2021
Moira Rizzo

‘Pandemic Parenting’ — Register Now for April 8 Online Talk by Family Therapist

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Family therapist Moira Rizzo will lead an interactive discussion on Thursday, April 8 at 10 a.m. on “Pandemic Parenting: Strategies to Keep You and Your Kids Sane Through Challenging Times.”
Her presentation includes how to effectively talk with teens about:
—mental health
—social connectedness and
—substance use. The discussion is the fourth in a series of The Community Fund of Darien’s “Our Darien” events this year designed to educate parents about the dangers of substance use, youth mental health and how they can best support their teens. If You’re Attending … Registration for this Zoom webinar, sponsored by The Depot Youth Center and YWCA Parent Awareness, is free and required at www.communityfunddarien.org

Government & Politics
Vaccinations

COVID-19: How’s Darien Doing? Answers from Three Town Reports

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COVID-19 is spreading slower in Darien than it has since November, although the 76 new cases so far this month, as reported by the town Health Department, is still way above the 44 reported in all of October. Here are the latest reports on COVID-19’s course through Darien from three different sources: First Selectman Jayme Stevenson’s report to the town, the weekly town Health Department report and a joint message from schools Superintendent Alan Addley and the district’s Director of Nursing Services, Alicia Casucci. Darienite.com has taken some slides from the Health Department’s report, (released on Thursday) and mixed them in with Stevenson’s message when they give overlapping information. Other slides from the department’s report are in their own section at the bottom. (Numbers sometimes differ between state and town reports, due to reporting sources and counting methods, but patterns and trends often can still be seen.) All captions in the slides are from Darienite.com.

Coronavirus 2021
CDC tweet Fundamentals of PPE brochure in tweet https://twitter.com/CDCemergency/status/1251888407418191872

Area Hospital Officials Report Progress in Vaccinations, Give COVID-19 Update

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The high-water mark for COVID-19 hospitalizations in the Yale New Haven Health System, which includes Greenwich and Yale-New Haven hospitals, was four months ago during the second wave of the pandemic, said the hospital chain’s CEO, Marna Borgstrom at a news conference on Wednesday. Hospital officials and Greenwich’s town selectmen also talked about how the vaccination project is going, the COVID-19 variants present in Connecticut, described registration for vaccinations and said the dangers from the vaccines are minimal. — This article was first published by GreenwichFreePress.com. Pandemic Ebbs: ‘Vaccines Are Working’
On Dec. 8 the system had 447 COVID-positive patients.

Maritime Aquarium
Masked at Maritime Aquarium COVID-19

Maritime Aquarium Opens More as COVID-19 Eases, But With Tighter Capacity Limits Than State Allows

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As state-mandated capacity restrictions are lifted on Friday, March 19, the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is ready with special COVID-19 protocols to welcome in additional guests. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium

President and CEO Jason Patlis said special measures have been added and refined since the Aquarium’s reopening in June under Gov. Ned Lamont’s reduced-capacity rules. Although the South Norwalk family attraction is allowed to have full capacity as of Friday, it will loosen — but not eliminate — its own limits on how many guests can enter each hour, he said. “We continue to strongly encourage guests — even Aquarium members — to reserve their tickets in advance online so that the actual admission process can be quick and contactless, and to guarantee their entry when they arrive,” Patlis said. Upon entering the Aquarium, guests will find a number of protocols in place.

Business
OrthoConnecticut Coastal Orthopedics

Coastal Orthopedics Reopens Darien Offices

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OrthoConnecticut Coastal Orthopedics has reopened their 36 Old Kings Hwy. South location. — an announcement from OrthoConnecticut Coastal Orthopedics

The team of fellowship-trained and board-certified physicians and surgeons at Coastal Orthopedics are here to keep you moving, providing expertise in all areas of orthopedic care. The physicians and surgeons at Coastal Orthopedics concentrate on operative and non-operative solutions to musculoskeletal problems, offering pain management and minimally-invasive surgery to get you back to doing what you love. The Darien team has specialists who help with a wide range of orthopedic problems.

OrthoConnecticut Coastal Orthopedics has offices in Westport, Norwalk and Darien, is a group of fellowship-trained and board-certified surgeons.

Coronavirus 2021
COVID-19 CDC website

First Selectman, Superintendent Issue COVID-19 Updates

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In a message to families of Darien Public Schools students and school district staff, Superintendent Alan Addley noted that the district would have a vaccination clinic for teachers and staff on Friday and Saturday. He also said that two parents per player can now attend sports events. Also, First Selectman Jayme Stevenson issued her regular COVID-19 update to the town on Thursday. “As of March 1, teachers, school staff, licensed child care providers and anyone 55+ became eligible for vaccine,” she said. She also noted that Darien Library is expected to be closed until this Wednesday after a staff member acquired COVID-19.

Coronavirus 2021
COVID-19 CDC website

COVID-19 in Darien: Latest Updates from First Selectman, Superintendent, Other Leaders

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A total of 629 Darien households have had at least one resident with COVID-19 since the pandemic began, and there are a total of 921 in town who tested positive, First Selectman Jayme Stevenson said in her latest pandemic update. Schools Superintendent Alan Addley also released a message to teachers and parents to update them on pandemic developments for the school district. In addition, a recording of a public, hourlong discussion Thursday about the state’s vaccine rollout has been posted. It features the Stamford Hospital CEO, the state director of economic development and an area business leader. Here are both Darien messages, along with a description of the video and link to it:
First Selectman’s Announcement
Stevenson sent out the announcement on CodeRed alert system (which you can sign up for here) and on the town government website.

Healthy Living
Code Red

For Details on Vaccine Availability in Darien and Other Urgent Info, Sign Up for Code Red Alerts

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The Town of Darien’s Health, Human Services and Senior Programs departments urge all residents to sign up for Code Red alerts, if they have not done so already. — an announcement from the two town departments

Detailed information regarding vaccine availability for Darien residents will be announced through the First Selectman’s weekly Code Red message, as well as local media outlets. As plans for Phase 1B develop we want to make sure everyone is informed, particularly those who will be eligible during that phase, such as seniors over age 75. To register for CODE RED click here: Community Notification Enrollment. If you need assistance with enrolling please call the Human Services department at 203-656-7328 and we will be happy to help you.