A year has now passed since the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in the United States. Unfortunately, we are not out of the woods yet with the pandemic, despite progress with vaccine distribution. While most would agree that the coronavirus has added to their stress, the pandemic has affected certain groups more than others during the past year. — This article is from Mountainside clinics. The chain’s nearest location is in Wilton. Some may see the one-year anniversary of COVID-19 as a celebration of resilience.
Schools Superintendent Alan Addley acknowledged in his Friday COVID-19 update that the increase in COVID-19 cases among individuals in the school district and the disruptions caused by contract tracing and quarantines have been difficult this past week. It’s all a “reminder that we are not out of the woods,” he said. “It is also a reminder that we should not become complacent about our everyday behaviors and commitment to keeping each other safe by exercising travel, and health practices” that authorities recommend, he said. He noted that some students have been quarantined “several times over the last few weeks, and sometimes consecutively.” But he added that the state requires the school district to quarantine.
In the past two weeks, 65 new cases of COVID-19 have been found in Darien, one person was hospitalized and a total of 300 students and employees of the school district have been put in quarantine, First Selectman Jayme Stevenson said Thursday in her CodeRed announcement to the town. Darien Health Department, in its latest Coronavirus Update, released Thursday, said a total of 2,209 vaccination shots have been administered in town, including 1,101 second shots of the Moderna vaccine and 200 Johnson & Johnson vaccines (which don’t require a second shot). The entire 10-slide report is published at the bottom of this article. “Local cases and students in quarantine are, unfortunately, on the rise,” she said. She pointed out that sine COVID-19 symptoms are very similar to seasonal allergy symptoms, when anyone in your family has those symptoms, “you should assume you have COVID-19, and all family members should get tested.”
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
