The town government won’t impose indoor mask mandates for businesses and other places in town (although they’re already required in Town Hall), First Selectman Jayme Stevenson said in part of her CodeRED update to residents late Thursday afternoon about COVID-19 rules in Darien.
Anyone who is immunocompromised and had the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines can get booster shots now, the first selectman said. “You must be at least 8 months from receipt of the last shot in your initial vaccine series. Boosters for the general public are anticipated to be available by the end of September. Plans for offering local booster clinics is underway.”
Stevenson also reminded town residents that Gov. Ned Lamont has mandated that staff in hospitals and long-term care facilities must be vaccinated by Sept. 7. Schools, which open in Darien on Aug. 30, have a state-mandated indoor mask requirement at least through late September.
She said that on Thursday the governor “announced that all pre-K through 12th grade school teachers and staff in both public and private schools as well as staff in all childcare settings are mandated to be vaccinated by Sept. 27 or submit to weekly testing.”
A total of 66 town residents caught COVID-19 since July 1, but not one resulted in a hospital stay, she said. Eighty-eight percent of town residents are fully vaccinated (86% of those between the ages of 12 and 17 are also fully vaccinated).
“We are experiencing ‘breakthrough’ cases here in Darien [with vaccinated people getting COVID-19] but vaccines appear to be helping to reduce the severity of COVID symptoms,” Stevenson said. Most of the breakthrough cases can be assumed to be from the Delta variant, she said health officials have told her.
Full Text of First Selectman’s COVID-19 Message Thursday
Good evening, this is First Selectman, Jayme Stevenson with a COVID-19 update for August 19. As we approach the start of a new school year and with cases on the rise statewide, it is time for a community update.
Since July 1, Darien has experienced 66 COVID cases. Health officials tell us to assume the majority of new cases are the Delta variant. We are experiencing “breakthrough” cases here in Darien but vaccines appear to be helping to reduce the severity of COVID symptoms.
The good news is that we have had no new hospitalizations since July 1 and, of those eligible to be vaccinated, 88% of our community is fully vaccinated. 86% of our eligible students aged 12-17 are fully vaccinated as well. Local COVID-19 data reports are posted weekly on the Town of Darien website.
The Governor has mandated that all staff in long-term care and hospital settings must be vaccinated by 9/7. Today, he announced that all pre K through 12th grade school teachers and staff in both public and private schools as well as staff in all childcare settings are mandated to be vaccinated by 9/27 or submit to weekly testing.
Moderna and Pfizer booster shots for folks who are immunocompromised are available now. You must be at least 8 months from receipt of the last shot in your initial vaccine series. Boosters for the general public are anticipated to be available by the end of September. Plans for offering local booster clinics is underway.
We are still waiting for FDA authorization for vaccines for children under the age of 12.
Darien Public Schools will be opening under as normal a scenario as is possible. Masks must be worn indoors but not outside and appropriate distancing will be required. Weekly testing opportunities will be available for K-6 students and K-12 staff. All interscholastic athletics are beginning on schedule.
While the governor has given local governments the option to mandate mask wearing in all local business and restaurant settings, local case data does not yet support the need for imposing that mandate. We evaluate local policy decisions on a daily basis. All businesses have the ability to impose their own mask requirements.
Please watch the weather for updates on Tropical Storm Henri and its possible impacts this weekend in our area. Best wishes to all students as you return to school. I wish you a successful and healthy 2021-22 school year!
Thank you.