COVID-19 Updates – March 21, 2020

#Middlebury #COVID19

News reports Saturday, March 21, say a Bristol Health employee tested positive Friday night, a new case was reported in Orange and two cases were reported in Suffield. SFgate.com says six cases were confirmed in Ridgefield and the Fairfield police reported five police officers tested positive.

It appears the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Connecticut will not be updated on the state department of health website until Monday. As of Friday, March 20, that number was 194. See a breakdown by county farther down in this article.

State News

Metro-North posted via Twitter that, effective Monday, March 23, all Metro-North ticket offices will temporarily close, as a precaution against COVID-19. Riders are asked to use Ticket Vending Machines or the MTA eTix app bit.ly/2LiPgbv to purchase tickets.

CORRECTION: Our March 20 report incorrectly listed the time the following executive order takes effect. The time has been corrected.

Governor Ned Lamont’s Executive Order 7H launched the “Stay Safe, Stay Home” policy that orders all nonessential retail workers to stay home instead of going to work. The order will go into effect at 8 pm, Monday, March 23. Who is essential and who is nonessential will be defined in more detail, but the basics are shown in the graphic to the right. Restaurants will continue to offer takeout, and package stores will remain open. Major construction projects and defense contractors also are considered essential. Read the order here.

Personal Protective Equipment Donations (PPE) – The State of Connecticut needs donations of PPE. Members of the public, businesses, and philanthropic organizations that wish to donate these vital materials should fill out the online form at 211ct.org/DonationsCOVID19. United Way 2-1-1 of Connecticut will work with the state to collect donation requests and ensure that donated items are appropriate for the needs of hospitals and long-term care facilities. The specific items being requested by the state at this time include:

• N95 Respirators
• Face Masks/Surgical Masks
• Face Shields
• Surgical Gowns
• Gloves (nitrile, or non-latex)
• Thermometers
• Thermometer Covers (if applicable to type of thermometer)
• Hand Sanitizer
• Other Medical Items

United Way Fund – The Connecticut United Ways have launched a COVID-19 Response Fund. The fund will help individuals and families the United Way calls ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). These are our hard-working neighbors who already live paycheck to paycheck. Many provide crucial services in our community, such as caring for our children and elderly parents. Without a financial cushion, they are particularly vulnerable to the rapidly changing scenario our country is facing. United Way expects that the number of individuals and families in the state that fall into the ALICE income threshold will grow as the crisis continues.

Donate to the Connecticut United Ways COVID-19 Response Fund at www.CTUWCovid19ResponseFund.org. Donors will have the option to pay a 3.09% credit card processing fee so that 100% of their donation can go directly to those in need. Connecticut United Ways will not charge any administrative fees on donations to the Fund

Confirmed cases of COVID-19. Please note there may be 100 unconfirmed cases for every confirmed case.

Connecticut COVID-19 Cases: 194 (35 new cases today) as of March 20, 2020 at 3:30 p.m.

• Fairfield County: 122
• Hartford County: 29
• Litchfield County: 8
• Middlesex County: 5
• New Haven County: 23
• New London County: 1
• Tolland Count: 4
• Windham County: 2

Middlebury Information

Starting Monday, March 23, 2020, Middlebury Town Hall will be available by appointment only.

Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department buildings are closed to the public. The department will continue to respond to emergencies.

Middlebury Social Services – All programs including the elderly lunch program are suspended until further notice. The office will remain open and social services will be available for assistance. Transportation will be available for grocery shopping, medical appointments and to pick up medications. Please call 203 577-4166 with any questions or concerns

Middlebury Parks & Rec – All programs for the remainder of March are canceled. Town parks will not open until April 30, 2020. Activity dates listed in the Spring brochure are subject to change.

The Shepardson Community Center will be closed in the evening if there are no town meetings. All Scout groups and any other non-town function activities have been canceled.

Middlebury Public Library – The library is offering limited services confined to the “lobby” area between the outer and inner doors at the library. It is set up with rolling carts that hold books requested by patrons, coloring sheets for children, tax forms, and free jigsaw puzzles.

Patrons may request books through Select From Home Service between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The library staff will then place the books on the rolling carts for patrons to drop by and pick up between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Middlebury Restaurants – Local restaurants are limited to takeout and delivery, per order of our governor, as part of the effort to limit spread of COVID-19. Find a list of Middlebury restaurants offering takeout and or delivery here.

State Information

DMV – Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) branch offices are closed to the public until further notice. DMV is providing services online, through the mail and by phone. See list of services and daily status updates here.

All Connecticut driver’s licenses, learner’s permits, identity cards and permanent disability parking permits that expire between March 10, 2020, and June 8, 2020, are being offered an extension with no late fees.

Drive-through Screening

Saint Mary’s Hospital drive through COVID-19 screening operates from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., seven days a week. The clinic is in the lower level of the visitor’s garage on Cole Street in Waterbury.

Those seeking a screening must have a physician’s order and proper identification to utilize the drive-up clinic. Physician’s order can be a paper copy or submitted electronically by the physician. Upon entering the drive-up clinic, patients will call the pre-registration number and be connected to a clinical staff member who will complete the registration. The screening process will be conducted by trained and protected clinicians.

Waterbury Hospital opened drive-through screening March 13. March 13. The sampling station is open at 68 Robbins Street (Emergency Department entrance) seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Here is how it works for patients:

• A doctor’s order is required for sampling.
• Patients get swabbed right in their car and samples are sent outside for testing to a private lab.
• Patients go home to await results.
• Results are available within 3 to 5 days and all patients are asked to self-quarantine while awaiting results.