DoingItLocal

HARTFORD, CT– Governor Ned Lamont announced that he is calling up nearly 100 Connecticut National Guard soldiers and airmen to assist in the logistical operations for the immediate distribution of the three million COVID-19 at-home rapid tests and six million N95 masks that he announced yesterday the state has purchased to help curb the spread of COVID-19 during this heavy travel and holiday season.

The at-home tests and N95 masks are being distributed by the state to municipalities and school districts. Each municipality and school district will then determine how best to provide them to people who live in their respective cities and towns.

While ordered to duty, the Connecticut National Guard soldiers and airmen will also perform missions to alleviate the effects caused by the current Omicron variant surge.

“As these at-home tests arrive in Connecticut over these next several days and weeks, the National Guard will help provide support on behalf of the state to ensure that they are distributed to each municipality and school district,” Governor Lamont said. “The Connecticut National Guard has provided an incredible amount of support throughout this pandemic, and I thank them for their ongoing commitment to the residents of our state.”

“Our state is facing a challenging time. It is a time for caution and deliberate action, not worry,” Major General Francis Evon, adjutant general of the Connecticut National Guard, said. “Our soldiers and airmen have resolutely supported Connecticut and our communities throughout this pandemic. At this point, our COVID-19 response is well-refined, and I have full confidence that Connecticut’s Guard will meet any demand asked of them by the state as they have over the last two years. We are committed to doing whatever it takes to help keep schools open, keep the economy running and keep our neighbors safe.”

The activation is 100% federally funded.

This press release was made possible by:

2021-12-28@10:27pm–#Bridgeport CT– #cttraffic– A crash I-95 northbound, where else but before 27A.

2021-12-28@7:40pm–#Bridgeport CT– If you park on the street at Madison and Center Street Extension you may want to check on your car. There is a report of a man jumping on the parked cars.

This news report is made possible by:

Westport, CT –First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker issued the following update today:

The State of CT has procured a substantial number of at-home COVID test kits and will be distributing them to local municipalities. The Town of Westport will be taking delivery of the Town’s allotment this week and will begin to distribute them immediately. We will be distributing the test kits to Westport Residents on Thursday, December 30, 2021, at Staples High School at 1pm. There are a limited number of kits available. We will provide two (2) kits per vehicle on a first come, first served basis.

As early as next week, the State of CT will also be distributing N95 masks that will be available to the public. State officials stress that details of the distribution of the N95 masks are still being finalized and are subject to change.

Those wishing to receive their allotment of at-home test kits should drive to Staples High School, using the main entrance on North Avenue. Vehicles will drive up to the point of distribution, where an attendant will provide the test kits to you.  We ask that you remain in your vehicles while waiting and be prepared to show your driver’s license to the attendant who greets you.  Once you receive your kits, we ask that you leave the point of distribution to relieve traffic congestion around the high school.

Connecticut Public Health Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani said: “I strongly encourage people to limit gathering sizes during this holiday week. Because of the scarcity of these kits, I am asking the residents of our state to please take only the kits that you need for your immediate family so that we can distribute as many as possible to help flatten the Omicron curve.”

Per the newest CDC recommendations, if your self-test yields a positive result, please stay home or isolate for 5 days, if asymptomatic, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others. There is no need to obtain a follow up PCR test. Given the highly infectious nature of the Omicron variant, it is most important to wear a mask both in public spaces and when interacting in close contact with individuals outside of your household. For the latest CDC guidelines, please see this link: latest CDC guidelines.

Families with children attending the Westport Public Schools are asked to report positive Covid-19 cases of students using the district’s reporting voicemail or email. Please follow this link for more information on reporting.  Please note that it is not necessary to report positive results from at-home testing to the Westport Weston Health District.

We urge our residents to remain cautious and safe to protect yourselves, your families, and your neighbors.  Thank you for your commitment to the health and well-being of the Westport Community.

This press release was made possible by:

First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick confirmed that Fairfield will be receiving approximately 7,710 kits to distribute to residents, 2 tests per kit. With Fairfield’s population at 61,000 residents the amount the state is providing doesn’t allow for all our residents to receive a test kit.  Therefore the Emergency Management Team felt it was important to prioritize the distribution for residents that are experiencing symptoms or have been exposed to someone who tested positive.  

We were told that we should receive the test kits Thursday morning in Fairfield, and have prepared for a distribution event for Fairfield residents.

This Thursday, December 30, from 12-5pm, or until supplies last, the Town will host a test-kit distribution at Roger Ludlowe Middle School, with all traffic entering at 440 Mill Plain Road, adjacent to Sturges Park.

– Due to limited supply at this time, test kits are intended for residents that are symptomatic or that have a known exposure to someone who tested positive
– Proof of residency via your valid 2021 Fairfield beach or dump sticker, OR a driver’s license 
– 2 kits (4 tests) will be distributed per household

Residents must enter the site from Mill Plain Road. The Fairfield Police Department will be managing traffic, and I ask that you please follow the directional signs and cones to keep the flow of traffic moving quickly.

Before Christmas, I taped a video with our Director of Health Sands Cleary to share information with our community. For those residents who are not on Facebook, I wanted to provide a link to the video with a COVID update.  

I know some of our residents are concerned about the high transmission rate of Omicron. I thought it might be helpful to share with you the Town’s contact tracers are finding that the majority of positive cases are coming from household exposures, during at-home gatherings, Thanksgiving day celebrations and other holiday parties, and not typically from short visits to the grocery store or retail shops. I continue to encourage our residents to follow the CDC guidelines that recommend wearing a mask when indoors, especially when a six foot distance from others can’t be maintained.

I’ve also provided more information below on vaccines, testing locations, new CDC guidelines and other resources which may be helpful. 

This news report is made possible by:

Mayor Laura R. Hoydick has announced plans for distribution in Stratford of COVID-19 test kits that the Town will receive as part of the 3 million rapid-test kits being distributed to Connecticut towns and cities by order of Governor Ned Lamont. 

Test kits are being distributed to Connecticut communities on a per capita basis, with Stratford receiving 6570 kits. Kits will be made available to Stratford at two distribution points. As the number of kits available will be insufficient to cover everyone in town, they will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Based on CT Department of Health recommendations to limit the number of tests made available per household, the Stratford distribution sites will distribute a maximum of two kits per household. Each kit contains two tests.

The kits will be made available from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 30^th, at the following locations:

·      Bunnell High School Parking Lot – 1 Bulldog Blvd., Stratford

·      Stratford Academy: Johnson House Parking Lot – 719 Birdseye St., Stratford

Tests will be available only to Stratford residents and distributed through drive-up. Residents will be directed through each drive-up by staff at each location. Everyone in vehicles coming through the drive-up should remain masked the entire time.

Households will have additional opportunities to receive test kits in the coming weeks through the school system and Federally-Qualified Health Centers.

Residents should note that there continues to be sites available in Stratford for COVID-19 tests, including DeLuca Field parking lot every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (closed Friday Dec. 31^st). You can register here: https://hipaa.jotform.com/MurphyMA/Register

Drive-through testing is also available at DOCS Urgent Care Center, 200 East Main Street (Appointments can be made here: https://docsmedicalgroup.com/docsurgentcare/book-appointment-locations/) and at CVS Pharmacy at 1 Hawley Lane (Appointments can be made at http://www.cvs.com).

Get Vaccinated and Boosted

The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has proven to be very contagious, and those who remain unvaccinated should do so as soon as possible. More information on vaccines can be obtained by visiting https://portal.ct.gov/Vaccine-Portal.

Locations for vaccines and boosters in Stratford (appointments required):

·      CVS Pharmacy – 1425 Barnum Ave.

·      Walgreens – 1606 Barnum Ave.

·      ShopRite Pharmacy – 250 Barnum Ave.

·      Walmart – 150 Barnum Ave.

·      Stop & Shop – 200 East Main Street

·      Rite Aid – 1060 East Main St.

The Connecticut Department of Health also has many walk-in clinics available without an appointment:

https://portal.ct.gov/vaccine-portal/DPH-Van-Clinics?language=en_US

This press release was made possible by:

2021-12-28@12:46pm–#Westport CT– #cttraffic– Two crashes are snarling traffic on I-95 northbound near exit 18. According to radio reports are two crashes with injuries bringing traffic to a crawl.

2021-12-28@9:17am–#Easton CT– The steaks were high on Austin Drive in Easton where animal control and police work to herd cows back to where they belong.

Thanks to Mary Vimini for the photo and Sheryl Petmom for detailed info and kept me from butchering this report, they didn’t steer me wrong…yes, I know I’m milking these puns.

2021-12-28@11:11am–#Stratford CT– #cttraffic– Today’s vehicle fire was on I-95 southbound at exit 32. No injuries reported. DOT camera is over-exposed.

2021-12-28@10:31am–Viewer Robert Keppler sent in this photo of truck hitting the overpass at Round Hill Road in Fairfield. Robert said the area was quickly cleared.