2020-11-13 CoronaVirus Update #36
To: All residents
From: Steve Dunn, First Selectman
COVID CASES IN BROOKFIELD
As of yesterday, Thursday the 12th of November, Brookfield is still in the Red Zone.
Between the last two weeks reported, ending last Saturday the 7th, we have reported 53 new cases of the virus in Brookfield. That moves our rate per 100K residents to 22.3. The threshold to be in the red zone is 15 cases per 100K residents. Total cases in Brookfield are now over 300 in total since the start of the pandemic. We remain with 9 deaths and 5 residents hospitalized. The trend is going in the opposite direction that we need it to go. There are now 100 towns and cities in CT classified in the red zone, 52 classified on the orange zone and 13 in the yellow zone. Only 18 communities are in the grey zone. Transmission has occurred as a result of social gatherings, family gatherings and larger group gatherings at restaurants, where masks are not worn and social distancing is violated.
The State has issued an advisory for everyone to stay home between the hours of 10 PM and 5 AM. This applies to everyone except essential workers who must leave home to work or those who need to seek medical care or to purchase medical supplies, food or groceries.
We request that everyone please stay home as much as possible and if you do need to go out, please wear a mask, social distance and wash your hands frequently.
We are very concerned that we may see a spike in the number of cases. The only way to stop it is to work together as a community to keep each other safe.
GRANTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
DECD will start accepting applications for the Connecticut CARES Small Business Grant Program. Small businesses and nonprofits in Connecticut with a 2019 annualized payroll of less than $1.5 million OR 20 or fewer employees can receive a one-time grant of $5,000. All funding will be disbursed by the end of December and will not require repayment.
STATE TO START TRACKING COVID USING PHONE APP
The state has launched new technology to help stop the spread of COVID-19 among our residents and families. With support from Apple and Google, we launched COVID Alert CT, a notification app to inform you of possible exposure to COVID-19 – all without disclosing your location or personal information.
This app is only as successful as the number of people who use it, which is why we ask that you share this information with employees, colleagues, family, and friends.
The app is available in multiple languages and can be used on Android and iPhone. Use the following link to download the Android app from the Google Play Store or click here to learn how to enable the app through the settings on your iPhone.
SCHOOLS OPEN
The schools have been reopened and will remain in hybrid mode.
UNDERSTANDING THE STATE CODING SYSTEM
There are three categories in the Coding system. The Red zone indicates municipalities that have an average daily COVID-19 case rate over the last two weeks of greater than 15 per 100,000 population. The orange zone indicates those that have case rates between 10 to 14 cases per 100,000 population. The yellow zone indicates municipalities that have case rates between 5 and 9 per 100,000 population, and those indicated in gray have case rates lower than five per 100,000 population.
RESOURCE LINKS FOR COVID:
COVID-19 Community Alert Infographic: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Departments-and-Agencies/DPH/Communications/Graphics/COVID-chart.jpg
COVID-19 Community Alert Map is posted here at 4:00 pm on Thursdays: https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/COVID-19-Data-Tracker
The case rates will be included in the detailed data report that DPH publishes every Thursday, which will also be posted on the Data Tracker webpage: https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/COVID-19-Data-Tracker
DPH Stay at Home Advisory: https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Press-Room/Press-Releases---2020/DPH-Issues-New-Public-Health-Advisory-for-All-CT-Residents-Amid-Rise-in-COVID-19-Cases
Executive Order 9K on Phase 2.1: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Office-of-the-Governor/Executive-Orders/Lamont-Executive-Orders/Executive-Order-No-9K.pdf
Latest guidance and Sector Rules:
https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Covid-19-Knowledge-Base/Latest-Guidance
Questions on the reopening phases can be emailed to DECD.Covid19@ct.gov
Questions on sports guidance can be emailed to Thomas.St.Louis@ct.gov
State Testing Locations: https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Priority-PopulationsQuestions on testing can be emailed to Michelle.Gilman@ct.gov
Community Resources Page: https://portal.ct.gov/coronavirus/communityresources
Questions on testing can be emailed to LoraRae.Anderson@ct.gov
2-11 COVID-19 Resources Page: https://uwc.211ct.org/covid19resources/
State Department of Education Revised Addendum 4: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SDE/COVID-19/Addendum-4-Interim-Guidance-for-DecisionMaking-Regarding-the-Use-of-InPerson-Hybrid-Blended-or-Remot.pdf