2020-11-20 CoronaVirus Update #37

To:          All residents
From:    Steve Dunn, First Selectman

COVID CASES IN BROOKFIELD

As of yesterday, Thursday the 20^th of November, Brookfield is still in the Red Zone.

In the last two weeks reported we have 67 new cases of the virus in Brookfield. That moves our rate per 100K residents up to 28.1 from22.3 last week. The threshold to be in the red zone is 15 cases per 100K residents. Total cases in Brookfield are now reported as 367 since the start of the pandemic.  We remain with 9 deaths in town and now have 10 residents who have been hospitalized. There are now over 145 towns and cities in CT classified in the red zone or orange zone. Positivity rate in Brookfield is now 5.9%, up from 4.8% reported last week. Transmission continues to be a result of social gatherings, family gatherings and larger group gatherings at restaurants, where masks are not worn and social distancing is violated. 

The Governor has halted all high school and league sports.

PARKS AND REC OFFICE CLOSED NEXT WEEK

An employee in the Parks and Rec office has become ill. The employee was tested for the virus and the test was negative. However, in an abundance of caution, all employees in the office are quarantining and the office will remain closed next week.

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 ARE IN FULL REMOTE

The schools, due to having a rate of over 25 cases per 100K residents, has gone into full remote mode. The schools have developed a new dashboard which we share here:

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS 

COVID-19 DASHBOARD

UNDERSTANDING THE STATE CODING SYSTEM

 There are four 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-Populations

Questions 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