2021-12-10 Coronavirus Update

Hello Brookfield! This is your new First Selectman, Tara Carr. Today marks my 5th day in office. It has been an incredibly busy week - a week of firsts and learning - but also a week of decisiveness. As promised, I will maintain transparency as best I can, which is why you are receiving this message now.

I wish I could report better news on my first message to you, but it seems infection rates have risen since Thanksgiving and seems to be a recurring pattern after holidays or other gatherings. Regarding our current Covid situation, unfortunately Brookfield has had an explosion in Covid cases to a total of 80 for the two weeks ending Saturday Dec 4th. This is the highest number we have seen in 1.5 years since the peak of the pandemic. The numbers increased from 28 to 52 from week 1 to week 2. Case rate also increased from 19.4 to 33.7, which keeps us in the “red zone.” Positivity rate increased from 4.5% to 6.3% with 1458 more residents tested. Other towns and cities are seeing similar patterns. This information comes directly from our Director of Public Health, Doctor Sullivan. The good news, from what I understand, is that infections are not as severe and most are recovering well. Please continue to conduct self-risk assessments and to make the best decisions for yourself individually and for your families.

The town mask mandate remains lifted, however masks are now highly encouraged for all (vaccinated, unvaccinated and those who do not wish to disclose their vaccination status) in all town municipal buildings. Covid has shown us that it does not discriminate between the vaccinated and unvaccinated as far as its ability to be transmitted, so neither will the town. Masking guidance of municipal buildings should not single out vaccinated or unvaccinated when it comes to promulgating masking guidance, which is why masks are now encouraged for all in our town buildings.