Corona Virus Update #13 - April 1, 2020

To:        All residents
From:    Steve Dunn, First Selectman

FAQ FOR ASSISTANCE FOR RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESS

Senator Murphy has created a FAQ page, which is quite extensive, can be accessed here:

https://www.murphy.senate.gov/coronavirus

We would also urge you to go to:

Ct.gov/coronavirus for State of CT programs

CDC.gov for the Center for Disease Control.

Brookfieldct.gov for town related issues

NEW RULES FOR SELF ISOLATION

From Dr. Raymond Sullivan-Director of Public Health:

Those who have tested positive can come off if isolation if:

1) They are fever free for three days while off fever reducing medications AND

2) They are entirely without symptoms of any cough, sneezing or respiratory difficulty for the same three days AND

3 They have been self-isolated for a minimum of 7 days

BROOKFIELD NOW HAS 58 CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19

We have seen some stabilization in numbers of individuals who have tested positive for the Corona virus In Brookfield in the last few days  with 58 reported cases from age 1 to 81 and equally divided between The sexes.  We caution however that things are changing rapidly and we should not get a sense of false security. We are seeing a great deal of intra-household transmission  but no evidence of community transmission at this time.  Everyone who tests positive with Covid19 MUST self-isolate from family and friends in a separate room and using a separate bathroom if available. We are seeing just too much transmission of virus amongst close family contacts, suggesting Positive patients are NOT self-isolating within the home. The Virus is widespread enough to consider everyone suspect.

Given the great amount of household transmission, we would recommend EVERY positive resident self-isolate for a full 14 days. Forget more lenient CDC guidelines for coming off quarantine.  Stay safe!  Stay home!

We will no longer list the age range and sex of affected residents because our Director of Public Health tells us that the virus is affecting all age groups and sexes.

Welcome news is that CT ranks 44^th on the lists of deaths per capita (No 1 being worst). This is in large part due to the skills of our healthcare workers in CT.

BRUSHYARD WILL BE OPEN THIS WEEKEND

Please be sure you keep social distances when bringing your brush. Please stay in your car if there is a line to drop brush.

TOWN HALL CLOSED UNTIL APRIL 6th

A person who has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus was in Town Hall. With an abundance of caution and after discussing with the Director of Public Health, Town Hall is closed to comply with the recommended 14-day isolation period.

We have hired a company to thoroughly clean the building. That is complete. Experts tell us that the virus does not live on surfaces longer than three days. Even though we have been cleaning the building daily, we want to keep our employees and the public safe with this additional cleaning.

Staff will be working from home, but will respond to calls and emails daily. We will bring staff back to their offices starting April 6.

BLOOD DRIVE APRIL 7 BROOKFIELD HIGH SCHOOL IS CANCELLED

.We will continue to monitor this and we hope to hold this blood drive in the future.

STILL RIVER GREENWAY IS CLOSED

There are too many people using the Greenway to practice safe physical distancing, so we have closed it until further notice. We encourage you, in small family groups, to hike Gurski Farm, Happy Landings, Burr Farm and the Brookfield Open Spaces Legacy properties.

SCHOOLS DONATE SUPLIES TO TOWN

Working with Superintendent Barile and Rosa Fernandes, Chairman of the Board of Education, and under the guidance and support of the State Commissioner of Education, the school system has donated numerous supplies our first responders need. The town has supplies on order, but some are delayed. We will return the supplies to the schools as soon as possible.

Brookfield is a great town and emergencies like this demonstrate why people love to live here. We take care of our own, work as a team, and fully support our police, fire, EMS and other volunteer groups fully.

SELF-DISTANCING

We have to make sure we are doing everything we can as a community to stop this pandemic. We can do that if each one of you, and your families, stays home and is extremely careful in public.

We ask that you do not go to our parks. We need every resident to leave the house only if absolutely necessary, to practice physical distancing at all times, and to wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds.

Remember that a very large percentage of those who have the virus have no symptoms and unwittingly may spread the virus. Here’s how you can help your fellow residents, many of whom are in the most vulnerable categories. Treat every encounter as meeting someone with the virus. Only in doing this can we successfully slow the spread of the disease.

When you shop, please do so by yourself, if possible. Do not allow your children to congregate in large groups, attend parties or sleepovers -- any activity that will bring children together.