Corona Virus Update #16 - April 6, 2020

To:        All residents
From:    Steve Dunn, First Selectman

CodeRED RESIDENT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

We will be sending out our first update this evening to all who have signed up for the service.

 If you wish to sign up from your cell phone send “brookfieldct”  to 99411 and the system will prompt you on accessing the reporting system. You can also sign up on the town website on the bottom of the main page by clicking on the CodeRED logo.

 You can get a text with a link to the update, get a voice message or have an email sent to you automatically. We will still be sending out emails to everyone on our town website mailing list and the Spotlight mailing list to ensure we are reaching as many people as we can so you may get duplicate messages.  Over 600 people have signed up over the weekend for the CodeRED updates and that is a very good response. Please let your friends and neighbors know of this service. If you decide that you do not want the updates, you can cancel the service at any time in the future. We plan on sending out regular updates to residents.

 This system is not the Emergency Reverse 911 system used by the Police department and you will continue to receive notifications from that system in the future.

BROOKFIELD HAS 83 CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19

This is an increase of 11 since our last report on last Friday.

We caution however that things are changing rapidly and we should not get a sense of false security. We are seeing 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 by using a separate bathroom if available. The Virus is widespread enough to consider everyone suspect.

Given there has been 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!

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING TONIGHT VIA ZOOM-MONDAY NIGHT APRIL 6^th

IF you wish to join the meeting, you can do so via computer or via telephone. Instruction on how to do this are on the town website on the main page. You can join by computer or phone. Bear with us as we implement this new system.

BROOKFIELD RECOVERS FUND

We started a fund last week to collect donations to enable the town to assist residents. I am very happy to say that Brookfielders have responded generously, donating over $8,500 to the fund.
If you wish to donate please send a check payable to the Town of Brookfield and note on it “Brookfield Recovers” in the memo space and send to Finance Department, 100 Pocono Road, Brookfield, CT 06804. Our Social Services Department will be managing this very worthwhile cause.

STILL RIVER GREEENWAY IS CLOSED

We have gotten reports that despite the many signs and barriers, some people are still walking on the Greenway. Please remind anyone you see that it is closed.

FAQ FOR ASSISTANCE FOR RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESS

Senator Murphy has created a FAQ page, which is quite extensive and 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

RULES FOR SELF ISOLATION

From Dr. Raymond Sullivan-Director of Public Health:

Those who have tested positive can come off of 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

BRUSHYARD WILL BE CLOSED THIS WEEKEND

It will re-open next weekend.

TOWN HALL IS NOW OPEN AND STAFFED-BUT CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC

The building is closed to the general public and no one will be allowed in the building. If you have urgent business please call the department you need and we will assist you. While the majority of staff are working from home, each department has at least one staff member in the office. Please call and make an appointment if there is something that has to be done in person.

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.

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 SUPPLIES 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 IS KEY TO STOPING THE VIRUS

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.