By Richard Kaufman
Sentinel Reporter
Hospitalizations in Greenwich related to COVID-19 are the lowest they’ve been in a month, according to Yale New Haven Health. As of Wednesday afternoon, there are 73 patients being treated in various Greenwich Hospital units.
So far, 361 patients have been discharged from the hospital and are continuing their recuperation at home. 4,732 people have been tested at the hospital outpatient test site with 1,646 testing positive. All of these numbers reflect patients who live in Greenwich as well as from other municipalities in Connecticut and Westchester County.
According to Greenwich Health Department Director, Caroline Baisley, there are 673 Greenwich residents who have tested positive for coronavirus, up from 667 reported on Tuesday. The Connecticut Department of Public Health reports that 33 Greenwich residents have died from COVID-19 as of Tuesday.
Even though discharges increase, and cases and hospitalizations decline, Greenwich isn’t taking its foot off the pedal.
“We try not to get too up or down with these numbers, we just want to stay the course. Our protocols and guidelines will stay the same,” First Selectman Fred Camillo said.
In an effort to get residents out an exercising, parks have been opened up for walking paths only, and the Griffith E. Harris golf course will have a conditional reopening next week. Plans for the reopening of marinas and the partial reopening of town beaches will be announced soon.
Scam warning from Greenwich Police
The Greenwich Police Department is warning residents of potential scams centered around the coronavirus pandemic. Scams range from unsolicited emails and texts with links to websites that law enforcement has identified as fraudulent. Some offer products claiming they can prevent, treat, diagnose or cure COVID-19, others are offering goods services, loans or debt relief. For guidance on how to protect yourself and your family from becoming a scam victim, please visit this Greenwich Police webpage.
Face masks for small essential businesses
The state of Connecticut announced that face masks for small essential businesses – with 50 or less employees – will be able to receive the masks from their local municipality. Local essential businesses will need to submit an application for the masks to the State. The Town of Greenwich is in communication with the State to receive details about the distribution logistics. The Office of the First Selectman will announce details as they become available. The list of essential businesses can be found here.
Staying at home = time to complete the Census 2020
Camillo is urging every Greenwich resident to participate in the Census.
“We really need to push this. We want to end up being one of the municipalities everyone talks about as having responded very well to this,” he said.
Residents may complete the 2020 Census online at www.my2020census.gov.
The questionnaire only takes about 10 minutes, and all answers are strictly confidential. Your information will not be shared with any other agencies or organizations. The Town receives approximately $2,900 in federal aid for each resident who is counted in the Census.
“If you don’t take the few minutes to do it, that’s less money for the town and for the state. In a time when towns and states are cutting back on budgets, [$2,900] is a pretty big number,” Camillo added.
Please use this time of social distancing and working from home to do your part for the Town. For people who do not have access to a computer, they can complete it by calling these numbers:
English: 1-844-330-2020
Spanish:1-844-468-2020
Chinese (Mandarin) 1-844-391-2020
Chinese (Cantonese) 1-844-398-2020
Haitian Creole: 1-844-474-2020
If you’ve already completed the Census, please encourage your friends, neighbors – from a safe distance – to sit and be counted, too.
Other resources for residents and businesses and other helpful tips
For residents with questions about COVID-19, please call the Greenwich HealthDepartment’s phone lines: 203-622 -7865; 203-622-7703; 203-622-7614; 203-622- 7842 and 203-622-7836.
To reach the Domestic Abuse Services staff at the YWCA, please call the 24/7 hotline at 203-622-0003.
Residents, who need assistance with basic needs, including food, can call the Department of Human Services at 203-622-3800.
Members of the public are encouraged to sign-up for the Town’s Emergency AlertNotification System at greenwichct.bbcportal.com/Entry
If you are concerned about an activity or a group not following COVID-19 protocols, please call the Greenwich Police Department’s non-emergency phone number: 203-622- 8004.
Don’t have a face mask? Many people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic, meaning they can transmit the virus without knowing they have it. Easy to follow instructions to make cloth facial masks can be found here
