COVID-19: Norwalk updates

NORWALK, Conn. – Some local developments in the rapidly changing COVID-19 crisis:

• Drive through testing nearby, if you qualify
• City Hall meetings postponed – no public hearing Wednesday
• BoE meeting will proceed virtually
• Oak Hills Park is closed
• What about the mall?
• Stop & Shop offers seniors-only morning hours

Getting tested

Drive through testing is available in Stamford, Darien, New Canaan, Greenwich and Stratford.

This was publicized on the social media site NextDoor. State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-25) said it’s legit: a group of doctors is offering the service. You need to register, fill out a screening questionnaire and registration for insurance billing. The average cost of the test is $95 and a subsidy may be available.

On the other hand, NancyOnNorwalk is in contact with a potential COVID-19 patient, who said she called and was told that she had to have a high fever or have traveled out of the country.

So what about testing in Norwalk?

“As the situation is evolving, more and more testing options will become available throughout the state. We’ll continue to update the public when more testing options are available in our area,” Norwalk Director of Health Deanne D’Amore wrote.

A Monday press release from the Governor’s Office said “alternate COVID-19 testing locations have been approved at several hospitals throughout Connecticut, and each of them are at varying stages of setting-up drive-through testing procedures.”

The hospitals approved for drive-through test sampling includes:

• Bridgeport Hospital
• Bristol Health
• Danbury Hospital
• Greenwich Hospital
• Stamford Health
• Waterbury Hospital
• Yale-New Haven Hospital

Anyone seeking to be tested must have a prescription from their doctor and make an appointment in advance.

City postpones budget meetings

The Board of Estimate and Taxation has postponed the budget meetings it had scheduled for this week, in the wake of Gov. Ned Lamont’s executive order giving municipal governments an extra 30 days to complete budgets.

So, there will not be a public hearing on the operating budget Wednesday.

The Council Ordinance Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday is also postponed.

This reverses an earlier City announcement, in which it was said the meetings would be held. The thought was that a large meeting could be held in Concert Hall , where people would be able to spread out.

Board of Ed going virtual

The Board of Education meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday will be held, just not in City Hall.

It will be virtual, available for viewing live on the Norwalk Public Schools YouTube channel, NPS Communications Director Brenda Wilcox Williams said.

The BoE Curriculum Committee meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday has been cancelled. So has the Ad-Hoc Special Education Committee meeting that had been scheduled for 6 p.m.

Oak Hills

Oak Hills Park is closed until at least March 28, Oak Hills Park Authority Chairman Carl Dickens said Monday.

“Given the information that has been released this past weekend, Oak Hills is taking this action to be a good neighbor and responsible citizen to help stop the spread of this virus.  In the interest of protecting staff, golfers, and visitors to the park, this action, while disappointing and unfortunate is one, we must take,” he wrote. “…We can be thankful that we have had such mild weather, which has allowed our patrons to enjoy the greatness of Oak Hills at a much earlier date than usual.”

Dickens promises to keep everyone informed.

The SoNo Collection cuts back

Lamont has signed another executive order, which:

• Revises the previously enacted prohibition on large gatherings to a capacity of 50 people and adds religious gatherings to the list of activities subject to the limit.
• Limits restaurants to non-alcoholic beverage and take-out/delivery services only, effective 8PM tonight.
• Requires closure of on-side operations at off-track betting facility operations, effective 8PM tonight.
• Requires closure of gyms, fitness studios, and movie theaters, effective 8PM tonight.

So, if gatherings are limited to 50 people, why is The SoNo Collection still open?

“It is a retail outlet. There would not be a gathering in any one location on close proximity of 50 or more people,” Mayor Harry Rilling wrote. “The restaurant establishments in The Sono Collection would be subject to this ban.”

The SoNo Collection is has reduced its hours. It’s now open from noon to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Here’s more info from Lamont:

“Since yesterday’s update, an additional 15 Connecticut residents have tested positive, including 13 more in Fairfield County, one more in Hartford County, and one more in New Haven County. This brings the total number of positive cases reported in Connecticut (including presumptive positive) – from both the State Laboratory and private laboratories – to 41.”

A county-by-county breakdown of the positive cases includes:

• Fairfield County: 29
• Hartford County: 4
• Litchfield County: 4
• New Haven County: 4

Seniors only

Stop & Shop is offering seniors an early morning chance to shop, with no younger folk around.

Starting Thursday, the stores will be open between 6 and 7:30 a.m. to anyone 60 years old or older, the company announced.

“We’re making the decision to offer this every day of the week to allow for community members in this age category to shop in a less crowded environment, which better enables social distancing. They’ll also be shopping prior to any other customers entering,” the company said. “…Although we will not be requesting ID for entry, we ask that you please respect the purpose of the early opening – and do the right thing for your neighbors. Store associates do reserve the right to ask customers to leave if they are not a member of this age group.”

Stop & Shop has also shortened its hours to allow its workers time to restock the shelves. It’s now closing at 8 p.m.