‘This is a serious outbreak in Danbury:’ Residents told to limit activities

DANBURY – As COVID-19 cases continue to increase in the city, state officials issued a COVID-19 warning to the city that residents are wearing to restrict activities this ‘weekend’, the mayor said Friday night.

Mayor Mark Boughton said in a tweet at 7:10 a.m. Friday that the state Department of Public Health had declared a coronavirus alert for the city.

The virus alert from state officials requires residents of Danbury to stay home, avoid unnecessary outings, restrict indoor meetings to only those where you live, and avoid attending church services.

“Please schedule your activities this weekend,” Boughton said.

Nearly 2,300 city dwellers have had the virus since March. From August 2 through Thursday, Danbury reported at least 178 new cases of coronavirus, according to the state Department of Public Health on Friday.

Twenty-four additional cases among Danbury residents were reported Friday, according to Boughton.

Danbury saw 29 extra positive tests on Wednesday, with two new cases Tuesday, 14 on Monday and 24 on Sunday.

State officials said the Department of Public Health is working with municipal and local health officials in Danbury to get the word out to community centers and churches to take extra precautionary measures first.

Residents are encouraged to stay home as much as possible and wear a face cover when they leave their home. Interior collections should be limited to those living in the accommodation only. Residents are encouraged not to go to large church services, as well as to large outdoor collections.

The warning was issued by the state Department of Public Health after what officials said was a major peak in cases in the last two weeks, with most of the outbreaks involving the recent travels of Danbury residents – domestic and international .

The state requires that anyone who has been to Connecticut from many other states for many days after many careers arrive for 14 days as a precaution. Anyone traveling internationally is appointed to self-quarantine for the same period, according to CDC recommendations.

“This is a serious outbreak in Danbury and we really need an approach from all hands on deck to keep the community extra social in the very future. We need everyone in Danbury to take extreme precautions, “said a statement Friday from Deidre Gifford, acting commissioner of the state Department of Public Health.

She said residents who believe they may have been exposed should immediately test and self-guarantee for 14 days if they test positive.

‘We need you to answer your phone when a contact person tries to get in touch. If you are over 60 or have a chronic illness and live in Danbury, you need to stay home, ”said Gifford. “We need employers to make sure that everyone with symptoms when exposed stays home and does not come to work. Friends and neighbors could help by supporting those who need to stay home with food and other errands. We can limit the spread of the virus if we all work together. ”

The virus alert for the city on Friday issued by the state came just days after the city canceled leagues for youth sports due to a spike in cases.

Youth sports, such as travel and barbecues for families, have been linked to the recent increase in cases in Danbury.

The seven-day average of new cases went from 2.3 the week of July 19 to 8.4 last week, according to Kara Prunty, the acting director of health for Danbury.

Two doctors analyzed the data and recommended closing down sports, Boughton said earlier this week.