WESTPORT — A new indoor mask mandate will be in place effective Monday for all town-owned buildings, including The Westport Library, Town Hall, and the Westport Center for Senior Activities, regardless of vaccination status.
First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker issued a notice Thursday afternoon “after consideration and consultation with health officials and municipal leaders,” she said in a statement.
Testing Center Coming
In cooperation with town officials, she also said a new COVID-19 testing center, run by Progressive Diagnostics, will be opened at Greens Farms Railroad Station on or about Jan. 1, pending final arrangements.
“Health officials state that prevention is critical,” Tooker said, “and all who are able and eligible are urged to get fully vaccinated and get a booster as soon as possible.”
School Cases Rise
As the COVID-19 numbers continue to rise in the region, Supt. of Schools Thomas Scarice reported 25 new positive cases this afternoon.
Yesterday the district reported 28 new cases, with 36 cases reported on Tuesday.
“As we enter the holiday break, our nursing staff and administrators will not be able to complete any contact tracing from Dec. 24 – Jan. 3, with the exception of students and staff involved with athletic activities,” Scarice said in an email to families and staff.
Staples High School continues to show the largest numbers, with 33 cases reported over the past three days. Saugatuck Elementary School had a total of 17 new cases reported in that same period, while Bedford Middle School had a total of 14 new reported cases.
On Tuesday the Westport School District banned visitors to the school buildings and cancelled a number of activities through early January.
“Booster Adds Protection”
“Of the new cases reported in Westport, 37% are in fully vaccinated individuals, (while) the fully vaccinated who have received the booster inoculation make up about 2.6% of the new cases,” said Mark Cooper, director of the Westport-Weston Health District — which after Jan. 1 will be known as the Aspetuck Health District.
“The booster adds protection,” he said.
In other news, the senior center has suspended indoor programs and congregate lunches for next week, with classes becoming virtual and lunch handled as a drive-through at noon on Dec. 27, 28 and 29.
The center is closed on Dec. 30 and 31, but at this point anticipates a return to in-house programming on Monday, Jan. 3.
It’s time for Westport officials to take the increase in numbers I’ll seriously and reinstate mask mandate for all buildings. We need to do whatever’s possible to mitigate the spread.
The solution is simple mandate vaccinations and boosters Open a mass vaccination center asap Those who do not want to be vaccinated should stay at home so they can keep their choice but not make others sick
Arlene
What are your thoughts about those whose physical conditions may not accept a vaccine, but whose weekly test results have consistently produce a
NEGATIVE
and is matched by responsible masking