GREENWICH — The city of Greenwich continues to see optimistic traits in its COVID-19 numbers.
“We’re seeing a downward pattern, not simply right here however throughout the nation,” First Selectman Fred Camillo stated in a COVID replace on Wednesday. “It’s signal that we will beat this factor, and it’ll begin to extinguish itself. That’s what we hope. We’re being vigilant and persevering with to watch it.”
As of Tuesday, 5,799 circumstances of COVID-19 have been identified amongst city residents because the pandemic started in March 2020, Camillo stated. Solely three new circumstances have been reported since Friday, with no extra COVID-related deaths reported on the town during the last two weeks, he stated.
The city Well being Division was monitoring 29 lively circumstances as of Tuesday, Director of Well being Caroline Baisley stated. That’s down from 36 lively circumstances on the town two weeks in the past, and considerably down from the 69 lively circumstances three weeks in the past, she stated.
At Greenwich Hospital, solely 5 COVID-positive sufferers have been admitted as of Wednesday, with just one within the intensive care unit on a ventilator, stated Dana Marnane, vice chairman of public relations for Greenwich Hospital.
That affected person quantity is “about stage” for the place the hospital has been just lately, Marnane stated.
Not one of the 5 COVID-positive sufferers admitted at Greenwich Hospital had been vaccinated towards the virus, she stated.
Vaccines and staff
Greater than two dozen state staff have been fired and lots of of well being care staff have been suspended and face termination for failing to adjust to COVID vaccination necessities. On Tuesday, Gov. Ned Lamont stated 28 state staff had been fired Friday for noncompliance. Oct. 12 was the final day for workers to adjust to the vaccinate-or-test orders, he stated.
The city of Greenwich shouldn’t be taking that step with its staff. Camillo stated he continues to induce city staff to get vaccinated, however he stated weekly checks of the unvaccinated will not be wanted.
However Camillo stated he didn’t have the precise variety of city staff who haven’t been vaccinated, which he stated was “irritating.”
“We nonetheless don’t have (all of the numbers), nevertheless it’s a majority of our staff who’ve been vaccinated,” Camillo stated. “Division by division, some departments are over 80 p.c. Some are effectively into the 90s. Some are within the 70s. On the common, we’re about 75 p.c I might assume. Some departments are doing very, very effectively.”
Within the Greenwich Public Faculties, all district staff are required to both be vaccinated or endure weekly testing for COVID-19. Jonathan Supranowitz, district spokesperson, stated final week, “Our employees is now 100% in compliance.”
The district will proceed to watch the weekly testing requirement for unvaccinated employees, he stated.
The city requires using masks at City Corridor and all town-owned buildings when individuals can not follow social distancing. Camillo stated no different measures are at the moment deliberate.
Subsequent replace
Officers from the city of Greenwich and Greenwich Hospital are scheduled to present their subsequent replace on COVID-19 on Oct. 27.
“Our (vaccination) numbers are excessive sufficient that I don’t assume we’d should do something too draconian,” he stated. “Though … I’ve been urging individuals to get the vaccine, I don’t like mandating one thing. There is likely to be a medical cause or a spiritual cause, and if nearly all of our individuals right here on the town are vaccinated, we’re in an excellent place.”
On the Yale New Haven Well being System, a complete of 225 staff are anticipated be terminated on Oct. 18 for failing to adjust to the necessary COVID-19 vaccination coverage, officers there stated. The deadline for all employees at YNHHS, which incorporates Greenwich Hospital, to change into vaccinated was Sept. 28.
At Greenwich Hospital, spokeswoman Magaly Olivero stated a tally was nonetheless being compiled, however she added that the variety of out-of-compliance staff was “tiny.”
Youngsters and vaccines
The federal Meals and Drug Administration is predicted to quickly permit youngsters beneath the age of 12 to obtain the COVID vaccine.
Yale New Haven Well being System, of which Greenwich Hospital is a component, is “nonetheless growing our technique, however we shall be prepared” when younger youngsters can obtain vaccines, Marnane stated.
“We anticipate listening to one thing by the tip of the month as as to if we will begin vaccinations, and it’ll most likely be a few weeks after that,” she stated.
Greenwich Hospital is at the moment offering booster vaccines for eligible residents.
The subsequent replace on COVID-19 from officers with the city and Greenwich Hospital is scheduled for Oct. 27.
