GREENWICH — The city director of well being urged residents to extend the usage of masks to guard themselves towards COVID-19 as she expressed concern Thursday in regards to the quickly rising variety of instances reported in Greenwich.
However First Selectman Fred Camillo stated there is no such thing as a purpose to “dwell in concern of each variant we now have” and stated he’s monitoring the numbers in Greenwich day by day.
“I don’t assume I’m an alarmist, I simply need folks to take the mandatory precautions for themselves as a result of there’s not going to be any directives to take action,” Director of Well being Caroline Baisley stated.
“Folks have to know they should take private precautions once they exit,” she stated.
A complete of 157 instances of COVID-19 had been reported on the town between Dec. 7 and Dec. 14, in accordance with Baisley, up from 98 instances the earlier week. A city resident recognized with COVID-19 died up to now week, bringing the overall variety of COVID-related deaths to 99 residents because the pandemic started in March 2020.
The city is at present monitoring 126 energetic COVID instances, which is 28 greater than final week, Baisley stated.
“We’re getting 157 new instances every week, and the state is getting 1000’s of instances every week. We’re within the crimson (zone for the excessive price of an infection),” she stated.
Baisley stated she grew to become involved after seeing so many individuals with out masks who’re strolling round shops and malls within the space.
“It’s time for Greenwich residents to take private safety measures by carrying a masks indoors and carrying a masks open air in populated areas,” she stated. “Folks have to apply social distancing and apply good hygiene by washing fingers, avoiding crowds and carrying a masks.”
Disagreements on masks
There isn’t any want for brand new directives from the city or state, Baisley stated, as a result of residents ought to take accountability for safeguarding their very own well being in addition to for the general well being of the neighborhood.
Camillo, who stated he usually consults with docs and with Greenwich Hospital on COVID-19, stated the city’s residents are already responding appropriately and stated the vaccination charges present that.
“There isn’t any purpose to upend your lives,” Camillo stated. “We’ve taken this severely since Day 1, and we proceed to take it severely. We’re constantly monitoring the scenario, however we’re additionally going to take a balanced method and we’re not going to overreact.”
The 2 have disagreed a few masks coverage up to now, he stated, with Baisley asking for a mandate on the town and Camillo deciding not to take action. Camillo stated he didn’t take subject with the controversy, although, as a result of he desires to listen to totally different views.
Additionally, 73.36 p.c of the city’s eligible inhabitants of 58,942 residents is absolutely vaccinated, Baisley stated. However the vaccination price is lowest amongst residents ages 25 to 44, she stated.
In keeping with the state, the vaccination charges in Greenwich, separated by age teams, are:
*For 12- to 17-year-olds, 97.74 p.c of the cohort is partially vaccinated and 89.17 p.c is absolutely vaccinated;
*For 18- to 24-year olds, 96.9 p.c of the cohort is partially vaccinated and 81.62 p.c is absolutely vaccinated;
*For 25- to 44-year-olds, 78.05 p.c of the cohort is partially vaccinated, up from lower than 75 p.c at the beginning of the month, and 66.99 p.c is absolutely vaccinated, which can be up from every week in the past;
*For 45- to 64-year-olds, 90.47 p.c of the cohort is partially vaccinated and 81.65 absolutely vaccinated;
*For 65-year-olds and up, one hundred pc of the cohort is partially vaccinated and 91.37 is absolutely vaccinated.
Camillo stated residents who aren’t vaccinated are “operating an enormous danger.”
However the variety of hospitalizations has not elevated at Greenwich Hospital. On Thursday, it was treating 11 COVID-positive sufferers, in contrast with 10 sufferers on Dec. 8 and 9 sufferers on Dec. 10.
Of the 11 hospitalized sufferers, one was within the intensive care unit, the hospital reported.
Worth of vaccine, booster
Camillo stated he wouldn’t “declare there’s an emergency when there may be none.”
“We proceed to observe this each day, and we’re monitoring the traits,” he stated. “We all know when folks get the booster it helps with the variants. Folks with the booster are usually not going to the hospital even when they get it.”
Residents ought to proceed to take masks with them and “put on them when they should,” Camillo stated.
“In case you’re at a big gathering, watch out,” he stated. “In case you haven’t been vaccinated, you’re susceptible. However in case you have been vaccinated and also you’ve gotten the booster, you’re in fairly fine condition. … All of the proof is displaying that.”
