Municipal officials on Friday will undergo “ticket training” with the state as New Canaan prepares to fine those violating rules designed to minimize the spread of COVID-19 virus in town.
Health Director Jenn Eielson said she will undergo training together with local police and the first section, from the state Department of Public Health, Department Economic and Community Development and Liquor Control Division of the Department of Consumer Protection.
“That is for the fines,” Eielson told members of the Health & Human Services during the appointed body’s regular meeting Thursday.
“I have already ordered our ticket book,” she said during the meeting, held via videoconference. “Because as many of you are sure to know, tomorrow the governor is rolling us back to what he’s calling Phase 2.1. and what that is, it’s restaurants go back to 50% capacity and they have to close by 9:30 p.m. Only curbside and delivery is allowed after that. And the point of that is, there have been bars masquerading as restaurants statewide. So their hope is by closing at 9:30 to eliminate some of that behavior. Our restaurants have been pretty good.”
The comments came during a general update on COVID-19 virus and other matters from Eielson. They follow the town’s creation last month of a “mandatory mask zone” downtown. Under an order from Gov. Ned Lamont, police and health officials can impose $100 fines for those failing to wear a mask when within six feet of another person, including outside (among other triggers for fines, covering large events and gatherings).
The town reported a double-digit rise in new cases last week. Eielson said during the meeting that New Canaan COVID-19 cases “are still rising this week.” A Norwalk-based urgent care facility that does COVID-19 testing will come to Saxe Middle School and New Canaan High School on Friday to test about 600 staff and students, and next week will test residents, Eielson said. A separate company will do on-site testing for at-risk congregate living residents in New Canaan, including at Schoolhouse Apartments and Millport Avenue public housing.
Town officials will post a link for residents to sign up for the PhysicianOne testing, Eielson said.
“The whole goal of this is to really get a hold on what exactly we have positivity-wise,” she said. “Identify those that are asymptomatic positive and isolate and keep going.”
Commissioners asked how long it takes to get results (36 to 48 hours), how reliable the testing is (it’s PCR testing, the gold standard), how much it costs ($90 per test) and who pays for it (there’s FEMA and CARES Act reimbursement, among other sources).
Commission Chair Dr. Harrison Pierce noted that district officials have cited extracurricular, non-school-related activities as the source of new positive cases among students, particularly youth sports.
According to New Canaan Public Schools’ continuously updated operations guide during COVID-19, “Charting Our Course,” as of Thursday there was one Saxe student and one West School student, as well as one staff member from West, in isolation after testing positive for the virus. District-wide, there were 60 additional students in quarantine due to “close contact” with a positive case, and 13 staff members.
“The second surge is real,” Pierce said.
Let the lawsuits begin – Tickets will be declared invalid in the end – Don’t pay a dime if you get this ticket and fight in court.