Report by Paula Antolini, April 7, 2020, 12:28PM EDT
Bethel Community Update, Monday, April 6, 2020, from First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker:
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This will be a brief update on the situation regarding COVID-19 here in Bethel.
As of Sunday, April 5th, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Bethel stands at 61. As of this writing, there have been no deaths reported from the Bethel cases. The majority of the patients in these cases are recovering at home. Some are serious enough to require hospitalization, although I have not been told exactly how many.
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STAYING SAFE
Social Distancing: The best advice, in accordance with Gov. Lamont’s executive orders, is to stay home. Unless you are an essential worker, do not venture out except for supplies, and when you do, stay at least 6’ away from others.
Personal Hygiene: Most viral infections occur from touching contaminated surfaces, rather than direct contact with an infected person. Unknowingly touching a contaminated surface, then unconsciously rubbing your eyes or nose can transfer the virus and let it get a foothold in your system. That’s why it is so important to not only wash your hands every time you go out, but also wipe down and sanitize commonly used surfaces regularly, especially when returning from a shopping trip.
The chart below shows how long the virus can live on different surfaces. The SARS-CoV-2 virus can survive and remain active anywhere from 3 to over 80 hours, depending on the surface.
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New Guidance from the CDC: In a reversal from previous statements, the CDC now advises everyone, even healthy people to begin wearing face masks in public. Masks are currently in very short supply, however the CDC has posted instructions on making your own mask at home here.
HELPING OTHERS
As is often the case, a crisis like this one brings out the best in people. These are some of the things Bethel residents have been doing:
— Over 7,000 breakfasts and lunches have been delivered by Bethel Public Schools.
— The town’s social services department organized a food donation drive to help restock the Brotherhood in Action food pantry. Over 100 food donations and more than $400 in cash donations were received.
— A coalition of Bethel restaurant owners launched a GoFundMe drive to pay for meals for people in need as well as front-line health care workers. To date the program has raised over $18,000. Here is a link to the site.
— Volunteers are now making face shields and hand-sewing face masks to help fill the gap in supplies of essential protection equipment.
IF YOU HAVE BECOME UNEMPLOYED
The state and federal governments have passed several assistance programs. Information on the CARES Act, Paycheck Protection program for businesses and the coronavirus business recovery program can be found on the Connecticut Department of Community Development with this link.
Information on unemployment programs can be found on the state Department of Labor page here. (DOL is advising that you check this site daily for new updates).
WHAT’S NEXT
Much has been written about the “surge” that is about to occur. The governor and president have both warned us to be prepared for a “rough two weeks.” What does that mean?
Put simply, it means that larger numbers of people who don’t yet know they’ve been infected will begin to show symptoms soon. Because CoV-2 has such a long incubation period, and because some people can carry and spread the virus without knowing it., there is potentially a very large number of people who are about to come down with the disease. The rush to set up new field hospitals and convert basketball arenas to temporary hospitals is being done to prepare for this.
This kind of news understandably causes anxiety. So, what can we do? The best way to respond is to keep doing what you’re doing. Keep following every prevention precaution that we are all familiar with by now to ensure you and your family members are safe. Like every scourge in human history, this will have an end date. By following all the right precautions we’ll get through it together.
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