Dear Residents,
Sadly, I announce today that Madison has seen another increase in our number of positive COVID-19 cases to a total of 91, and an unfortunate rise in fatalities to 11, primarily due to the difficult situation at a local skilled nursing facility. Our thoughts are with those victims and their families during this difficult time. Some positive news is that out of Madison’s active cases (80), 46 are past the 14-day self-isolation window and fully recovered. More information on our recent cases can be found on the Madison Health Department’s website.
The Governor announced yesterday a phased-in approach to reopening Connecticut’s economy and offered some preliminary guidance on reopening selected businesses on May 20th. Any openings would be in coordination with the Reopen Connecticut team and could include outdoor restaurant areas, retail not currently operating, offices, personal services, outdoor museums and zoos, outdoor recreation areas, and university research programs. Going forward, there will be 4 reopen levels - level 1 being the least restrictive and level 4, the most. The state anticipates being able to move from one level to the next no sooner than 4 weeks between each opening. More details are available on the State of Connecticut website. We expect more information from the state on school reopenings and social gatherings sometime next week.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health is implementing a new track and trace system called ContaCT. The system, much like that used for the measles, is being rolled out and targeted to be fully up and running by mid-to-late May. It is being developed in co-ordination with local health authorities in order to contact trace every confirmed case of COVID-19 in the state and prevent further spread of the virus. More details on the program can be found on the Madison Health Department’s website.
Tomorrow, Saturday May 2nd, the Madison Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Love Your Local event from noon to 4 p.m in support of our small businesses. This is a virtual sidewalk sale where shops will be able to fulfill your orders for you online, via facebook, Facetime, or phone. More information can found on the chamber website at https://madisonct.com.
We understand that crowds at our recreation facilities will be growing in the coming days and weeks as the weather warms. The town is working on an operational plan to prepare us for the summer months, so stay tuned. Meanwhile I ask everyone this weekend to continue to be respectful of social distancing at our beaches and parks, and wear a mask while in public. We must remain vigilant and stay the course as long as possible in order to protect our community. Please stay safe, healthy and at home Madison.
Peggy Lyons
First Selectwoman