Norwalk, CT – City officials are working closely with partners at the state and federal levels, as well as partners in Norwalk, to monitor and respond to COVID-19, the 2019 novel Coronavirus. Statewide updates can be found online at ct.gov/coronavirus. Mayor Rilling provided the following Norwalk-area specific updates regarding COVID-19 coronavirus as of 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 26, 2020:
- Since yesterday, there are 81 new positive cases in Norwalk, bringing the total positive reported cases to 1,483. There was also one new death reported. Now, a total of 69 residents have died from coronavirus.
- Beginning on Tuesday, April 28, a new “walk up” window will open at Norwalk City Hall for those who wish to pay taxes in-person or drop off basic materials for the Town Clerk or Tax Assessor offices. This service will be available Tuesday-Thursday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and will not act as a payment drop box and cash is not accepted. Members of the public are asked to please call ahead and to adhere to physical distancing guidelines. Taxes can also be paid online or by mail. More information can be found at norwalkct.org/taxcollector.
- Mayor Rilling reminds the public of Governor Lamont’s Executive Order 7BB which requires face coverings to be worn in public wherever close contact is unavoidable. Any person who is unable to maintain a safe social distance of approximately six feet is required to wear a face covering, including at stores and other public spaces. Mayor Rilling has observed some members of the public not following this order.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency remind the public to always follow the directions labeled on cleaning products and disinfectants, and to never apply the product to oneself or others. Do not ingest disinfectants and do not apply these products directly to food. Household cleaners and disinfectants can cause health problems and poisoning when not used properly. More information from the EPA can be found here. Learn more about safely cleaning and disinfecting your home here.
- Local officials continue to urge residents to use caution and be mindful of increased cyber threats. Cyber criminals are exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic by creating fake coronavirus sites filled with malware/viruses, or that seek fraudulent relief donations. Additionally, email and text messaging campaigns are ongoing with fake updates from schools, work, or the doctor’s office, as well as spoofing online shopping retailers claiming that hard to find items, such as hand sanitizer, are in stock. Clicking links in these messages can infect devices with malware or direct users to scam sites used to steal credit card or other personal identifiable information. More detailed information is available from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security here.
- The 2020 Census is ongoing and ABCD, Inc. has produced Norwalk-specific videos in English and Spanish explaining it’s an ideal time to complete the Census. It is important that everyone in Norwalk is counted to help ensure the City receives proper funding for social services and more. To date, the national response rate is about 53.2%, and in Connecticut, 55.9%. In Norwalk, the response rate is at 54.9%. Response rates are frequently updated here.
“Learning we have another COVID death in Norwalk is sad. I offer my sympathies and prayers to their loved ones. While the case numbers are trending the right direction, I ask that we remain vigilant in the fight against coronavirus. Unfortunately, criminals will always find a way to try to exploit tragedy or crisis for personal gain. I urge the public to be extra cautious and think twice before clicking links or opening unexpected emails,” Mayor Rilling said. “I am encouraged with the community’s response rate to the 2020 Census. We are ahead of the national average and not too far behind the state average. It’s important we all be counted.”
Members of the public are encouraged to sign-up for the City’s CodeRED Emergency Alert Notification System at norwalkct.org/codered. Updates on City services, hours, and community resources will be routinely published at norwalkct.org/citynews. The latest health updates can be found at norwalkct.org/coronavirus.
