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 Tuesday, May 19, 2020:
- Due to outages with several State of Connecticut systems today, City officials are unable to report any potential new COVID-19 cases or deaths in Norwalk.
- Governor Ned Lamont signed an Executive Order to help facilitate the reopening of certain businesses on May 20. Additionally, the order extends the prohibition on gatherings of more than five people until at least June 20, 2020.
- As more businesses start to reopen, including retail stores and restaurants, local enforcement will be handled by the Norwalk Health Department and Norwalk Police Department. Those with a complaint should call the Police non-emergency line at 203-854-3000. The public should not report issues on social media, as those are not being monitored in real-time. Specific sector guidance from the State of Connecticut can be found at ct.gov/coronavirus.
- The public is reminded that there are 15 food distribution sites in Norwalk available to families with children under 18 years old. The sites are open weekdays from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Members of the public do not need to show ID, and children do not need to be enrolled with Norwalk Public Schools to receive food. More details at norwalkct.org/meals.
- Phase One of the Reopen Norwalk Plan starts tomorrow, May 20, 2020. As part of the plan, vehicular access to Calf Pasture Beach and Shady Beach will be restored at 50% capacity to help with social distancing. More information is available at norwalkct.org.
- The State of Connecticut will be distributing 50,000 infrared thermometers to small businesses, nonprofits, and places of worship to support safe reopening activities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Entities that would like to request a thermometer can fill out the forms located at ct.gov/coronavirus in the “Access to Personal Protective Equipment” section.
“With Phase One starting May 20, we are heading into some uncharted territory. Outdoor dining will occur, the mall will be open, and offices will have more people reporting to work. All of these are normal, but these activities now will be operating under strict guidelines to protect the health and safety of employees and the public,” said Mayor Rilling. “If an employee has a concern with their place of work, they should report that issue to the State of Connecticut via 2-1-1. If a member of the public sees an issue with a local establishment, please contact the Norwalk Police Department so we can follow up. I ask for everyone’s continued patience and cooperation in the days and weeks ahead.”
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.
