Join Me Tomorrow and Mask Updates

August 2, 2021
Earlier today while at a meeting with our superintendent, he shared that years ago a fellow educator told him July is like Saturday and August is like Sunday. Those of you with school or college-aged children may resonate with this sentiment. But summer is not over yet. Don’t forget that through Labor Day weekend, children 18 and under and an accompanying  adult receive free admission to museums and parks. For the full list of participating locations, please click here.

Below please find a reminder on my two upcoming forums this week - the first being tomorrow - and updated mask guidance from our state Department of Public Health.

Please join me and spread the word about tomorrow’s online Public Health Update with Dean of the Yale School of Public Health, Dr. Sten Vermund. As the Delta variant becomes more prominent, masking policies make the news, positivity rates rise, and questions remain regarding vaccination approval for children, this is an opportunity to have a conversation with a public health expert from right here in our own state. I hope to see you online.

In order to have as many of your questions answered as possible, I encourage you to e-mail me ahead of time so that I can compile a list for Dr. Vermund. We will discuss the questions you send in, a few that I have for him, and take questions from those who join. We will be recording the session for those unable to participate on the 3rd and sending it back out to you as well as going live and eventually posting it to Facebook.

Health Alert For Fairfield County

As you have probably read in the news, this past weekend, the Connecticut Department of Public Health issued a health alert in response to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) moving seven Connecticut counties, including Fairfield county, into the “substantial transmission” category per the

CDC classification system.

“Per

guidance this week from the CDC, anyone over age two who lives, works or travels throughout these counties should wear a mask when in public indoor spaces,” said Deidre S. Gifford, MD, MPH, senior advisor to the Governor for Health and Human Services, and acting commissioner of DPH. “This alert applies to all residents in these areas whether they are vaccinated or not.”

Those with underlying medical conditions who are at high risk for complications of COVID, or residents who live with high risk or unvaccinated individuals are also strongly encouraged to wear masks in indoor public spaces. This includes vaccinated family members who live with young children who are not yet eligible for vaccination.

Governor Ned Lamont’s Executive Order 12A remains in effect which requires all individuals who have not been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to wear a cloth face covering over their nose and mouth when indoors and unable to maintain adequate distance from others.

I know this is not welcome news for so many. Here in my house my own husband expressed sadness about the shift after returning from a trip to the grocery store and seeing so many people back in masks. For others there may be anger, confusion, or fear with these changes in not just the masking policies, but increases in positivity rates as well. It has been a long road, with tremendous impact on our families, businesses, schools and society at large, some of which we will not fully understand or realize for years.

As we continue to navigate the pandemic, we know one thing for certain, that the vaccine will help us to definitively move past COVID and these types of impacts on our day-to-day lives. COVID vaccines are readily available at hundreds of

locations across Connecticut and I encourage everyone who is eligible to receive the vaccine.
Later this week, on Thursday morning, August 5th, I will join Rep. Leeper for a coffee and conversation at the Fairfield Museum and History Center. Join us in person from 8:00 – 10:00 am to share your ideas, concerns, and questions.

I look forward to the opportunity to talk with you and in light of this week’s updated mask guidance, ask anyone in attendance to wear a mask in the Museum and History Center. If you are unable to make it on the 5th, but would like to set up a time to meet, please reach out to Billy Taylor so that we can schedule a mutually convenient time.