On July 4th - Continue to Stay Safe
As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, I want to urge caution and common sense. In celebrating the birth of American independence, please remember that true patriotism means caring for community, and striving to be a united nation. We are still struggling to emerge from the grip of this pandemic, and now is not the time to throw caution to the wind.
I know we are all tired of social distancing and wearing masks, which is especially trying as the weather warms up. But one of the reasons Connecticut has been ahead of the curve nationally is our early response to the pandemic and the fact that our residents have taken the COVID-19 pandemic seriously.
As you can see from this map, created by Johns Hopkins University, Connecticut has led the way in "flattening the curve" on infections, despite our proximity to New York. Let's keep it this way!
Still, a look at the recent statistics of confirmed cases and deaths in our district is sobering. Please do not make the mistake of thinking you are immune to this devastating disease. Our towns have experienced their share of heartache and loss. I send my sincere condolences to the families of those who have died and my best wishes for a full recovery for those still suffering.
I want to once again express my gratitude to all the hard-working people who are contributing to our safety: our local health districts (the Connecticut River Area Health District and the Essex Health District) for their advocacy, research, inspections, monitoring and general disease prevention; our healthcare, assisted living and nursing home facilities, which are struggling to cope with this unprecedented crisis; and all the front-line workers (doctors, nurses, sanitation workers, technicians, EMTs and hospital personnel) who give direct care.
As you make plans with friends and family, please continue to wear a mask, keep far apart from others, avoid crowded indoor places, and respect the guidelines of local merchants. To do otherwise is risking your health, the health of those you love, and the wider community. It’s simply not worth the risk.