‘Another tough month ahead’

Camillo calls for continued COVID precautions

GREENWICH — Even with the arrival of the coronavirus vaccine in Greenwich, First Selectman Fred Camillo continued to urge residents not to let their guards down during the public health crisis.

At Wednesday’s press briefing on the pandemic, Camillo said the town has now seen 2,110 cases of the coronavirus since the pandemic began, an increase of 243 since Dec. 9. Of those cases, 109 are considered “active” by the town Health Department, he said.

Also, another resident diagnosed with COVID-19 has

died, bringing that total up to 60, he said.

“We still have another tough month ahead,” Camillo said. “But I am very, very hopeful that as long as we keep our guard up and our masks on and keep our distances, we will be fine. There are rough seas ahead, but we will get there.”

Greenwich Hospital President Diane Kelly called the vaccine “a new weapon” in the fight against

coronavirus as the hospital began vaccinating staff members Wednesday.

Camillo said he was happy that the the vaccine is now available, including to first responders at Greenwich Emergency Medical Service.

“It begins, I believe, the final stage of this unfortunate period in our history,” he said. “I say that not to get ahead of ourselves because we’re still not there. The end is in sight though and we’re in a very, very different place than we were in March.”

Kelly did not participate

in Wednesday’s press conference call with Camillo as usual. Greenwich Hospital held a press conference in the morning as the first vaccinations were administered.

Greenwich Hospital reported that 2,900 doses of the vaccine had arrived Tuesday night, with 7,000 more expected this weekend.

The state is just getting into Phase 1A of the vaccination program which will see front line health care workers and seniors living in skilled nursing facilities getting the shots first. Ac

cess to the vaccination will be expanded in the coming months.

Town Director of Health Caroline Baisley has said that the town will be distributing the vaccine through her department in 2021, much like it does with the yearly flu vaccine clinics. But no timetable has been set.

Camillo said the increase in coronavirus cases was not a surprise, as winter approaches and people spend more time indoors.

“This was predicted,” he said. “We knew this was coming and we believe over the next few weeks we’re going to see similar numbers because of the gatherings (for the holidays).

“But the great news is that the vaccines have arrived and we’re starting to see little by little around the country that people are getting them. I think with each passing month we’re going to see the effects of the vaccination circulating throughout the population, which is great. After a few months of that, then we’re going to get warmer weather and who knows what the strength of the virus will be then.”

While town athletic fields have been closed for use and Greenwich Point remains closed to noncardholders, Camillo said he does not expect to set up any further restrictions.

Town Hall will remain open for limited hours, he said.

“When you come to Town Hall you have to wear a mask. We’re all wearing masks here. We have sanitizing stations all over the place and it’s worked out so far,” Camillo said.