New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Leaders urge COVID caution for holiday
As college students return to the New Haven area for the long holiday weekend and families gathering around the holiday dinner table, public officials across the region are urging continued vigilance against COVID-19.
Area communities are taking different approaches to fighting the spread of the virus this holiday. New Haven’s COVID-19 task force, for example, will be stepping up unannounced visits to commercial establishments, checking for violations.
“I want to emphasize that a good number of people are doing what they are supposed to,” said Rick Fontana, the city’s emergency management director. “But we’re anticipating that there will be an increase in noncompliance because people come home from college and for the holidays and they like to get together to celebrate.”
Businesses that are found to have more customers than allowed under the state’s social distancing mandates get two warnings before task force officials begin taking more punitive action such as fines, according to
Fontana. The task force is made up of representatives of the city’s building and health departments, as well as the fire and police departments, he said.
“We try and focus on making it more of an education process,” Fontana said.
Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti said the city is eschewing increased enforcement in favor of a more personal approach. Cassetti recorded a personal phone message that went out to 19,000 of the city’s residents via a reverse-911 call, encouraging them to celebrate small this Thanksgiving.
“I know a lot of people are disappointed because Ansonia High School won’t be having its Thanksgiving Day (football) game,” the mayor said. “That usually starts a celebration that lasts all weekend long in the Valley. But in my message, I told the people that in my home, we’re celebrating with a small gathering and that it’s important they do, too.”
Despite fears by some Connecticut residents that controlling the latest spike of COVID-19 will result in Big Brother-esque surveillance of private gatherings, officials across the New Haven area say the focus is on messaging.
“Like a lot of communities, we’re focusing on staying conscious of smart practices, like hand washing, wearing masks and being aware of your surroundings when you’re out in public,” said William Wright, Wallingford’s police chief.
Milford Mayor Ben Blake said his city’s COVID-19 prevention efforts are centering around “doing a lot of education.” “Normally, Thanksgivings are a time to gather around a large table, but this year, that table needs to be a little smaller,” Blake said. “We want people to mask up and space out so that this can be a safe holiday.”
Maura Esposito, director of health for the Chesprocott Health District, said she is “anticipating a calm weekend.” The district oversees Cheshire, Prospect and Wolcott.
“We’re not doing any more enforcement activities than usual,” Esposito said. “We’ve been communicating with our establishments and ... we are haven’t had any ‘non compliant’ food service.”
Esposito said that while her office is urging some social distancing when it comes to private gatherings, it is likely some will ignore that request.
“Do I expect families having large gatherings?” she said. “Yes, people are people.”
West Haven Mayor Nancy Rossi urged city resident to do whatever they can to prevent the spread of the virus.
“Coronavirus cases in West Haven and the state of Connecticut continue to climb and large gatherings on Thanks giving, and other holidays, will only continue to worsen this public health crisis,” Rossi said. “Many holidays and activities that we enjoy have unfortunately had to change this year, but we are able to adapt in ways that keep everyone safe and healthy.”
She reminded college students that they must “quarantine for 14 days upon returning to your home community and have a COVID test.”