Courthouse sees 8 COVID cases

MILFORD — There have been eight COVID- 19 infections this month at the courthouse on West River Street.

That’s more than double any other courthouse in Connecticut. Statewide, there have been 49 cases this month in the state’s court buildings.

But the Milford courthouse has not been closed, a court official said, because the areas frequented by infected people have been disinfected.

The decision to close any courthouse belongs to Chief Court Administrator Patrick Carroll, according to Judicial Branch Spokeswoman Rhonda StearleyHebert.

The Judicial Branch follows guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state department of public health.

Stearley- Hebert said cleaning has become a priority at the courthouses — especially so when there’s a positive case of the coronavirus.

“Upon a known or suspected COVID- 19 exposure, and in addition to the enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocol, emphasis is placed on disinfecting the areas where the individual has traveled within the facility, such as entrances, offices, courtrooms, restrooms, elevators, etc.,” Stearley- Hebert said.

“The Ansonia- Milford Judicial District courthouse is cleaned regularly in accordance with this protocol, and the night cleaning crew disinfected the areas where the employee with the known or suspected individual traveled within the facility on the night that we were notified of the positive test, and before the courthouse opened the next morning,” she went on. “So, it was not necessary to close the courthouse.”

The eight confirmed cases at Milford Superior Court represent 16.3 percent of the 49 in all Judicial Branch buildings in December, as of 2 p. m. Friday.

Four buildings — courthouses in Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford and Norwich — have three cases apiece.

Of the 49 cases, 39 are Judicial Branch employees and 10 are non- employees.

Stearley- Hebert said, “the health and safety of everyone who enters one of our facilities is our utmost concern” and shared a list of many of the Judicial Branch’s steps to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.

During the height of the pandemic, most of the state’s courthouses were closed for months. Jury trials remain postponed indefinitely.

Those buildings that have reopened have done so with extensive protections, including new protective barriers, face- mask requirements and signage promoting social distancing and good hygiene.

In addition, Stearley

Hebert said every employee entering a court facility is asked to confirm that they have not experienced COVID- 19 symptoms.

On Nov. 27, the Judicial Branch also reduced the number of employees at its buildings to minimal staffing levels in anticipation of an expected surge of COVID- 17 cases around the holidays, with employees working remotely “and the same volume of work is being processed,” she said.

“Since the first days of the pandemic, the Judicial Branch has routinely made adjustments to its facilities and operations in response to the changing circumstances regarding the COVID- 19 virus,” StearleyHebert said. “We continue to do so and moving forward we will make whatever adjustments are necessary to provide the highest level of safety and protection for our employees, judges and stakeholders, consistent with public health guidance.”