Camillo: Wear a mask
First selectman reiterates warning amid noncompliance complaints
GREENWICH — With a small increase in COVID-19 cases in town and a number of complaints about noncompliance on social distancing, First Selectman Fred Camillo is reiterating his warning that Greenwich residents wear masks or facial coverings when in close contact with other people.
“There has been a slight uptick in the last two weeks” of coronavirus cases, Camillo said at Thursday’s Board of Selectmen meeting. “It may be because of more testing and because things are opening up more, but also we want to make sure people are not being complacent.”
On Friday, town Director of Health Caroline Baisley said the total number of diagnosed coronavirus cases in
Greenwich is up to 852, an increase of 16 patients since July 1.
“Many of the cases are (people) between the ages of 19 and 30,” Baisley said. “That is consistent with what is happening nationally. Most of the cases in that age group are mild or asymptomatic.
“There does not seem to be a smoking gun connection except for
everything combined: continuous openings, noncompliance to social distancing and mask wearing, national travel from states that have large number of cases and holiday gatherings, including protests,” she said.
Greenwich Hospital had been down to zero coronavirus hospitalizations on July 1, but as of Friday there were seven patients there with COVID-19. None of the patients are in the Intensive Care Unit.
Camillo said residents have been reaching out to him and his office about restaurants or businesses that are not complying with mask and social distancing guidelines. Camillo said he has “not only sent the police department to pay these establishments a visit,” but he personally has also gone to check.
Camillo could not be reached to elaborate on what businesses had been reported. At the selectmen meeting, he mentioned visiting a business, but did not name it. He said he everything was in compliance when he stopped by.
Greenwich Police Department Public Information
Officer Lt. Mark Zuccerella said the department does not keep statistics on those kinds of calls.
“We have been asked to speak with a few establishments in order to provide education on the issue and we have received immediate compliance,” Zuccerella said. “At this point, we have not had to issue any citations for a violation of this type.”
Judy Waldeyer, who runs the farmers market Saturdays in the Horseneck parking lot, said she received an email from the town about customers either not wearing masks or not wearing them properly. She sent the email to everyone signed up for the market’s mailing list.
“If people refuse to wear masks, they will be told not to enter,” the town email said. “If they ignore and enter anyway, they should not be served. Each farmer/vendor should enforce that the customers wear masks, as well as the farmers, as it is next to impossible to be at least six feet apart within the market. It is the governor’s executive order. Again, all farmers need to enforce the law and not serve people who do not comply. That is the only way the shoppers will get the message.”
On Friday, Waldeyer said she agreed with the town and that she has told the 13 vendors to not serve customers without masks. She said a monitor is positioned at the entry of the parking lot to make sure visitors are wearing masks and not bringing in animals.
“Last week we did have one very obnoxious person,” Waldeyer said. “It was like a teenager in a 40-year-old’s body. He was being very rude and making fun of people.” She said he left when she said she would call the police.
The town is asking residents to wear masks at beaches, parks and the municipal pool when they will be in close contact with others. Masks are not required in the water, but visitors should put them at the snack bar.
In a call to the WGCHAM radio show “Ask the Selectman,” resident John
Bowman expressed concerns about visitors at Greenwich Point not wearing masks in the restrooms. He also asked why the doors to enter the restrooms were kept shut when previously they had been open with privacy walls in place. Bowman said open doors would improve air flow and lessen the chance of spreading the virus.
Signs requiring masks as well as restricting bathroom use to two people at a time went up July 7, Town Marine Division Operations Manager Craig Whitcomb said. The entrances will be open again by Saturday morning, he said.
After closing down facilities in mid-March, the town has reopened all of its beaches and park amenities except for the playgrounds. Camillo said that is because “there is no way of monitoring the playgrounds” to make sure guidelines are followed.
“While we’d love to open them up right now, we just can’t ensure they’re being cleaned,” he said. “That’s regrettable, but we have to be very careful. If we could get those things cleaned in a regular basis, they would be opened up.”