Thumbs up, thumbs down
Thumbs up
to the Norwalk Garden Club whose members have been planting the red, white, and blue flowers at the Norwalk Green on the Wednesday before Memorial Day for more than 40 years. With the coronavirus pandemic leading to social isolation and cancellation of the Memorial Day Parade, members felt it was all the more important to plant the flowers this year on The Green — the heart of Norwalk. Observing social distancing rules and wearing protective masks and gloves, members worked two at a time to complete the traditional planting on May 20 — and give the community a gift of beauty.
Thumbs up
to Norwalk for getting creative at helping local restaurants accommodate more outdoor diners. City officials installed concrete barriers on the south side of Washington Street to provide more room for sidewalk tables and also for retail establishments. Outdoor dining became allowed in the pandemic on May 20 as long as safety measures, such as social distancing and protective masks, are used.
Thumbs down
to a rise in hospitalizations, albeit small, near the end of the first week of the first phase of Connecticut’s reopening. Hospitalizations have been a key metric as the state looks to get back to business amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and the numbers had been favorable leading into the reopening of restaurants for outdoor dining, along with other changes. But weekend numbers saw a slight increase, indicating the state is not out of the woods yet. Officials will be watching the numbers closely as Phase 2 of the reopening approaches next month.
Thumbs up
to an extra 13 weeks of jobless benefits, which more than 75,000 Connecticut residents can apply for beginning this week under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. Under typical regulations, unemployment benefits are capped at 26 weeks; the new law pushes that window to 39 weeks. But given the grim unemployment numbers and the reaction to Phase 1 of the state’s coronavirus reopening, more is likely to be necessary. Even with more businesses now open, customers have been understandably slow to arrive, with fears of the virus still high. That will push a full economic recovery further into the future, meaning more help for the jobless will be needed.
Thumbs down
to nursing homes cited for poor infection-control practices during the pandemic. While there are a lot of factors contributing to the high rate of deaths related to coronavirus at nursing homes, it is unsettling that some of them declined to separate COVID-19-positive residents from others, improperly or failed to use protective equipment and failed fundamentals such as proper hygiene. We admire the work of staffs at nursing homes, but such watchdogs must remain vigilant to reinforce best practices.
Thumbs up
to high usage rates at Connecticut’s parks and trails, with the caveat that people must continue to practice social distancing and be practical around others. The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail in Hamden saw nearly three times as many visitors this March compared to 2019, according to the UConn Connecticut Trail Census, and many other trails have reported similar numbers. Usage rates are so high that some parks have been closed when they reach capacity. But it’s understandable why so many people are out at a time when they are being told to stay in whenever possible. A little fresh air goes a long way. Still, everyone needs to be considerate and do their best to keep their distance.