Number Of Active Coronavirus Cases Rise In Greenwich

GREENWICH, CT — As the weather warms up and the state prepares to open coronavirus vaccine eligibility to all residents between the ages of 16 and 44 this week, First Selectman Fred Camillo urged residents to keep their guard up.

During a press update Wednesday afternoon, Camillo said a total of 4,502 cases of the virus have been reported thus far in Greenwich as of Tuesday, an increase of 171 cases since last week.

The total active cases of the virus in town rose to 173, an increase of 42 since last week, Camillo said. The number of reported deaths in town as a result of the virus remained flat this week at 87, Camillo said. (To sign up for Greenwich breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

"With all the positive news out there, these numbers show us that we're still battling the virus," Camillo said, "so people really need to keep their guard up as we go forward and not let the thoughts of warm weather and vaccine cloud your judgement."

Greenwich Hospital spokesperson Dana Marnane said there were 18 patients in-house at the hospital who tested positive for the virus as of Wednesday morning. Of those patients, one was on a ventilator in the facility's intensive care unit, Marnane said.

"Our in-patient numbers are up, but [they] are starting to go down again," Marnane said. "This time last week were are 10 [patients], but we were higher over the weekend, so it is hopefully starting to go down."

Looking ahead to the influx of residents who will become eligible to receive vaccines Thursday, Camillo said he was excited for the increase and did not have any new concerns.

"I think that concerns remain steady," Camillo said, "just making sure that, if you're eligible, to please try and get that appointment to get the vaccine."

Camillo noted he received his second dose of a vaccine Friday, however he was still wearing a mask and making sure he was following established safety protocols.

"I think if we do that, we're going to get there sooner rather than later," Camillo said, "and when I say 'there', I mean the other side of the pandemic."

Marnane said the hospital also did not have any new concerns about Thursday.

"We've gotten more of the vaccine supply," Marnane said. "I think we've gotten a little less of the [Johnson & Johnson vaccine] than we anticipated, but we have more supply and I second everything Fred was saying. We're definitely not out of the woods yet, as we're seeing from the numbers going up. Everybody still needs to continue to mask, social distance, wash hands; we're not out of it yet, and with the variants that are around I think that we just have to continue to take all the precautions we've been taking."