2 Coronavirus Deaths, 1 New Case Reported In Norwalk: Mayor

NORWALK, CT — The coronavirus claimed the lives of two Norwalk residents as of Tuesday, bringing the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the city to 141, according to Mayor Harry Rilling. Additionally, there was one new confirmed case, bringing total positive reported cases to 2,099.

Information about the latest victims was not disclosed, but Rilling said that according to a Norwalk Health Department review and analysis of coronavirus case data, trends in Norwalk are now shifting to the virus infecting a younger population.

For example, in June and July, approximately 36 percent of coronavirus cases in the city involved patients under the age of 30, Rilling said. By comparison, from March through July, 18 percent of the cases were of patients under 30.

"It breaks my heart that we have recently lost two more residents to this virus," Rilling said. "I offer my sympathies to their families and loved ones. Losing two residents serves as a sobering reminder that even though positive reported cases are slowing down, those who contract COVID-19 may become very ill and unfortunately, pass away.

"It is unclear at this time why younger people are making up a larger percentage of our cases. Perhaps they are heading back to work, traveling or vacationing, or socializing with friends, but regardless of reason, this is something we are watching very closely. We must remain diligent in our efforts to stop flare ups in the state. That it is why it is critical for people to quarantine when they arrive in Connecticut, and for residents to continue to wear face coverings and socially distance when in public. We have worked hard to slow this virus down in our area and cannot relax our efforts yet."

This is from Rilling's Tuesday announcement:

• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City has canceled its in-person Summer Concert Series and has moved it online to help ensure the health and safety of performers and audience. The concerts can now be enjoyed from anywhere, as they will be broadcast live on Facebook. The next “backyard” Norwalk Summer Concert Series featuring BonJourney is tomorrow, July 15,at 7 p.m. Visit facebook.com/norwalkrecreation to tune-in.
• Today, July 14, the State of Connecticut added four new states (Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, and Wisconsin) to the Regional Travel Advisory and removed Delaware. States with a daily positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or a 10 percent or higher positivity rate on a 7-day rolling average are added to the advisory. Now 22 states are under advisory. If a person travels to Connecticut from the following states they need to self-quarantine for 14 days when they arrive: AL, AR, AZ, CA, FL, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MN, MS, NC, NM, NV, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, UT, WI. Visit the CT Travel Advisory page for more information.

Members of the public are encouraged to sign-up for the City's CodeRED Emergency Alert Notification System at norwalkct.org/codered. Updates on City services, hours, and community resources will be routinely published at norwalkct.org/citynews. The latest health updates can be found at norwalkct.org/coronavirus.