Westport First Selectman Tests Negative For Coronavirus: UPDATE

WESTPORT, CT — First Selectman Jim Marpe tested negative for the coronavirus, he said on Friday, after he "was in direct contact" last weekend with a person who showed signs of being infected with COVID-19. That person later tested positive for the virus, which prompted Marpe to get tested, according to Westport officials.

Despite the negative test, Marpe said he will continue his self-quarantine for 14 days until Nov. 1.

"Yesterday, I announced that on Sunday, October 18, I was in direct contact with an individual who earlier this week exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 and who tested positive for the virus on Wednesday," Marpe said on Friday. "The result of my subsequent COVID-19 test was negative, and I’m not exhibiting any symptoms of the virus. To clarify yesterday’s statement, despite my negative test, I will continue to self-quarantine for 14 days (until November 1), following CDC guidelines and medical advice."

Marpe advises all individuals with whom he came into contact in recent days to take proper precautions.

"Mr. Marpe is considered a contact of someone who has had a positive COVID-19 test," said Mark Cooper, director of the Westport Weston Health District, on Thursday. "While there is the possibility that he had a direct exposure to the virus, based on his actions, he does not appear to have exposed anyone. He is ordered to quarantine for 14-days or until he receives a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction, or PCR COVID-19 test."

Connecticut is in the midst of an increase in coronavirus cases, and both Norwalk and Fairfield have been designated "red alert" communities by Gov. Ned Lamont and state health officials.

A town falls under red alert when its daily coronavirus case average goes above 15 cases per 100,000 people. Norwalk's was 18.9 out of 100,000, while Fairfield's was 19.6.

Westport reported five new coronavirus cases as of Thursday, bringing the total number of cases in town since the pandemic began in March to 411. In the most recent state figures, Westport's daily coronavirus case average was less than 4 per 100,000.