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COVID-19: Lamont Tests Positive COVID-19: Lamont Tests Positive
Covid-19: Lamont Tests Positive Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced he has tested positive for COVID-19. Lamont said he received his positive test on Thursday, April 7, and that he was not experiencing symptoms.  "I wanted you to hear straight from me that I tested positive for COVID-19 today," Lamont tweeted. "I feel good and I’m not experiencing any symptoms. We’ve done contact tracing to let people know. Thankfully I’m double boosted and I encourage everyone to get your vaccine and boosters if eligible." I wanted you to hear straight from me that I tested positive for COVID-19 today. I feel good and I’m not expe…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: Beware Of Scam Calls About Exposure, CT DOH Says COVID-19: Beware Of Scam Calls About Exposure, CT DOH Says
Covid-19: Beware Of Scam Calls About Exposure, CT DOH Says The Connecticut Department of Health is cautioning of opportunistic fraudsters who have been posing as purported COVID-19 contact tracers as part of a more elaborate scam. An alert was issued by the DOH after the Fairfield Health Department in Fairfield County advised that they had received a dozen calls from Connecticut residents in the past two weeks who were instructed to call a number regarding potential COVID-19 exposure. Officials said that none of the people contacted had been in Fairfield, and none were in the DPH ContaCT system, which tracks those who may have been exposed to the …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
COVID-19: CT Releases Guidance For Proms, Graduations COVID-19: CT Releases Guidance For Proms, Graduations
Covid-19: CT Releases Guidance For Proms, Graduations As the end of the school year grows near and students are dreaming of proms and graduation ceremonies, Connecticut state officials have released guidelines on how to limit the spread of COVID-19. State officials from the Department of Education and Department of Public Health have released a three-page document, that stresses the importance of many of the key preventions that have been in place for the past year including mask-wearing, social distancing, hand sanitizing, and limiting groups size for events. They are also asking school districts to have rapid contact tracing in place an…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
COVID-19: CDC Releases New Guidance, Strategies For Reopening Schools COVID-19: CDC Releases New Guidance, Strategies For Reopening Schools
Covid-19: CDC Releases New Guidance, Strategies For Reopening Schools The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is encouraging schools and school districts to reopen safely and has just released new guidance for doing just that. On Friday, Feb. 12, the CDC unveiled the new science-based plan. “It is critical for schools to open as safely and as soon as possible, and remain open, to achieve the benefits of in-person learning and key support services,” health officials said. “To enable schools to open safely and remain open, it is important to adopt and consistently implement actions to slow the spread of COVID in schools and in the community.” The…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Connecticut's First Cases Of UK 'Super Strain' Confirmed COVID-19: Connecticut's First Cases Of UK 'Super Strain' Confirmed
Covid-19: Connecticut's First Cases Of UK 'Super Strain' Confirmed The new, more-transmittable so-called "Super Strain" of COVID-19 that made its way overseas from the United Kingdom has now made its way to Connecticut. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said on Thursday, Jan. 7, health officials confirmed the first two cases in the state of the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7, which is the same variant that was initially discovered in the UK and is said to be up to 70 percent from infectious. Both Connecticut patients are between the ages of 15 and 25 and reside in New Haven County. Lamont said that both of the positive cases had traveled outside of Connecticut - one …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Here's How To Download New CT App Alerting Users If Infected Person Is Near COVID-19: Here's How To Download New CT App Alerting Users If Infected Person Is Near
Covid-19: Here's How To Download New CT App Alerting Users If Infected Person Is Near A new mobile app will notify Connecticut residents when they have been within six feet of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The COVID Alert CT app is available for both Apple and Android devices and notifies residents if they have been potentially infected without sharing any personal data.  Earlier report - COVID-19: Connecticut App Alerts Users If Infected Person Is Near If an app user contracts COVID-19, a contract tracer will ask if they are willing to share the "close contact" codes their app has accrued during their day-to-day interactions via Bluetooth.&nbs…

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by Christina Coulter
News
COVID-19: Connecticut App Alerts Users If Infected Person Is Near COVID-19: Connecticut App Alerts Users If Infected Person Is Near
Covid-19: Connecticut App Alerts Users If Infected Person Is Near To help stop the spread of COVID-19, Connecticut is encouraging residents to download a new app that will alert them if they have come in contact with someone infected with the virus. The contact-tracing app, COVID Alert CT, is state-run and was launched on Thursday, Nov. 12. The free app is available to Android as well as Apple users. Gov. Ned Lamont said that the app does not share personal data and that it is not a replacement for the state’s contract tracing system - it's a supplement.  “We’re making every effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Connecticut,” Lamont said in a s…

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by Kristin Palpini
Schools
COVID-19: District In Fairfield County Has Had Cases In Six Of Nine Schools COVID-19: District In Fairfield County Has Had Cases In Six Of Nine Schools
Covid-19: District In Fairfield County Has Had Cases In Six Of Nine Schools A new case of COVID-19 brings the number of schools affected by the virus to six of nine schools at a school district in Fairfield County. The case at Farmingville Elementary School, located in Ridgefield, was announced in a letter on Monday, Nov. 2, by the Ridgefield Public School District's COVID-19 Health and Safety Compliance Liaison Aaron Crook and emailed by Superintendent of Schools Susie Da Silva to parents and staff. Crook said the school is in contact with the health department and is currently in the process of contact tracing for these potential exposures.  …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
COVID-19: Positive Case, Exposure Lead To Quarantines At School In Fairfield County COVID-19: Positive Case, Exposure Lead To Quarantines At School In Fairfield County
Covid-19: Positive Case, Exposure Lead To Quarantines At School In Fairfield County A positive case of COVID-19, as well as additional exposure, have led to quarantines at a high school in Fairfield County. Ridgefield Public Schools Superintendent Susie Da Silva said in a message Friday night, Oct. 16 that about three dozen Ridgefield High School staff members and students have been asked to quarantine after being exposed to multiple sources of COVID. That came after Da Silva reported earlier in the day that a member of the high school community had tested positive, leading to a 9:30 a.m. early dismissal and the start of contact tracing. The individual is considered …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Number Of Positive Cases At High School In Fairfield County Increases To 14 COVID-19: Number Of Positive Cases At High School In Fairfield County Increases To 14
Covid-19: Number Of Positive Cases At High School In Fairfield County Increases To 14 More COVID-19 cases in Fairfield County have been linked to students attending mass gatherings in violation of the state’s COVID-19 mandates. At least 14 positive COVID-19 cases have been linked to Fairfield Ludlowe High School students who attended gatherings, the district announced this week. The number had been at 11 through the weekend, but Schools Superintendent Mike Cummings said that there were three new cases that were identified among students already in quarantine. The announcement comes on the heels of the district being forced to close the building for two days last week to sa…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: High School In Fairfield County Will Be Closed After Positive Cases COVID-19: High School In Fairfield County Will Be Closed After Positive Cases
Covid-19: High School In Fairfield County Will Be Closed After Positive Cases A high school in Fairfield County will be closed through the end of the week after several individuals tested positive for COVID-19. Those individuals at Fairfield Ludlowe High School have been in close contact with one or more individuals in the school community and beyond, Fairfield Public Schools Superintendent Mike Cummings and COVID-19 Health And Safety Compliance Liaison Angelus Papageorge said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 23. As a result, Fairfield Ludlowe will be closed on Thursday, Sept. 24 and Friday, Sept. 25 to allow for c…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: 53 Students Quarantined At High School In Fairfield County COVID-19: 53 Students Quarantined At High School In Fairfield County
Covid-19: 53 Students Quarantined At High School In Fairfield County Multiple students at a Fairfield County high school have tested positive for COVID-19 and dozens of classmates have been forced to quarantine as a precaution. Four New Canaan High School students tested positive for the virus, and the subsequent contact tracing led to 53 of their classmates to be placed into quarantine as of Tuesday, Sept. 22. New Canaan Schools Superintendent Bryan Luizzi is encouraging other students who may have tested positive for COVID-19 or come into contact with an infected student to come forward to prevent any additional spread of the virus. In addition to the f…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Classes Canceled At School In Fairfield County After Positive Case COVID-19: Classes Canceled At School In Fairfield County After Positive Case
Covid-19: Classes Canceled At School In Fairfield County After Positive Case A Fairfield County school was forced to cancel classes due to a staffing shortage brought on by a COVID-19 case. The Luis Munoz Marin School in Bridgeport canceled classes on Monday, Sept. 21 after a positive COVID-19 case was identified over the weekend the district announced as it began the process of contact tracing anyone who came into contact with the infected individual. Following the positive case, the district said too many teachers called in sick to hold classes on Monday, and there has been a dearth of substitute teachers during the COVID-19 outbreak. Students returned to class o…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Sacred Heart University Quarantines Entire Dorm; Quinnipiac Reports First Case COVID-19: Sacred Heart University Quarantines Entire Dorm; Quinnipiac Reports First Case
Covid-19: Sacred Heart University Quarantines Entire Dorm; Quinnipiac Reports First Case The COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to spread around college campuses in Connecticut. Sacred Heart University in the Town of Fairfield announced it would be expanding a previous quarantine order to an entire residence hall due to a mislabeled COVID test that prevented the school from identifying which student tested positive. There have been at least five confirmed COVID cases - including two new ones - in Merton Hall, prompting the decision to have the students temporarily quarantine and transition to remote learning. According to the school, the students will remain in their rooms except…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: New Positive Case Confirmed At School District In Fairfield County COVID-19: New Positive Case Confirmed At School District In Fairfield County
Covid-19: New Positive Case Confirmed At School District In Fairfield County There has been another newly confirmed COVID-19 case in a Fairfield County school district. Hillcrest Middle School Principal Bryan Rickert confirmed that there was a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis in Trumbull, though he did not disclose whether it was a student or staff member, citing privacy laws. The person with COVID-19 was last in the school building on Tuesday, Sept. 15. Rickert said that contact tracing began immediately, and any student who came into close contact with the person will be alerted on Wednesday, Sept. 16, while the building has been sanitized by the school’s custodians.…

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by Zak Failla
Business
COVID-19: Alert Issued For Callers Posing As Contact Tracers To Get Credit, Bank Account Info COVID-19: Alert Issued For Callers Posing As Contact Tracers To Get Credit, Bank Account Info
Covid-19: Alert Issued For Callers Posing As Contact Tracers To Get Credit, Bank Account Info Don’t fall for it. Fraudsters have been making the rounds, looking to take advantage of the COVID-19 crisis, posing as contact tracers seeking personal information from suspect victims amid the pandemic. Since the outbreak began six months ago, contact tracing has become a vital tool as health officials seek to identify positive COVID-19 cases, tracing back to the people they’ve been in contact with and isolating them to help curtail the spread of the virus. Recently, some state and federal officials issued a warning that some scammers have been posing as contact tracers, using that faux i…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: School In Fairfield County Closed After Staffer Tests Positive COVID-19: School In Fairfield County Closed After Staffer Tests Positive
Covid-19: School In Fairfield County Closed After Staffer Tests Positive Click here for an updated story - COVID-19: Second Staffer At School In Fairfield County Tests Positive A school in Fairfield County is closed on Friday, Sept. 11 after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. Thomas Scarice, Westport's Superintendent of Schools, said the administration learned of the positive case early Friday morning. "Given the timing of the notice and our need to follow district protocols with contact tracing, as a precautionary measure, Coleytown Elementary School will be closed today, Friday, September 11, 2020, to students and staff," Scarice…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
COVID-19: CT School Closes After Employee Tests Positive COVID-19: CT School Closes After Employee Tests Positive
Covid-19: CT School Closes After Employee Tests Positive An elementary school in Connecticut will be closed for several days after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. Somers Schools Superintendent Brian Czapla announced this week that the elementary school will be closed on Wednesday, Sept. 9, and Thursday, Sept. 10 after a staff member that works with pre-K students tested positive for the virus. Somers is located in northernmost Connecticut and borders Massachusetts. While the building is closed, officials said that the building will be sanitized and contact tracing has already begun. “I apologize for the late notice and the impact o…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: More Students Placed In Isolation After Testing Positive At UConn COVID-19: More Students Placed In Isolation After Testing Positive At UConn
Covid-19: More Students Placed In Isolation After Testing Positive At UConn More students at the University of Connecticut have tested positive for COVID-19 and have joined others in mandated isolation. Five more students on campus at UConn has tested positive for the virus, bringing the total to 81 confirmed COVID-19 cases since students returned to campus. Earlier story - COVID-19: Nearly 300 UConn Students Quarantined As Virus Spreads According to reports, two of the new positive cases showed symptoms and were already in a medical quarantine, the other three were identified through contact tracing and are being isolated as a precaution. Officials are still att…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: UConn Sees New Increase In Cases COVID-19: UConn Sees New Increase In Cases
Covid-19: UConn Sees New Increase In Cases The University of Connecticut is reporting a new rise in novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases as students prepare to return to campus for the fall semester. In its latest update, UConn announced that there have now been a total of 27 positive on-campus COVID-19 cases as the school continues its testing in advance of the academic year. Original story - COVID-19: Number Of UConn Students Testing Positive Increases According to the university, of the 27 cases, all but one fall into one of three categories: those identified in the initial round of testing done during move-in, those connected to …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Some CT Teachers Refusing To Return To In-Person Classes COVID-19: Some CT Teachers Refusing To Return To In-Person Classes
Covid-19: Some CT Teachers Refusing To Return To In-Person Classes Some school teachers in Connecticut won’t be returning to the classroom in the fall, even if in-person learning is cleared to resume amid the COVID-19 crisis. Currently, Connecticut is considering three levels for reopening: a full reopening with all students in school five days a week, a hybrid plan where some students attend in-person and some do distance learning, and full distance learning, with guidance expected from the state in the coming weeks. Earlier story - COVID-19: CT Public Schools Will Be Allowed To Cut Days From Academic Calendar However, some teachers are showing relucta…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Student Returning From Florida Tests Positive After Westchester HS Graduation COVID-19: Student Returning From Florida Tests Positive After Westchester HS Graduation
Covid-19: Student Returning From Florida Tests Positive After Westchester HS Graduation The New York State Department of Health is investigating potential novel coronavirus (COVID-19) exposure at a high school graduation ceremony in Westchester County from a student who recently returned from Florida and later tested positive. On Saturday, June 27, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed the NYSDOH to investigate the potential of COVID-19 exposure associated with a Horace Greeley High School drive-in graduation ceremony held on June 20 at Chappaqua Train Station in Northern Westchester.  The individual who had recently traveled to Florida and attended the ceremony …

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
COVID-19: Here's What To Expect As CT Reopening Process Moves Forward COVID-19: Here's What To Expect As CT Reopening Process Moves Forward
Covid-19: Here's What To Expect As CT Reopening Process Moves Forward Connecticut is inching forward toward Phase 2 of its reopening plan as it slowly continues recovering from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. On Wednesday, May 20, the state partially reopened, with some businesses permitted to reopen after meeting metrics detailed by Gov. Ned Lamont and his Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group's roadmap to kickstarting the economy. Phase 1 included the opening of outdoor dining, some retail businesses, offices, museums, zoos, and recreation hubs on May 20, while hair salons and barbershops - which were initially included in the first phase - are expec…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Beware Of Scammers Posing As Contact Tracers, FTC Says COVID-19: Beware Of Scammers Posing As Contact Tracers, FTC Says
Covid-19: Beware Of Scammers Posing As Contact Tracers, FTC Says Some opportunistic fraudsters are taking advantage of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis by posing as contact tracers hired by the state to obtain personal information and money. Since the outbreak began, state officials have stressed the importance of ramping up COVID-19 testing, then tracing the people they’ve come into contact with, and isolating those people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “contact tracing, a core disease control measure employed by local and state health department personnel for decades, is a key strategy for preventing further spread…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Want To Be Hired As A Contact Tracer? Here Are Online Instructions For That COVID-19: Want To Be Hired As A Contact Tracer? Here Are Online Instructions For That
Covid-19: Want To Be Hired As A Contact Tracer? Here Are Online Instructions For That With states recruiting “armies of tracers” to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, a new online training program has been created to help bolster the ranks. The five-hour online course created by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health went live this week, which will provide users with instruction on the basics of tracing and isolating people who came into contact with COVID-19. Since the pandemic struck in early March, lawmakers have stressed the importance of “testing, tracing, and isolating” people who contract COVID-19 or come into contact with people who have been …

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by Zak Failla
Politics
COVID-19: NY's Contact Tracing Will Create Playbook For Other Countries, States, Bloomberg Says COVID-19: NY's Contact Tracing Will Create Playbook For Other Countries, States, Bloomberg Says
Covid-19: NY's Contact Tracing Will Create Playbook For Other Countries, States, Bloomberg Says Amid the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the state's contact tracing pilot program, with leadership from billionaire former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, will begin in the coming weeks.  The ambitious initiative will become a "playbook" for countries and other states, Bloomberg said, adding New York will share details with any location around the world. The program will operate through the next flu season, and it will be implemented in coordination with tristate neighbors New Jersey and Connecticut. Bloomberg joined Cuomo …

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by Daily Voice
News
COVID-19: Building 'Tracing Army' Of Thousands Will Be New Phase Of Pandemic Response COVID-19: Building 'Tracing Army' Of Thousands Will Be New Phase Of Pandemic Response
Covid-19: Building 'Tracing Army' Of Thousands Will Be New Phase Of Pandemic Response An “army” is coming to the tristate area to help combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Billionaire businessman and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg has “volunteered to help develop” a program that will build a “tracing army” in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut that will be tasked with tracing interactions by patients who test positive for COVID-19, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced. During his daily COVID-19 news briefing in Albany on Wednesday, April 22, Cuomo said that the three states will be teaming up to develop a group that will trace back the contacts of those infect…

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by Zak Failla