New Canaan increases COVID testing as cases rise

https://www.ncadvertiser.com/news/coronavirus/article/New-Canaan-increases-COVID-testing-as-cases-rise-15785193.php

NEW CANAAN — COVID-19 testing continues at Lapham Center after a weekend that saw 33 residents test positive since last Thursday.

Only six of those 33 cases came in the testing of 319 residents by Waveny LifeCare Network last week at Lapham Center, First Selectman Kevin Moynihan said in an update Monday night.

           The new cases also include two positives from the testing of more than 500 New Canaan Public School teachers, staff and students at the high and middle schools last Friday, Moynihan said.                

New Canaan schools have 19 students and three teachers isolating with confirmed cases, and 116 students and 14 staff members quarantined due to close contact, with cases spread among all five schools, according to the district’s COVID dashboard.

The total of 33 positives came from 1,018 tests for a 3.24 percent positivity rate. Connecticut’s seven-day rolling average Monday was 6.61 percent, Moynihan said.

“Our health department continues to see cases spread primarily among family members and by contact with babysitters, nannies, play dates, dinner parties and small gatherings,” Moynihan said.

New Canaan is continuing its collaboration with Waveny LifeCare Network to offer daily PCR nasal swab testing at Lapham Center Monday through Saturday, 7 to 10 a.m. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated.

The link for this Thursday through Saturday test dates is sent only by email, or it can be found in the red COVID-19 alert box at newcanaan.info. There is also a SignUpGenius link for testing this Thursday through Saturday.

Each person in a family must be registered separately using their own name and date of birth. Insurance information must be completed in the SignUpGenius text box.

Results will be provided within 72 hours by email or text message to the cell number provided.

“It is important to note that we are not recommending that everyone get tested; rather, we are encouraging those with any potential COVID-19 symptom, those who had a potential exposure to a positive case and those with essential jobs who have a lot of interaction with the public get tested,” Moynihan said, recommending that residents observe sanitizing guidelines, masking and social distancing, and abide by travel quarantines.

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