Hamden Mayor Curt Leng announced a series of measures Sunday evening to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus, including continuing the closure of all town buildings and asking businesses to limit the size of gatherings.
His press release, which was sent out at 10:20 p.m. on Sunday, included a number of directives for businesses and organizations. It advised that they limit gatherings to no more than 20 people, limit gatherings for those in high-risk demographics, and cancel or postpone all events.
It advised gyms, bars, and community centers to limit their hours or close, and it advised restaurants to halve their occupancy. It encouraged businesses to require that their employees work remotely, when possible.
It also outlined plans to operate town government on a limited basis for the duration of the virus. It confirmed the continuation of steps that had already been announced, like suspending public gatherings at town buildings, and closing all non-essential departments and buildings.
Non-essential town offices will remain closed, the release said, and will have bare minimum in-person staffing. They will be closed to the public for the duration of the virus.
The libraries and the Hamden Senior Center will remain closed. Though the senior center is closed, the Elderly Services Department is still in operation. It will continue to deliver meals to residents, and will be available by phone and by email.
Town employees are banned from any out-of-state work-related travel. They are not supposed to meet with consultants in town buildings, and are encouraged to hold meetings electronically.
Before- and after-school programs are closed, all recreational programming is postponed, and playgrounds remain closed.
The full release is below.
HAMDEN EXPANDS TOWN RESPONSE TO CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19), ISSUES FORMAL DIRECTIVES AND ADVISORY, ASKS RESIDENTS & BUSINESSES TO TAKE ACTION
FORMAL PREVENTION PROCLAMATION & ADVISORY
Mayor Curtis Balzano Leng, in response to the Public Health Emergency declared Tuesday, March 10th, 2020 by Governor Ned Lamont and the Nationwide Emergency declared by President Trump on March 13th, 2020 due to the World Health Organization’s designation of Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) as a Global Pandemic, and its spread across the United States, has proclaimed a series of directives, community restrictions, and recommended actions for the benefit of Hamden’s public health
WHEREAS, Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 7, dated March 12th, 2020, prohibited gatherings of 250 people or more for social and recreational activities, including but not limited to, community, civic, leisure, and sporting events; parades; concerts; festivals; movie screenings; plays or performances; conventions; and similar activities, and suspended various statutes and regulations to protect public health and safety; and
WHEREAS, Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No.7A, dated March 13th, 2020, authorized the Commissioner of Public Health to restrict entrance into nursing homes and similar facilities to protect people who are most vulnerable to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that spreads easily from person to person and may result in serious illness or death; and
WHEREAS, Governor Lamont has issued additional Executive Orders this weekend, including but not limited to formally ordering all Public Schools closed by Monday night, offering municipalities flexibility to help encourage and allow for necessary social distancing measures and other health protections being implemented, is closing certain DMV Branches to reduce public interaction, expanded visitation restrictions already in place for Nursing Facilities to Psychiatric Facilities and has filed a Federal Disaster Declaration with the Federal Small Business Administration to seek assistance for businesses and non-profits affected during this crisis; and
WHEREAS, the World Health Organization has declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 appears to be higher for individuals who are 1) 60 years of age or older, 2) have a compromised immune system and 3) for those who have chronic health conditions; and
WHEREAS, there is an increased risk of rapid spread of COVID-19 among persons living in congregate settings, such as long-term care facilities, and most residents of long-term care facilities are at increased risk for severe COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, to reduce spread of COVID-19, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Connecticut Department of Public Health recommend implementation of community mitigation strategies to increase containment of the virus and to slow transmission of the virus, including cancellation of large gatherings and social distancing in smaller gatherings; and
WHEREAS, attendance at public meetings and proceedings is likely to increase the risk of transmission of COVID-19; and; so;
WHEREAS; the Town of Hamden took action to reduce the risk of exposure and slow the spread of the COVID-19 last week by severely limiting group gatherings in Town Buildings, Closing Non-Public Safety and First Responder Government Departments, Buildings and Programs and the Board of Education took the action of closing all Hamden Public Schools and Programs; and
WHEREAS; to reduce the risk of exposure and slow the spread of the virus, the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization has issued recommendations which Mayor Curt Balzano Leng hereby directs and implements as set forth below:
Now, Therefore Be It Directed, Mayor Curt Balzano Leng hereby implements the following directives and community restrictions;
All Town of Hamden scheduled public meetings, gatherings, and events are suspended until further notice.
Non-Essential Town Offices will remain closed on Monday, March 16th and will begin to function with bare minimum in-person staffing levels, this week, with certain Offices closed to the Public for the duration of the Health Emergency. The Town of Hamden will build and deliver a government that will be different, will practice extreme social distancing, but will also still supply the services residents count and ensure our services for residents in-need are even stronger during this crisis
The following Town Facilities are closed to the public until further notice; The Hamden Senior Center, Miller Memorial Library, the Whitneyville and Brundage Library Branches. While the buildings are closed to the public, the Elderly Services operations will continue, with senior meals being delivered soon to residences for those who may need food, to make outreach calls, and to provide information and special assistance to residents in-need, via phone, email or other non-contact manner
Until further notice, Town employees are banned from any and all out of State business travel; halting all in-person meetings with consultants/contractors within Town Facilities, and encouraging electronic meetings, with only emergency exceptions with the express approval of the Mayor and Director of Emergency Management;
All Town After School/Before School programming at the Keefe Community Center, 60 Putnam Avenue and any other Town Building are cancelled until further notice, and will likely follow the Hamden Public Schools schedule for resuming activity at the appropriate time;
All Recreation & Sports Programming in Hamden are postponed during this public health emergency. This includes the suspension of League sporting activities and practices at all Town Parks and Facilities, and the cancellation of any group public recreational activities.
All playgrounds/playscapes are closed until further notice. (Town Parks remain open for residents to enjoy for fresh air and exercise, for all willing to follow the necessary social distancing health policy of keeping a minimum of 6 feet between yourself and non-family members).
Be it Advised and Recommended that the following actions be taken,
That all business, non-profit or other organization or entity:
Limit gatherings to 20 people or less
Limit gatherings for individuals who are at higher risk for severe illness, such as seniors (including gatherings at retirement and assisted living facilities, mental health facilities and other) to 10 people or less or postpone them until the Public Health Emergency is lifted
Cancel/postpone all concerts, conferences, and sporting events
Close or strictly limit the hours of operations of all gyms, bars and community centers
Limit restaurants and catering facilities to a maximum of half of their legal capacity in jurisdictions with or near community spread
Strongly encourage employers to require employees to work remotely, if at all possible, for the safety of the employees and the public patronizing your business or using your services
Cancel/postpone all non-public events of any size within the Town of Hamden boundaries and seek guidance from the Health District if you must move forward with any gathering on how to implement essential health and safety practices and protocols as needed due to this Pandemic, and
I, Curtis Balzano Leng, Mayor of the Town of Hamden, do hereby proclaim these directives, restrictions, recommended actions and advisory for issuance to all individuals and entities residing within or doing business within the Town of Hamden.
It is our duty as a responsible citizens and countrymen to safeguard the public health of our communities, and our Nation.
I implore you to do your part in slowing the spread of, reducing your exposure to and directly helping to contain this outbreak, during the entirety of this Public Health
Emergency.
Curt Balzano Leng
Mayor, Town of Hamden
@curtleng
