Newtown’s Health District Director Donna Culbert and a number of her colleagues across the state are increasingly busy fielding inquiries about the updated travel advisory issued earlier this week by Governor Ned Lamont, and some are taking issue with a provision in the order about COVID-19 testing.

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 7III, anyone traveling into Connecticut from a state that has a new daily positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or a state with a ten percent or higher positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average is directed to self-quarantine for a 14-day period from the time of last contact within the identified state.

However, Section 2A of the order offers a caveat that is of significant concern, Culbert told The Newtown Bee July 23.

That provision reads “If an Affected Traveler is unable to self-quarantine for the required period, the self-quarantine requirement will not apply provided that the Affected Traveler has had a negative test result for COVID-19 in the seventy-two hours prior to arriving in Connecticut and provides written proof to the Commissioner or her designee of such a result.”

The provision goes on to state: “If a test was obtained in the seventy-two hours prior to travel but the result is still pending at the time of arrival in Connecticut, such Affected Traveler shall remain in self-quarantine in Connecticut until the test result is received and the written results are submitted to the Commissioner or her designee.”

Culbert said she and a growing number of local health officials are saying that a negative test does not mean a traveler is virus free.

She and many health experts believe the virus can be incubating on the day of a test, resulting in a negative test, while the person with the incubating virus can begin transmitting to others soon after and for up to ten days accord to the CDC — or can begin transmitting it before they become symptomatic themselves.

“We understand the governor needed to put that provision in, but that testing provision is not for those traveling for pleasure or for non-essential work,” Culbert explained. “It is pretty narrow and states it is applicable only to those who cannot quarantine, so anyone who travels in from any of the affected states for pleasure or non-essential work does not fall under the ‘extraordinary circumstances’ part of that testing provision.”

She also praised local residents for helping to minimize the transmission of COVID-19.

“I know it’s difficult to do all the things that need to be done to prevent infection,” Culbert said, “but folks here in Newtown have shown overwhelming cooperation to date. We just need to maintain vigilance and follow all the rules to keep our numbers from trending back up.”

As of 5 pm on June 23, Newtown had logged 246 positive coronavirus cases, and has lost 42 residents — all over age 60 — to the virus.

The total of COVID-19 cases reported among Connecticut residents is 48,232, including 46,213 laboratory-confirmed and 2,019 probable cases. Seventy-two patients are currently hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, and there have been 4,410 COVID-19-associated deaths

At that time, 685,869 tests had been performed statewide.

Fairfield County had tallied 17,184 positive or probable virus cases and 1,401 positive or probable COVID-19 related deaths.

FEMA Extension, Virus Scams

The State of Connecticut has received an additional extension from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for approval to apply for reimbursement for statewide emergency feeding efforts until August 19. These vital efforts will continue to be coordinated by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture in partnership with the many state and local agencies and nonprofit providers, including community food banks.

FEMA has approved providing continued food support to the following populations:

*Individuals infected or exposed to COVID-19 who require isolation and quarantine but not hospitalization.

*Individuals who are asymptomatic but are at high risk, such as people over 65 or those who have certain underlying health conditions.

*Individuals who do not have the resources to prepare or obtain meals, are facing food insecurity, and are not eligible for other public nutrition programs.

This extension helps the state ensure that it can continue to provide food support to the many residents, families, and children impacted by COVID-19.

During a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on July 21, US Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) highlighted the rise in dangerous and deceptive coronavirus-related scams, questioning witnesses about the obligation of businesses and federal and state governments to protect the public from this fraud. Blumenthal emphasized the need for stronger federal enforcement to deter online scammers.

The senator stressed that although the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has already issued 255 warning letters to companies defrauding and endangering consumers during the pandemic, those companies continue to operate after altering marketing pitches, stating: “Warning letters to marketers simply fail to give consumers their notice, they fail to inform, they fail to correct wrong information, and they send no real signal to the market. There needs to be real deterrence, not just warning letters, a slap on the wrist.”

Blumenthal also expressed alarm over tech firms “enabling consumer harm through negligence and inaction,” as unsafe supplements claiming antiviral properties continue to be sold through Amazon and other online marketplaces, saying, “We need to stop the snake oil salesmen.”

In an exchange with Center for Science in the Public Interest Policy Director Laura MacCleery, Blumenthal asked about the responsibility companies like Amazon, eBay, Facebook, and Etsy have in protecting consumers from misleading and potentially dangerous products, asking “Shouldn’t they be held accountable?” MacCleery agreed, stating, “We think that there could be a much more compelling partnership between the platforms and the government to deal with fraud and abuse.”

Blumenthal emphasized the importance of a federal price gouging law, agreeing with FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Andrew Smith after he stated that it would be helpful to have a federal price gouging statute giving the agency authority to address this issue.

The Connecticut senator said, “Right now, there really is no federal price gouging law and that is a real obstacle to effective federal enforcement. I encountered this issue when I was State Attorney General, urging the then-attorneys general of the United States to take action — and the FTC — and they said to me, ‘Well, we have no federal law.’”

More Swimming Options

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has reopened inland swimming areas at eight state parks, Seaside State Park, and the marsh boardwalk at Silver Sands State Park.

The eight swimming areas to re-open are Stratton Brook State Park in Simsbury; Wharton Brook State Park in Wallingford; Day Pond State Park in Colchester; Gay City State Park in Hebron; Chatfield Hollow State Park in Killingworth; Black Rock State Park in Watertown; Hopeville Pond State Park in Griswold; and Lake Waramaug State Park in Kent.

They will be open from 8 am to sunset each day. Lifeguards will not be on duty at these locations, so it is especially important for visitors and swimmers to follow rules and guidelines for the safety of themselves and others.

These reopenings are the result of the improved COVID-19 situation in Connecticut and based on an analysis of available space sufficient to allow recreational usage consistent with crucial social distancing practices and are contingent on visitors recreating responsibly by wearing masks, social distancing, and practicing good stewardship of state recreational areas.

DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said, “Our continued progress toward reopening at a safe, responsible pace relies on the public’s adherence to proven practices of wearing masks and social distancing for the wellbeing of everyone. Cooperation in this area will ensure we can continue to provide, and gradually increase, accessibility to our valuable outdoor recreation areas.”

The wearing of masks and face coverings remains an essential practice to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including while outdoors and at the beach. Visitors to state beaches shall maintain 15 feet between blankets and 6 feet from other visitors not in their household.

Masks shall be worn anytime except when in the water or seated on your blanket and 6 feet from others not in your household.

CDC guidance on safe outdoor recreation habits can be found by CLICKING HERE

Information for Newtown residents is available by CLICKING HERE

For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, including an FAQ and other guidance and resources, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus.