As local cases of COVID-19 increased by 14 over the past few days, the Newtown Police Department has tapped its Facebook page to broadcast a reminder about new fines that Governor Ned Lamont announced earlier this week. The fines have been instituted as the state’s positivity rate for COVID-19 exceeded one percent for several days — following many weeks where new infections held at under one percent.

Ranging from $100 to $500, the fines are aimed at those who refuse to wear protective masks when required or who organize or attend large, private events. The new penalties, administration officials said, were requested by municipal leaders whose only other option to enforce containment rules was to arrest violators and charge them with misdemeanor offenses.

They can be imposed by police officers, local health officials, or other designees of a city or town’s chief elected officer, giving communities more options to enforce safety, the governor said. The measure was first announced September 14 despite the fact that Connecticut still boasts one of the lowest coronavirus transmission rates in the nation.

According to the post on the Newtown Police Department’s Facebook page, since Lamont signed an executive order mandating masks in April, the wearing of [protective face coverings] has become socially acceptable and a norm when in public. Most people have become accustomed to wearing masks and complying with the executive orders in the interest of public health.

There are still some who are in violation, and local officials may soon start issuing infractions for these violations, the warning continues. The goal is voluntary compliance with the orders, though at times enforcement might be necessary.

Enforcement measures begin at $100 for violating the mask rule. Masks or cloth face coverings that cover a person’s nose and mouth are required to be worn when in public and a six-foot distance is unobtainable, whether indoors or outdoors. This does not apply to anyone for whom doing so would be contrary to their health because of a medical condition.

There will be a $250 fine for attending an event that exceeds size limits, and a $500 fine for organizing an event that exceeds size limits.

Current size limits are:

*Indoor private gatherings: 25 people

*Outdoor private gatherings: 100 people

*Outdoor organized gatherings: 500 people

*Outdoor event venues: 25 percent of fire capacity and distancing

*Fairs, festivals, and carnivals: up to 25 percent of last year’s attendance

Jump In Cases

Newtown Health District Director Donna Culbert said although there have been no new deaths locally from COVID-19, new cases that have developed over the past couple of weeks have been added, bringing the latest total to 292 — an increase of 30 since August 27. Statewide during the same period, cases have increased by 1,295.

As of September 15 at 8:30 pm, the total of COVID-19 cases reported among Connecticut residents is 55,166, including 52,878 laboratory-confirmed and 2,288 probable cases. At that time, 70 patients were hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, and 4,487 COVID-19-associated deaths had been recorded.

On that day, the regional travel advisory between Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York that directs incoming travelers from states with a significant community spread of COVID-19 to self-quarantine for a 14-day period was updated. Puerto Rico was added to the list, while California, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, and Ohio were removed.

The quarantine applies to any person traveling into Connecticut from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents, or higher than a 10 percent test positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average. The list of impacted locations is updated every Tuesday.

On September 15, Lamont also signed Executive Order No. 9B – the 70th since he enacted the emergency declarations – that builds upon his efforts to encourage mitigation strategies that slow transmission of the virus:

Amendments to mandatory self-quarantine for travelers from states with high COVID-19 levels: Modifies the state’s previously issued self-quarantine and travel advisory order for people arriving to Connecticut from impacted states, expanding the testing exemption to all travelers who test negative for COVID-19 in the 72 hours prior to arrival. This takes effect at 12:01 am on Friday, September 18.

Authorization for the issuance of fines: Authorizes the Commissioner of Public Health, local health departments, municipal chief elected officers, and state and local police to issue fines for violations of certain COVID-19 protective measures.

Repeal of executive orders extending liquor permittee credit period: Repeals Executive Order No. 7OOO, Section 2 and Executive Order No. 7S, Section 3 effective September 17, 2020, returning to normal statutory provisions.

Testing Clarification Sought

On September 16, US Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, pressed White House Coronavirus Task Force members about ongoing coronavirus response efforts and the leadership of the White House administration during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the administration’s efforts to draw back US presence at the World Health Organization.

At a US Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services hearing, Murphy specifically urged US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr Robert Redfield to clarify the CDC’s confusing new guidance on testing and whether the policy change was driven by pressure from the White House to decrease testing.

On the link between the president’s comments on wanting less testing and the changed policies at the CDC, Murphy said, “[…]the president says he wants less testing. He says that out loud, he’s asked for clarification, he doubles down, says, ‘I want less testing.’ And then right around that time, you issue this guidance that dramatically scales back recommendations for who gets tested, and the New York Times reports that that is because, in part, of instruction from the White House. You say today that that report is, in fact, untrue. But to many of us, it just belies reason that we would be encouraging fewer people to get tested today given the massive expansion of this virus.”

Murphy also pressed US Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Admiral Brett Giroir on the reassignment of WHO experts.

Murphy said, “There’s a report earlier this month that the United States is going to scale down its engagement further with the WHO, including recalling [personnel] from WHO headquarters, regional offices, and country offices and then reassigning these experts. I acknowledge I don’t have time to get the answer today, but I think it’s incredibly concerning that we might not have American personnel on the front lines to sort of watch this virus and others through WHO field offices.”

CTMirror content was used in this report.