As Newtown businesses and facilities falling under Governor Ned Lamont’s Phase 1 reopening program begin to welcome customers and visitors, Heath District Director Donna Culbert is continuing to stress all the basic messages that have helped get the community to this threshold.

“I can't emphasize enough that folks should be keeping up their good work,” Culbert said May 20. “Beginning today a lot more people will be walking about the cabin, but it’s important to remember that the opportunity for transmission is still strong.”

The health official said up to now, a lot of residents have been in and around a relatively small circle of people in home and potentially work situations.

“But if you increase your movement outside that circle, you’re increasing interactions and your circle is going to get bigger,” she said. “But remember that those others in your circle will likely be interacting with others who may be infected but asymptomatic. I know masks are uncomfortable, and I know it will be hard to keep them on, keep on disinfecting, frequent hand washing, and distancing, but you’ve got to do it.”

Culbert said the Health District in partnership with Newtown Police Department will be working through enforcement protocols and responsibilities in the coming days, but as of May 20, citizen complaints can be directed through the existing police complaint line at 203-270-4255. Police Chief James Viadero has been appointed as the municipal officer overseeing response to public complaints, according to First Selectman Dan Rosenthal.

If complaints about businesses not conforming to Phase 1 guidelines are lodged, the first selectman told The Newton Bee that “we want to work with people. So we’ll try to speak with people first in the event there is a complaint. This is not going to become adversarial — we want to be sure businesses have an opportunity to thrive, and we understand there will be some complaints. I just encourage residents to be patient as businesses work to reopen while incorporating all the new safety and health guidelines they’re facing.”

The state has also made a system available so residents can file a complaint if they see a business not conforming to reopening guidelines; access the form by CLICKING HERE

As of May 18 at 8:30 pm, the state posted 38,430 cases of COVID-19 among Connecticut residents, a daily increase of 314. There are 914 patients currently hospitalized with laboratory confirmed COVID-19, and there have been 3,472 COVID-19-associated deaths, a daily increase of 23.

At 2:30 pm on May 20, Newtown’s positive case count was static at around 200 and there had been at least 21 related deaths, Culbert said. Across Fairfield County, the State reported 14,522 cases, 287 current hospitalizations, and 1,160 deaths.

Local Park Protocols

In other local news, Newtown Parks & Recreation Department is reminding residents of updated rules and guidelines as some facilities begin reopening May 20.

At this time Eichler’s Cove beach does not have lifeguards and there is no swimming. Social distancing guidelines must be followed at this facility. If these rules are not followed the beach will be closed, the department has stated.

Resident and nonresident permits must be on all vehicles to enter the facility. Parks officials are working toward an opening date in June for swimming at Eichler’s Cove beach, at which time there will be new guidelines and procedures in place for visitors.

Treadwell pool remains closed until further notice. At this time officials are looking ahead to more executive orders, CDC, and local health official guidelines for opening the Town swimming facility on Philo Curtis Road. Treadwell Pool.

Adjusted rates for memberships can be accessed by CLICKING HERE

As of May 20, the hours for Dickinson Park and Treadwell Park will be 9 am to 7 pm. The Elm Drive entrance to Dickinson Park will remain closed; all visitors to that park must use the Brushy Hill Road entrance.

Any visitor under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older from the same household, and there will be limited parking at each facility to avoid overcrowding.

For those visiting Dickinson and Treadwell parks, the following has been announced:

*There will be no organized sports of any kind allowed on athletic fields; playgrounds will be fenced off and closed; basketball courts will be locked; tennis and pickleball nets will be put up with signs that specify singles matches and other guidelines for safer play.

*Restrooms will be locked due to the amount of sanitization required and the inability to control those areas for social distancing.

Portable toilets will be available, but visitors must bring their own hand sanitizer.

*There will be no picnic tables at Dickinson, and the Treadwell Pavilion is closed. Parks officials encourage guests to carry in their own picnic blankets.

To obtain a resident or non resident permit, order or purchase them by CLICKING HERE or call 203-270-4340, Monday through Friday between 8 am and 4:30 pm, for more information. Proof of residency and car registration are required.

Testing Costs, Water Flushing

Connecticut Insurance Department Commissioner Andrew N. Mais is reminding all insured residents in the state that all out-of-pocket costs for testing and treatment of COVID-19 have been removed.

“Our insurance industry here in Connecticut has answered the call and responded to help protect those most affected by our current crisis,” Commissioner Mais said. “Thanks to recent changes in federal law, employer-based plan sponsors are required to follow suit and remove all cost sharing for testing and treatment for their workers and their families.”

Department of Social Services Commissioner Deidre S. Gifford also praised the state’s insurance carriers and noted that public health coverage is also available to Connecticut residents who qualify.

“In the regular Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, together known as HUSKY Health in Connecticut, we are fully covering COVID-19 testing and treatment without any cost-sharing,” Commissioner Gifford said.

“In addition,” she added, “HUSKY Health is now covering COVID-19 testing for uninsured Connecticut residents who are US citizens or have a qualifying immigration status, regardless of income; and covering COVID-19 testing for residents without a qualifying immigration status if they meet HUSKY income requirements and have COVID-19 symptoms.”

Aquarion Water Company is reminding business owners who have closed their buildings during the pandemic to flush their building’s water systems prior to returning to normal use of their tap water. After an extended period of non-use, potable water can become stagnant.

By flushing internal and external systems, fresh water is drawn into the customer’s building from Aquarion’s water mains. Fresh water is constantly flowing throughout Aquarion’s water distribution system.

Stagnation of potable water in building plumbing may cause changes in temperature, lost of chlorine residual, biofilm/Legionella growth, biofilm disruption, and plumbing corrosion resulting in discolored water, odor, lead and/or copper release, and disinfection byproduct formation. If not properly managed, stagnant potable water could pose a health risk.

Further, mechanical equipment such as cooling towers, boilers, and pumps may not have received any routine maintenance and backflow preventers may have missed annual test cycles.

Therefore, the Department of Public Health (DPH) recommends the owners of building water systems that have not been used for a prolonged period of time follow established protocols before the building is reopened for use and occupancy.

Flushing building water lines includes flushing interior and exterior faucets, showers, water and ice dispensers, and water treatment units, as well as any other building water lines.

Prior to any flushing, the building owner should contact the public water system that supplies water to the building to ensure a coordinated effort. The Connecticut DPH has developed return to service guidance for internal building water systems, which is available by CLICKING HERE

Business customers with additional flushing questions can contact Aquarion Customer Service at 800-732-9678.

Public Works Director Fred Hurley said Newtown businesses should follow their normal call-in procedures when and if they plan to flush buildings that are on local water company lines.

Anyone in crisis or facing issues making ends meet or experiencing stress or anxiety can also call the 211 infoline or consult its companion website 211ct.org.

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

The Newtown Bee is continuing to provide and mirror information and messages coming from local and state agencies on a daily and sometimes hourly basis. Newtown residents can get more details by visiting Newtown’s own COVID-19 web page, at newtown-ct.gov.

Residents can also review all prior COVID-19 updates and follow the newspaper’s Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages for breaking local news and advisories.

Please check in regularly, share, and follow the newspaper’s hyper local coverage at newtownbee.com through the remainder of this public health emergency.