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Derby City Hall
DERBY — Derby Mayor Rich Dziekan declared a state of emergency Tuesday, a way to make it easier to respond to the community health threat being posed by the COVID-19 virus.
“This move loosens some constraints in the City Charter and allows us to react quickly to any issues that may arise over the coming weeks,” Dziekan said in a prepared statement.
“I want to make it clear that we do not have any confirmed cases of COVID-19 coronavirus here in Derby, but we are following the recommendation of the city attorney, our local emergency management department and other professionals who have advised me to take this step.”
The emergency declaration, which is posted at the bottom of this post, also makes it possible for the city to apply for federal and state money that would otherwise be unavailable.
“With this declaration, I also have certain latitude to manage this crisis I would normally not have, including the ability to make emergency purchases of equipment to support critical functions like the police department and other first responders,” Dziekan said.
“Our main priority is the safety of our staff and residents. We understand that some actions that have been taken thus far may cause hardship for our residents. Please know that we do not make these difficult decisions lightly and we ask for your continued patience and understanding as we work through this difficult period.”
Derby is home to Griffin Hospital and the hospital’s cancer center.
“We have been in contact with Griffin Hospital and the Naugatuck Valley Health District to keep the lines of communication open and transparent. Together we will work to reduce the exposure of our citizens and guests,” Dziekan said.
The mayor’s statement is embedded below. Article continues after the document.
Mayor – Press Release – Coronavirus Emergency Delcaration – 03-17-2020 F… by The Valley Indy on Scribd
Also from the mayor’s statement:
Derby City Hall, the Veterans Community Center, the Senior Center, and Derby Public Library will remain closed as announced last week and our schools will be closed until at least March 27, 2020.
All in person, board and commission meetings will be cancelled until the end of March and updates on meeting schedules for April will be announced at a later date. Certain meetings will take place via the Zoom application and will be posted to the city website. All other city events are cancelled and will be rescheduled if possible.
“I ask that all residents continue to be vigilant about protecting themselves and each other from the virus. Most importantly, please avoid all unnecessary gatherings. If you must go out in public, use social distancing to limit your contact with others and wash your hands frequently. If you are feeling sick, it is highly recommended that you remain home to avoid spreading the illness. Please reach out via phone, text or email to family and friends who may live alone to make sure they are feeling ok,” Dziekan said.
The mayor advised residents to contact their healthcare provider if they feel like a family member has COVID-19. The public is being advised NOT to show up unannounced at medical facilities, including emergency departments at hospitals.
Also, Griffin Health is offering an information hotline at 203 – 204-1053 for patients, visitors, and community residents who have questions about COVID-19.
Griffin caregivers will be available to answer questions Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“We’re all in this together so it is important that we make a collective effort to protect the vulnerable in our community,” Dziekan said.
From the mayor’s statement:
We would like to direct our residents to the following resources to familiarize themselves with the facts about the virus and precautions that should be taken:
Naugatuck Valley Health District: http://www.nvhd.org/coronaviruses/COVID-19/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html
Dial 2 – 1‑1 or text CTCOVID to 898211 with questions or concerns.
“We are acting out of an abundance of caution and have no reason to believe that there is currently any immediate cause for concern in Derby. It is important that we do everything in our power to keep it that way. We encourage our residents to approach this virus with caution and to follow the steps recommended by public health officials to reduce unnecessary contact and slow the spread.”
“I understand many residents may disagree with this decision, but we ask for patience and understanding as we work through this together. This situation is very fluid and we are following the most current directives of our local health department and the state and federal governments. We will continue to update you in the coming days as more information becomes available.”
If you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact my office at 203.736.1450 extension 221 or www.derbyct.gov.
Mayor Dziekan – Emergency Declaration – Coronavirus – 03-17-2020 by The Valley Indy on Scribd
