A COVID-19 map showing towns with high COVID-19 per capita rates. Derby and Seymour are included.
The latest stats from the state show the per capita rates are still higher in the Naugatuck Valley than most other parts of the state.
During a press conference Thursday, Gov. Ned Lamont and his staff highlighted the issue and showed a map of COVID-19 in the Valley, but did not have a definitive answer as to why the infection rate is higher in places such as Derby, Seymour and Waterbury.
A reporter from The Republican-American of Waterbury asked whether the Valley’s COVID-19 cases are being driven by households, or by gatherings such as in restaurants or churches.
Lamont described the situation as a small regional flare-up. He speculated that the Valley’s rate is probably due to informal gatherings.
“I think sometimes people are not as inclined to wear the mask as they should. We haven’t done any analysis … in terms of where people are more likely to get vaccinated than in other places,” Lamont said.
The Valley Indy emailed the Naugatuck Valley Health District during Gov. Lamont’s press conference for more information on what’s happening with COVID-19 locally. There was no response as of 6 a.m. Friday.
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A two-week daily rate of 15 cases or more per 100,000 places a community in the “red zone” on the state’s COVID-19 map. The rate does not include group settings, such as nursing homes.
Until Thursday, the City of Derby had the highest per capita COVID-19 rate in Connecticut for two weeks running. That flare-up was thought to be driven by school-aged children and their families.
Derby’s latest infection rate fell to 59.9, according to data released Thursday. That’s 105 cases between March 21 and April 3. Derby is now sixth in the state. Waterbury’s per capita rate is now 69.3, now the highest in the state.
It should be noted that the Valley rates are nothing compared to the height of the pandemic, when some 200 people a day were dying across the state. But Lamont said it’s still something to keep an eye on given how easily COVID-19 spreads, and that the state would be working to bring the rates down in the Naugatuck Valley.
Data released last week showed Derby had 115 positive COVID-19 test results, which translates into a per capita rate of 65.6. That was the highest rate Derby hit since the state began releasing per capita data in October.
Two weeks ago Derby had a per capita rate of 48.5.
Seymour’s per capita rate last week was 51.9. On Thursday, it increased to 55.4.
Ansonia’s latest per capita rate fell to 49.2. It was 53 a week prior.
Gov. Lamont’s April 8 COVID-19 briefing is embedded below. The article continues below.
Lamont and the state health department recently announced that Connecticut would be the first in the nation to start deploying FEMA mobile vaccination vans to vulnerable communities.
However, none of the FEMA mobile units, which have received tons of media publicity, are scheduled to appear in Derby, Ansonia or Seymour, according to an email from the state to The Valley Indy.
Government officials in Derby and Seymour said they have not heard of mobile units arriving to vaccinate locally.
But state officials said more outreach will be happening over the coming days and weeks to get people vaccinated locally.
“With the start of the latest phase of our state’s vaccine rollout, there was a bottleneck in vaccination efforts, which is starting to clear as Connecticut’s vaccine supply increases and distribution efforts ramp up,” said state Rep. Kara Rochelle. “While the rest of the state has FEMA’s mobile vaccine units, the Valley has similar units through Griffin Hospital. We are working with local partners, such as churches and nonprofits, to set up community-based mobile clinics to expand access to the COVID vaccine.”
“We are working diligently on outreach strategy for those who may be hesitant to get vaccinated or those who are having trouble getting connected to a vaccine provider. Anyone who is having difficulty scheduling their COVID-19 vaccine appointment, please reach out to my office at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and we can get you connected to an appointment,” she said.
Andrew Baklik, Mayor Rich Dziekan’s chief of staff, said Derby’s flare-up was driven by school-age kids and their families — but a major effort will be happening to vaccinate eligible students.
Both Ansonia and Derby school districts are planning vaccination clinics, according to a story from WTNH.
Ansonia and Derby Public Schools are partnering with Naugatuck Valley Health District and Griffin Hospital to get eligible kids vaccinated and according to the superintendent in Ansonia, the goal is to have kids vaccinated by the beginning of May ahead of prom and graduation.
District leaders are working to have between 300 – 400 students between Derby and Ansonia vaccinated between April 19 and May 7, adding the sooner they can offer the opportunity, the better.
On Wednesday, the Naugatuck Valley Health District used Facebook to promote the launch of a homebound vaccine program:
If you are physically or medically unable to leave your home to get the COVID-19 shot, or a caretaker of a homebound individual, please register online at https://dphsubmissions.ct.gov/homebound.
Call the health district for more information at (203) 881‑3255.
The City of Ansonia, which is constantly holding vaccination clinics and urging residents to get vaccinated, announced Thursday that Mayor David Cassetti is launching a “Vax the Valley” drive.
From the city’s Facebook page:
“Mayor Cassetti is asking Ansonia to join together to help “Vax the Valley” on Saturday, April 24, meeting at 10 a.m. at Ansonia’s Gatison Park, located at 4 Fourth St.
The goal is to sign up 500 residents for Griffin Hospital’s upcoming vaccination clinics.
We will be going door-to-door to sign up residents and spread information about the vaccination and vaccination opportunities.”
VACCINATION RATES
The vaccination rates released by the state Thursday had confusing Derby information.
Derby’s vaccination rate had been 47 percent (of the total population) two Thursdays ago, and 53 percent last Thursday.
But on April 8 the listed rate was 33.4. The Valley Indy will ask about the matter Friday.
Ansonia’s latest vaccination rate is 31.8.
Seymour is at 39.3.
Shelton is at 44.8
The Valley Indy asked readers on Facebook to share their thoughts on why the rates seem to be higher than other parts of Connecticut. Click the post to read the reactions.
