Town of Seymour
Gary Park in Seymour.
SEYMOUR — After seeing too many people in close proximity at places such as Gary Park over the weekend, Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller announced Monday all town parks and playgrounds were closed to the public.
The announcement covers all town-owned recreation space in town, including the track at the high school.
The move comes at roughly the same time as the public learned two residents of Seymour had tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Miller’s action isn’t directly related to the positive test results because town officials weren’t aware of the results when they announced parks were closed.
“Effective tonight (Monday, March 23) at 5 p.m. we will be closing all parks and playgrounds in Seymour to go along with all of the sports fields on school property. We are doing this in the best interest of public health and safety. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause,” Miller said in a Facebook post Monday afternoon.
The decision came shortly after a “Navel Gazing” podcast interview with The Valley Indy, during which Miller said shutting the parks was something he was considering.
“If you go to Gary Park, for example, and you go up to the playground that we have, you’ll see 15 or 20 kids all playing around on the playground. Parents are all there standing next to each other,” Miller said in the interview.
All levels of government in the U.S. have been preaching about social distancing and not gathering in groups of more than 10 in an effort to prevent COVID-19 from overwhelming Connecticut’s hospitals.
After the recording, Miller said he consulted with other town officials and decided closing the parks was for the greater good.
Miller used the town’s ‘Code Red’ messaging system Monday evening to relay the following information:
“The Town of Seymour and Naugatuck Valley Health District, our local health department, have been made aware of 2 Seymour residents who have tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19. Health department staff have talked with the individuals who will remain in quarantine at their homes. Individuals who reside in the same household as a laboratory confirmed positive case will also be required to self-quarantine at their home.
This remains a rapidly evolving situation and with the availability of multiple different laboratories processing tests, the number of cases is likely to increase. The Town of Seymour will continue to work with the Naugatuck Valley Health District and area hospitals to provide the most up to date information available. Please practice social distancing and stay home as much as you can.
If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice. Please do not show up without calling first
For general questions about COVID-19, please call 2 – 1‑1. This hotline is accessible 24 hours a day and in multiple languages. You can also visit www.NVHD.org and www.ct.gov/coronavirus for more information.
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.
With that being said, I have ordered all town parks, playgrounds and sporting fields on school property closed until further notice, effective today at 5pm. If you must go in public, please adhere to the social distancing recommendations and severely to limit your contact with others. Again, 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. If you believe you or someone in your family has contracted COVID-19, please contact your healthcare provider or emergency room first before going to the emergency room to seek testing.
We’re all in this together so it’s important that we continue to follow the recommendations that are being put forth by medical professionals. I will continue to provide updates over the next few days and will do my best to let you know as things change.
Good night and I wish you and your family safety and good health.”
The initial closure announcement from Facebook is posted below:
