Director of Health, Mark Cooper, reports that the WWHD has completed testing on residents identified through their contact tracing following the March 11, 2020 report about an outbreak in Westport, CT. Response efforts have now moved from an investigative containment mode to a local emergency response. The State of Connecticut has activated the State Medical Reserve Corp to aid in response efforts, along with Police, Fire, EMS, and others.
On March 11, 2020, the Health District became aware of approximately 40 people potentially exposed to COVID-19 and kicked off an investigation following the same epidemiological procedures used with any other outbreak, such as a food borne illness or sexually transmitted disease. As the situation unfolded, it quickly became clear that there were more than only 40 people involved. The initial round of testing on March 12th did not capture everyone on the initial list of people, so, in an effort to get ahead of the virus, WWHD scheduled a second round of testing which is happening at the East Meadow walk-in clinic. This round was completed on March 18, 2020. Those tested will be contacted by WWHD clinical staff once results are back from the lab.
Mark Cooper notes, “Potential exposures were many hundreds before it was even reported to the WWHD. Although our efforts could not contain the virus, the information obtained (20 initial positive test results from March 12th testing) was important because it demonstrated that the virus was, in fact, in our community.” Director Cooper then sent a letter to the State Department of Public Health Commissioner requesting assistance and direction on a regional and statewide basis.
Working closely with Town Officials, WWHD has arranged for additional community testing at the Bedford Middle School, 88 North Avenue, Westport. Residents of Westport and Weston only can be tested by Murphy Medical Associates, a private company, on the following dates/times:
Tuesday, March 24, 2000* 8:30AM – 12:00PM
Tuesday, March 31, 2020* 8:30AM – 12:00PM
Tuesday, April 7, 2020* 8:30AM – 12:00PM
***These will be a drive through testing site and everyone must stay in their cars with the windows closed until asked to lower them. Pre-registration is required and those seeking testing must meet CDC screening requirements to be tested. This testing is not free – insurance may cover the cost depending on each individual’s coverage.
Visit www.coronatestct.com or call 203-658-6051 to learn more about the testing, costs and/or to begin the screening and registration process.
There are also other testing opportunities around the state. Some are listed below. People can learn more about each site’s screening process, costs, location and dates of testing by calling the associated call center or hotline telephone number below.
- Yale New Haven Health system COVID-19 Call Center 1-833-275-9644
• Hartford Health Care hotline 1-833-621-0600
• Stamford Health COVID hotline 1-203-276-4111
• Connecticut Children’s Hospital 1-833-226-2362
• DOCS Urgent Care https://docsmedicalgroup.com/telemedicine/