City of New Haven
Recent increase in New Haven Covid cases (blue) mirrors statewide uptick (grey).
Just like the rest of the state and the region, New Haven has seen a recent uptick in new Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations.
The likely culprit? Small gatherings and mask fatigue.
Mayor Justin Elicker and city Health Director Maritza Bond delivered those updates Wednesday afternoon during a virtual press briefing held on Zoom and YouTube Live.
Bond said that the city has seen 63 new positive Covid-19 cases in the past 14 days, which is over triple the 20 new confirmed cases the city had in the previous two-week stretch. She said that the city also currently has 26 local people hospitalized due to Covid, including five who are in the intensive care unit (ICU). That’s up from 12 Covid-related hospitalizations on Oct. 4.
Since the start of the pandemic in March, Elicker said, the city has had 3,205 confirmed positive Covid-19 cases, 684 related hospitalizations, and 113 related fatalities.
Zoom
Elicker (pictured) and Bond said that the recent increase in cases is not due to any one major event, or “super spreader.”
Instead, it’s more likely the result of a combination of more small gatherings along with people getting lax with Covid-precautionary measures after spending so many months upending their social lives to protect themselves and others from the virus.
“We’ve seen some minor clusters,” Bond said. Through the city’s contact tracing program, the health department has identified an increase in “small gatherings of individuals getting together, increased activities indoors, and people not being vigilant with PPE,” or personal protective equipment, like face coverings.
“By and large, people have been very good at wearing masks and social distancing,” Elicker said.
“However, we’ve seen a little bit of sloppiness, and I think there’s been a lot of frustration. I think people are getting tired of having to abide by strict guidelines. But we’ve got to stay the course and focus and continue doing everything we can to keep each other safe.”
Elicker and Bond showed a graph (pictured at the top of this article) that illustrates how New Haven’s recent increase in new Covid cases mirrors a similar increase at the statewide level. Top Yale New Haven Health administrators spoke at a Tuesday press conference about an increase in cases the regional hospital system has seen, and how people throughout the region should prepare for “another shutdown” if cases continue to rise.
Car Costume Contests Encouraged; Trick Or Treating Not
Bond (pictured) also announced Wednesday that the city has issued new guidance around how to celebrate Halloween in a Covid-safe way.
She said that the city is recommending that New Haveners not participate in door-to-door trick or treating “because it’s really difficult to maintain proper social distancing on porches and at front doors.” The city is also recommending that people not partake in “trunk or treat” festivities that have kids hopping from car to car, instead of from door to door, to get candy and other Halloween goodies.
Instead, the city is encouraging residents to hold online Halloween parties, drive-by contests with decorated vehicles; drive-through events; outdoor movie nights; or “Halloween-themed meals at outdoor restaurants.”
The two-page guidance document itself states that Halloween masks are not an appropriate substitute for a cloth or surgical mask.
“The City of New Haven does not recommend leaving out a bowl for trick or treaters,” the document continues, “due to the challenge this presents for contact tracing.”
See below for a list of personal protection measures recommended by the city for Halloween this year.
1. Correctly wear a cloth face covering to prevent disease spread when outside your home and around others that are not part of your household. Halloween masks are not a substitute for a surgical mask or three layered cloth mask.
2. Avoid confined spaces — Actively stay away from indoor spaces that do not allow for easy distancing of at least six feet between you and others.
3. Avoid close contact — Stay at least six feet away (three or more adult steps) from all other people who are not part of your own household, especially while talking, eating, drinking, and singing.
4. Wash or sanitize your hands often.
5. Clean frequently touched items regularly.
6. If you are sick, or you have been in contact with someone who is sick with Covid-19 or has symptoms of Covid-19, stay home and away from others.