COVID-19: a school year amidst the pandemic

Westport received an orange color coding on the Connecticut COVID-19 Data Tracker map of average daily COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents on Nov. 5. Following a statement from First Selectman Jim Marpe, the town is rolling back from Phase 3  reopenings and returning to a modified Phase 2.1 plan. In Connecticut’s color-coded four-tier COVID-19 alert system, a “red alert” entails 15 or more ...

From December 8-22, three Staples students reported positive COVID-19 cases to the administration. From Jan. 3-17, 17 positive cases were reported*.  Students traveling and spending non-socially-distanced time with friends and family during school recesses can put students and staff at risk upon return, as the district saw after December break. Thus, Staples administration is doing all they can in ...

In addition, some of the employees for the Remarkable Theater also work at Sweet P Bakery or will be working at The Porch. “We do have a similar mission. That's what binds us together,” Pecoriello said. Of course, ice cream isn’t the only thing The Porch will be serving up. Along with featuring the unique baked goods whipped up at Sweet P, the Pecoriellos do not want to skimp on variety...

Connecticut residents 45 and up will become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccinations starting this Friday, and ages 16 and up beginning on April 5, Governor Ned Lamont said on Monday, March 15 in a press release.  “We have some of the best and most dedicated providers in Connecticut who have been working around-the-clock to create the infrastructure that will provide vaccines to as many resident...

The Connecticut State Senate has passed a bill that will no longer allow religious exemptions from children’s vaccination requirements for schools, colleges and other educational facilities. One such opponent is Republican state Senator, Tony Hwang, who wrote an OP-ED on the hearing’s dissatisfying voting process. “There are many who opposed this bill and believed in a different approach and th...

Outdoor dining restrictions have eased in Connecticut, and many Westport restaurants followed suit, as of May 1. Governor Ned Lamont announced that the state will now allow individuals to be served at bars without ordering food, table seating outdoors is no longer limited to eight people, and business curfews have been pushed back an hour to 12 a.m.  With almost 58% of the state being at least ...