HAMDEN, CT – Mayor Curt Balzano Leng, following the positive example taken today by the City of New Haven, and which is supported by the Quinnipiac Valley Health District Director. has issued an emergency order to close any childcare center in Hamden providing child care services for more than 12 children.
The order allows certain exemptions, mainly pertaining to Child Care Facilities providing services to the children of medical professionals, which are needed so they can continue providing the extensive and increasingly arduous tasks of providing medical treatment to all whom need and will need it.
This emergency order accompanies the State of Emergency issued March 16th by the Town of Hamden, and follows closely the social distancing measures and directives already enacted in Hamden. It is also consistent with the closure of Schools, Town/BOE before and after school programming, nearly all Town faculties and others actions taken in an effort to protect the public health of our community.
A statement from Mayor Leng:
“I do not come to this decision lightly, I fully realize and understand the major burden this will put on many families, but we must do everything in our power to reduce the exposure to and slow the rate of infection of the number of people who will be infected with this potentially lethal infection. I believe there is commitment by many, including Representative DeLauro and Government Lamont, and many of our Federal and State delegation leaders, to find financial relief to the thousands of people across our state who will be affected But actions like this, or actions that were taken to close or restaurants, movie theaters, bars, gyms and more in this crisis.”
Our government’s primary responsibility is to protect the health and wellbeing of our residents. To that end, as supported by the Director of the Health Department, I have decided to follow the City of New Haven’s lead and order that all daycare and childcare centers close, effective in 24 hours, as a direct action step I can take to address the most serious public health emergency of our generation surrounding COVID-19.
Reducing exposure and slowing the spread of the virus will save hundreds, and possibly thousands of lives if we act fast. I am leaving an exemption to provide care for healthcare workers children so they can continue working to help the sick and provide the medical services needed to save lives.
Hamden has closed Public Schools and both Town and BOE before and after school programs, to reduce the exposure and spread, from a public health perspective to not follow the same decision process with daycare and childcare centers would be irresponsible to the health and safety of our residents. This is a true state of emergency, a public health emergency, and if we can’t reduce the number of people gathering in every way and at every location we can, we are not doing all we can to reduce infection and save lives.”
For more information on the details of this action please review the ORDER on the town website at ...... or email hamdenCOVIT19actions@hamden.com.
EMERGENCY ORDER NO. 1 REGARDING CHILD CARE CENTERS IN THE TOWN OF HAMDEN
WHEREAS, on March 10, 2020, the Governor of the State of Connecticut declared a public health emergency and a civil preparedness emergency for the State of Connecticut, pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Sections 19a-131 and 28-9, in response to the global pandemic of COVID-19 disease associated with a novel coronavirus that is currently affecting multiple countries and states; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared a national emergency to combat the coronavirus that is currently infecting the population of the United States; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, the Mayor of the Town of Hamden, pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Section 28-8a(a) and 28-22a and Section 5-5 A. of the Charter, declared a public emergency for the Town of Hamden due to the significant danger to public health posed by the spread of COVID-19 and to protect the public health and safety of the public as a result of the global pandemic; and
WHEREAS, due to the significant adverse impact on public health of COVID-19, the Mayor must take action for the purpose of ensuring civil preparedness and mitigating the adverse effects of this emergency situation upon the residents of Hamden; and
WHEREAS, among best practices and prescribed measures of mitigation in light of this public health emergency is social distancing; and
WHEREAS, under the powers granted by Connecticut General Statutes Sections 28-8a(a), and 28-22a, and Section 5-5 B. of Charter, the Mayor shall have and exercise all executive and administrative powers conferred upon any municipal chief executive during a public emergency ; and
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that, pursuant to the powers and duties granted in the Connecticut General Statutes and the Charter of the Town of Hamden, in response to the public emergency now facing the Town of Hamden, and consistent with action taken by the City of New Haven today, and similar closures already made for Hamden Public Schools and Town of Hamden before and after-school programs, with the advice from the Town’s public health officials effective on March 18, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. any and all child care centers providing child care services for more than 12 children, as defined in Connecticut General Statutes 19a-77 et seq., shall be closed.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS FURTHER HEREBY PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that, in the interest of providing critically needed child care services for health care providers during this public health emergency, any child care center providing child care services for more than 12 children, including child care centers operated by acute care hospitals licensed pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Title 19a, Chapter 368v, or affiliates of such licensed hospitals, may continue to provide child care services for any child whose parent or legal guardian is employed as a health care provider, defined as “any individual who delivers care and services to the sick and ailing, as doctors, nurses, aides, helpers, transporters, technicians, pharmacists, and environmental services”; and
IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that, order shall remain in effect until the Hamden Declaration of Public Emergency is lifted (the” effective period”) unless amended or earlier terminated.
-Curt Balzano Leng