News Flash

Hamden, CT - Mayor Curt Balzano Leng has announced that the Town of Hamden is taking steps to address the dramatic increase in COVID-19 infections the State and our Town have been experiencing.

Town employees will be returning to a limited occupancy remote-work scenario, with no more than 50% of regular staff present at any single time per Department throughout Town government buildings. The Town's Emergency Management Team and Mayor Leng will continue to evaluate rising COVID-19 positivity metrics in the State and throughout Hamden, and if necessary will continue the transition to almost entirely remote work for non-essential staff. Please be aware, all essential, public safety and first responder services such as Police, Fire and Public Works will always remain fully activated and ready to provide emergency services whenever they are needed. More information regarding potential transitions to remote work will be announced in the near future. 

Commenting, Mayor Leng said, "Hamden continues to make a conscious decision to take a conservative and proactive approach to this pandemic in order to provide the utmost protection to our staff and our residents. In addition, it is our responsibility as a municipal government to model the types of behaviors and practices that are proven to slow the spread of this virus, because it can help to get additional individuals and businesses and families to potentially do the same. Every single pro-active step that is taken in the proper direction will help slow the spread of this pandemic in our community and reduce exposure, especially for the many people who find themselves in a high risk category. It is our goal to model and promote these activities as a lifesaving measure. It is truly that serious, and that simple."

The Town of Hamden is implementing additional precaution and prevention steps, and reinforcing those already in place. These actions are consistent with the CDC, our State’s recommendations and following consultation with the Quinnipiack Valley Health District (our regional Health Department). Residents, businesses and sporting organizations are also reminded that the State recently rolled back to Phase 2.1, and has also released updated guidance for the operation of interscholastic, youth and other amateur sport activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. These guidelines can be found here: https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Communications/Guidance/General-Guidance-for-Youth-and--Amateur-Sport-Activities-during-COVID-19-Pandemic.

“We will work hard to keep our residents informed by providing regular updates on guidance offered to protect the health and safety of our neighbors”, said Mayor Leng. 

This will include changes issued from Federal or State Agencies and our local Health Department, and the latest prevention recommendations, testing and support opportunities for people who are in-need using all traditional media, the Town of Hamden website, printed materials, and use of the Town’s extensive social media networks and more.

The Town of Hamden would like to highly encourage all residents and visitors to please ensure you are doing the most important and highly recommended actions you can to reduce exposure, prevent infection and fight to flatten the increasing curve we’re experiencing again in CT and locally.

Mayor Leng expressed to residents to “please practice these simple, essential actions, because each time you do you are directly helping not only yourself, but your family, your neighbor’s family and your community.”

Encouraged Healthy Behaviors:

• Wear a mask at all times when in the presence of people who do not live in your immediate household and .... 
• Encourage and engage in frequent hand washing, for a minimum of 20-seconds. 
• Use hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60% alcohol content when you may not be able to wash your hands. 
• Refrain from touching your eyes, mouth, face, and nose. 
• If you are not feeling well, stay home and away from people 
• Cover sneezes and coughs with your arm. 
• Anyone who is not feeling well and especially if you have a fever, should stay home. 
• If you are not feeling well or exhibiting symptoms, you should contact your doctor and discuss or call the State’s Emergency Coronavirus Hotline if you have questions and don’t have a doctor to call. Anyone with questions relating to Coronavirus can call 2-1-1. The 2-1-1 hotline is available 24 hours a day. 
• Avoid hand shaking and teach others to elbow bump as a means of social greetings. 
• For events or meetings with large numbers of people within arm’s length of each other, encourage those who are at higher risk due to age (60 or older), cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, or chronic lung diseases like COPD, as well as those with severely weakened immune systems, not to attend or dial in. 
• Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious foods.