This drawing and text from Tara Shannon is a great expression of how we can best support each other during this uncertain and scary time. Chester is your community and we are dedicated to supporting all of you in the best way possible. Our town government is still working to perform essential services, and our emergency management personnel, first responders and health district are following events closely and working to keep us safe. The Board of Selectmen and a whole team of volunteers are working to make phone calls, deliver needed food or medicine, and provide individualized information wherever possible. Please let us know if you have questions or need our assistance. We are all in this together - by social distancing and closing down non-essential businesses and activities we will lessen the risk to all. Be kind to each other and take care of yourselves.

Bell ringing, rainbows and bear hunts in windows, chalk drawings everywhere, stars and lights in yards and on buildings around town ...a dozen residents churning out homemade face masks for use by home health personnel - Signs of hope, determination and solidarity everywhere.

Keep the faith and hold steady.


Be well,


Lauren
Today's News: Governor Lamont today signed another executive order – the 21 st  since he enacted the  emergency declarations  – that builds upon his efforts to encourage mitigation strategies that slow down transmission of the virus.

Governor Lamont’s  Executive Order No. 7T  enacts the following provisions, among others:

  • Prohibition on non-essential lodging: Prohibits all hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, and short-term residential rentals (including those arrange through online hosting platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo) from renting to customers for leisure or vacation purposes. Instead, lodging at these facilities must be limited to:
  • Health care workers, first responders, and other essential workers;
  • Workers engaged in transporting critical materials to hospitals;
  • Vulnerable populations, including those who are homeless;
  • Connecticut residents who need a place to self-quarantine away from family or roommates;
  • Those receiving long-term care or specialized medical treatment;
  • Connecticut residents in need of housing as a result of property damage, such as a fire;
  • Persons unable to return home because of constraints on travel; and
  • Persons engaged in providing or servicing lodging.

  • Further clarification of limits on restaurants, bars, and private clubs: Permits, under certain conditions, food establishments and liquor manufacturers to deliver alcoholic liquor and allows additional manufacturers to sell alcoholic liquor for pick-up and delivery. This will provide additional opportunities for these businesses to safely deliver their products directly to customers and reduce travel outside the home.

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Seen on Facebook: "When this is all over we are throwing the biggest St Patrick's Easter de Mayo of July party anyone's ever seen!


GOV LAMONT ENACTS “SAFE STORE RULES” TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF VIRUS AND PROTECT WORKERS AND PUBLIC

Effective Friday, every retail establishment in the state will be required to take additional protective measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 between customers, employees, and others such as delivery drivers and maintenance workers.


Below are the new store rules that go into effect Friday.

·        Occupancy capped at 50 percent of store capacity. At entrance, staff will maintain a count of the number of customers entering and exiting stores.

·        Clearly mark 6-feet spacing in lines on floor at checkout lines and other high-traffic areas and, as much as practicable, provide ways to encourage 6-feet spacing in lines outside the store.

·        Post conspicuous signage and floor markings to direct customers and limit bottlenecks and/or encourage spacing and flow in high-density areas.

·        Have aisles be one-way in stores where practicable to maximize spacing between customers. Identify the one-way aisles with conspicuous signage and/or floor markings.

·        Maximize space between customers and employees at checkout lines, including, but not limited to, only using every other checkout line, where and when possible.

·        Install Plexiglas shields to separate employees from customers at checkout lines and other areas in the store where practicable.

·        Communicate with customers through in-store signage, and public service announcements and advertisements, there should only be one person per household during shopping trips, whenever possible.

·        Discontinue all self-serve foods (e.g., salad bar, olive bar) and product sampling.

·        Allow touchless credit card transactions. If not possible, sanitize credit card machines (including pen) regularly and consistently.

·        Cart and basket handles sanitized between uses (by staff).

·        Wherever possible, employees will wear gloves and face masks at all times that they are interacting with customers and/or handling products.





Kids are not in school, but school is NOT cancelled. When you get the chance, thank a teacher - they are working hard to teach our kids online!








Anyone experiencing illness  consistent with COVID-19 and  all close contacts in the same household  who are not yet experiencing symptoms  must self-isolate at home . They should contact their physician if symptoms worsen or call 911 in an emergency.

WHAT TO DO...
  • Anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 is encouraged to call the CT River Area Health Director and self-identify: 860-661-3300
  • SELF-ISOLATING when you are sick means absolutely NO SOCIALIZING with anyone outside of the residence. No parties on the deck, no smoking breaks in close contact with others, no congregating at the park, no walking with friends, no going to the grocery store or getting take-out. STAY AT HOME AND SELF-ISOLATE!  
  • Only one occupant of the home should travel out to the store and only when necessary. Better yet, get home delivery or ask a neighbor or friend to pick up the essentials and leave it on your doorstep.
  • Please be supportive of your friends and neighbors in the community and call to check-in with them. Now, more than ever, it is essential that each of us use social distancing.


Fun Stuff on the Internet:







The Chester Town Hall, although closed to the public, remains open Monday - Thursday, 9-12 and 1-4 and Friday from 9-12 for the time being. We are not working on Tuesday evenings at this time. Please call 860-526-0013 for an appointment.