Monthly Archives: December 2020

Dec. 9 COVID Update: Old Lyme Reports Confirmed COVID Case #100, Lyme Holds at 28

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Photo by CDC on Unsplash

LYME/OLD LYME — 12/10 UPDATE, 12:20am: In light of the serious rise in Coronavirus cases, we have started a new daily update reporting confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases in Lyme and Old Lyme. The state is now issuing a COVID-19 metric report daily around 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, which includes current data up to the previous evening.

The Daily Data Report for Connecticut issued Wednesday, Dec. 9, by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) for data as at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 8, shows the following:

Both Lyme and Old Lyme remain in the state-identified ‘Red Zone,’ defined as when the Average Daily Rate of COVID-19 Cases Among Persons Living in Community Settings per 100,000 Population By Town exceeds 15. This rate does not include cases or tests among residents of nursing home, assisted living, or correctional facilities.

OLD LYME now has a cumulative total (since the outbreak began) of 100 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

This represents an increase of two confirmed cases over the 98 cases reported Tuesday, Dec. 8.  

The total number of Old Lyme residents tested is 3,334.

There have been two fatalities in Old Lyme.

The Dec. 9 report issued by CT DPH shows that during the two-week reporting period from 11/15 through 11/28, Old Lyme had 14 cases in Week 1 and six in Week 2. This data was updated Dec. 3.

The case rate in Old Lyme for 100,000 population is 19.4, reflecting a decrease from the previously reported two-week-rate of 23.3. A case rate of 15 or more cases per 100,000 population places a town in the state’s ‘Red Zone.’

LYME has a cumulative total (since the outbreak began) of 26 confirmed cases and two probable cases, making a total of 28 cases.

This represents no increase in the number of confirmed or probable cases over those reported Tuesday, Dec. 8.

There have been no fatalities in Lyme.

The total number of Lyme residents tested is 772.

The Dec. 9 report issued by CT DPH shows that during the two-week reporting period from11/15 through 11/28, Lyme had seven cases in Week 1 and one in Week 2. This data was updated Dec. 3.

The case rate in Lyme for 100,000 population is 24.4 reflecting an increase from the previously reported two-week-rate of 21.4.  A case rate of 15 or more cases per 100,000 population places a town in the state’s ‘Red Zone.’

Ledge Light Health Department (LLHD) issued their most recent weekly COVID-19 Report Friday morning, Dec. 4. It shows that in the past two weeks, Old Lyme had 20 new confirmed cases and Lyme eight. It also details that 864 Old Lyme residents had molecular tests and antigen tests while the equivalent number for Lyme residents was 254.

Neither the LLHD nor the Connecticut Department of Health (CT DPH) reports give any details of the age of those infected, their gender, or the date the case was confirmed.

The COVID-19 metric report is issued by the state once per day, every Monday through Friday. The report that is issued each Monday contains combined data that was collected on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The state will issue its next report Thursday, Dec. 10.

Saint Ann’s Parish Awarded Level 2 Recognition by Green House of Worship 

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Saint Ann’s Church of Old Lyme.

OLD LYME — On Nov. 24, the Saint Ann’s Episcopal Church Environment Committee announced that Saint Ann’s Parish in Old Lyme had been awarded “Level Two” recognition for their achievements in implementing eco-friendly processes. The award was made by the Green House of Worship program of the Connecticut Interreligious Eco-Justice Network (IREJN). 

Letitia Naigels, a board member of IREJN, wrote congratulating the Environment Committee, saying, “You folks at St. Ann’s  have successfully made it to level TWO of our Green Houses of Worship program!”

She added, “Under ‘normal’ conditions, I would come to St. Ann’s to make the award, complete with personalized framed certificate . . . but under COVID-19 times, I am holding off on the personal visits.” 

Mother Anita of Saint Ann’s commented, “Since I arrived as Provisional Priest in Charge at Saint Ann’s, I have been delighted and energized by the parish’s commitment to creation care through action, education and worship.  Our Community Garden annually gives hundreds of pounds of food to address food insecurity in neighborhoods.“ 

Environment Committee members Dave Carter, Jim Norden and Steve MacAusland, as well  as parish Sexton Dan Ivy, assisted in the preparation of the application to IREJN.  

Green Houses of Worship is a three-tiered, environmental stewardship program sponsored by the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network that grants certificates of achievement for implementing eco-friendly measures in church buildings and within congregations. The Green  Houses of Worship has three levels, each signifying a deeper level of commitment and effort. 

Editor’s Note: Saint Ann’s is an Episcopal parish in Old Lyme, CT that invites and welcomes all visitors. Our mission is to enrich the  community and introduce visitors to the parish. Saint Ann’s is located at 82 Shore Road (Rte. 156), two miles from I-95, Exit  70. Parking is adjacent to the church.

For information about the parish, contact Kathy Rowe at 860-434-1621, via email at office@saintannsoldlyme.org, or visit Saint Ann’s online at www.saintannsoldlyme.org.

Support the Lyme-Old Lyme HS Class of 2021’s Safe Grad Party! Eat From/Dine at Teddy’s Pizza Today

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pizzaSupport the Safe Grad Party for the Lyme-Old Lyme High School Class of 2021 by eating at or buying take-out, Thursday, Dec. 10, from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Teddy’s Old Lyme Pizza Palace, 264 Shore Rd. in Old Lyme.

The restaurant is donating part of the proceeds for the entire day, eat-in or take-out, to the Lyme-Old Lyme High School Class of 2021 Safe Grad Party fund.

To place your order or for more information, call 860-434-1517.

Old Lyme’s Kindness Committee Launches Holiday Decorating Contest for Home Exteriors

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Who will win the inaugural Holiday Decorating Contest launched by Old Lyme’s Kindness Committee? Photo by James Wheeler on Unsplash.

OLD LYME — In an innovative response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Old Lyme Kindness Committee is hosting a holiday decorating contest to spread cheer and joy in a socially-distanced manner throughout the town.

Old Lyme residents are invited to participate by decorating the outside of their homes, following the directions below.

A list of all participating homes will be maintained on the Town of Old Lyme website so that the public can drive by and enjoy the decorations. Naturally, residents are welcome to decorate for whichever holiday you celebrate.

It is hoped participants will have fun decorating their homes and all residents will look forward to driving around town to check out the displays.

Entering the Contest:

To participate in the contest, email selectmansoffice@oldlyme-ct.gov and provide your street address. Residents must register to enter the contest by Thursday, Dec. 10, and have their decorations in place by that date to be included.

Voting:

Voting will be held online from Dec. 16 through Dec. 30. The top three winners in terms of votes received will be announced shortly after voting ends.

Prizes:

The Hangry Goose, The Chocolate Shell, and The Bowerbird have each generously donated a $20 gift certificate as contest prizes. The first place winner will choose the gift certificate of their preference, the second place winner will follow suit, and then the third place winner will receive the remaining gift certificate.

With Increase in COVID Cases, Old Lyme Town Hall Now Open for Business by Appointment Only

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OLD LYME — 2:25pm UPDATE: Since we published this report, we have learned that Old Lyme Town Hall has moved to an appointment-only system — no walk-ins will be allowed.

At Monday night’s board of selectmen meeting, First Selectman Timothy Griswold informed his fellow board members that in light of the rapidly increasing number of COVID-19 cases in town, a greeter would be in place by the end of this week to meet people entering the town hall.

He said the intent is, “to engage a greater push to have people make appointments [before coming to town hall], make sure the person needed is here, reduce walk-ins and discourage stopping in.”

Griswold hopes to encourage as many people as possible to do their business with town hall by phone or email, or to make an appointment in advance to see the required person in town hall. Noting the number of people in town hall would be limited going forward, he mentioned the greeter would keep a log of people entering town hall with the person’s name, “time in and time out,” which would be helpful if contact tracing were required at any point.

Griswold said the town had seen ” an acceleration” of cases from 28 in early October to 44 by Nov. 3 and yesterday, to 89. [The latest number reported from yesterday is 95.] He noted that there is, “not a good synchronization,” between the numbers reported by the state and the information given directly to the town by Ledge Light Health Department.

Griswold said he had taken this matter up on the most recent Governor’s call and was still following up on the issue to try and achieve some resolution.

Grswold also reported that Old Lyme Emergency Director David Roberge and Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal were now working on protocols to establish “a process as to what to do,” in case, “a town employee is exposed or comes down with COVID.”

Selectman Cristopher Kerr mentioned he had been in both Essex and Deep River Town Halls that day and both had similar procedures in place for when you entered town hall. He noted they also both had separate doors for entering and exiting. Nosal queried whether that could be implemented in Old Lyme Town Hall too, saying, “I like simple stuff to separate people.” Kerr agreed, adding, “Yes, don’t complicate it”

Griswold stressed that there now is a high need, “to impress upon our fellow citizens,” that the number of people in town hall must be reduced. He concluded saying, “We don’t know how long this will last.”