Mayor Leclerc's COVID-19 Update #3

As the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) continues to change our daily lives, I am committed to keeping you informed.  I have taken to daily updates to the website and constant release of information to Facebook.  As your Mayor I am no stranger to managing and working our way through unprecedented weather events but COVID-19 has required government to move nimbly in a very structured organization. 

Town government is a forward facing organization.  We don’t have the luxury of shutting down town hall because we function under mandatory state statutes.  While many exemptions are being addressed by the Governor through his executive orders other function like those of the town clerk, tax collector, accessor, building & inspections, health department, social services, public works and fire and police must continue to operate.  We have taken the necessary steps to safeguard our employees and the public by closing town hall and finding alternate ways to meet the needs of our constituents providing services via email, web, phone and mail.

While we continue to address the arising changes to our staffing levels we remain understanding of the increased demands this disease has placed on families.  Businesses are shuttered, employees have lost their jobs, people are quarantined, our teachers and children are adapting to new ways of learning and others have lost loved ones. 

This is a time for us to rise together.  East Hartford we have always done better together, so let’s do this.  As of this writing East Hartford has 17 of our neighbors testing positive for COVID-19 and an additional 578 Connecticut residents have tested positive, bringing the statewide total to 2,571. To date, more than 14,600 tests have been conducted in Connecticut among both state and private laboratories. Approximately 517 people have been hospitalized. There have been another two fatalities due to complications of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total number of fatalities to 36.

We have the ability to keep that number from rising and flatten the curve.  Please, please, follow social distancing.  Parents keep your kids home and please do not use playground equipment, tennis courts or basketball courts. Every potential action provides the possibility to negatively impact yourself, your family and others.   

Please become informed and source information from the town, state and CDC. For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, including an FAQ and other guidance and resources, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus.

Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can also call 2-1-1 for assistance. The hotline is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance and TDD/TTY access. It intended to be used by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms but may have general questions related to COVID-19. Anyone experiencing symptoms is strongly urged to contact their medical provider.

We can do this together.