COVID-19 TESTING
Due to the Memorial Day holiday on Monday May 30th all town hall offices will be closed so we will only be offering PCR testing on Wednesday June 1st & Friday June 3rd next week with our weekly community PCR COVID-19 testing partnership with Progressive Diagnostics for residents who are traveling or otherwise wish to be tested. The Progressive Diagnostics PCR COVID-19 testing (for New Canaan residents only) will be on Wednesday, June 1st & Friday, June 3rd from 7:00 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Irwin House in Irwin Park (848 Weed Street).
Pre-registration is required and you must bring your insurance card, and a photo ID to your test appointment. You must complete a separate registration for each individual to be tested. Your insurance will be billed a $100 lab fee by Progressive Diagnostics. No walk-ins are permitted. Turnaround time for PCR test results is the same day as testing with a maximum of up to 24 hours and will be received via email in the lab portal, for which you will receive instructions on how to access at your test appointment.
To register for PCR COVID-19 testing for next Wednesday, June 1st or Friday, June 3rd click on the following SignUpGenius link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/NCHDTESTINGWEDJUNE1STFRIJUNE3RD
There continues to be free rapid COVID-19 antigen testing available during regular business hours with our Health Department located at Vine Cottage (77 Main Street) for symptomatic New Canaan residents by appointment. Please note these are not individual at home test kits; they are commercial rapid test kits that are required to be reported to CT DPH. Please call the Health Department during regular business hours 7:30AM-3:30PM Monday through Thursday, new Friday hours are 7:30AM-12:30PM to schedule a FREE rapid test at 203-594-3037.
VACCINATION UPDATE
NEW: Last Friday the CT state DPH approved the FDA & CDC recommendation for a booster (3rd dose) for the 5-11 age group. It must be at least 5 months since the second dose to be eligible for the 5-11 year olds to receive a booster. The Health Department continues to offer COVID 19 vaccination clinics and has scheduled an all-ages 5+ vaccination clinic for Thursday, June 2nd at Irwin House in Irwin Park (848 Weed Street) from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. When registering, please indicate in the comments portion of SignUpGenius your vaccination type(Moderna, or Pfizer) and please bring the required one page form completed along with your white vaccination cards to your booster appointment. The one page booster form is attached to the SignUpGenius but we will also have them onsite if needed. As a reminder, Pfizer is the only FDA EUA approved vaccine for those aged 5-17 years old. Boosters (3rd dose) are available to anyone aged 5 and over and it has been at least 5 months since second dose for those aged 5-17 and over. Those aged 5-15 are required to have a parent present in addition to the required forms.
First and second doses for all ages 5+ are also still available for those in need of either. The registration link for the Thursday, June 2nd (for ages 5+) vaccination clinic at Irwin Park (848 Weed St) is: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/NCHDCOVIDVAXJUNE2ND
The FDA and CDC approved a second booster (4th dose) for anyone aged 50 and older provided it has been at least 4 months since your first booster (3rd dose). The immunocompromised of all ages 12+ are also eligible for additional boosters. It is recommended that you speak with your primary care provider if you have any concerns or questions about whether an additional dose is appropriate for you or not. Please use the registration link above for the next Thursday June 2nd vaccination clinic.
The Health Department plans to continue to hold COVID 19 vaccinations clinics weekly. The Health Department also continues to provide home bound vaccinations for those who need a booster dose at home due to medical, physical or other restrictions. Please call the Health Department at 203-594-3020 to schedule a home bound vaccination with Shannon Vallerie.
TEST TO TREAT NATIONWIDE INITIATIVE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Connecticut currently has Test to Treat sites, located at select pharmacies, urgent care centers, and federally qualified health centers. “In order for COVID-19 treatments to work, they must be started early, within five days of when your symptoms start,” said DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD.
There are currently 2 different anti-viral medications available. The anti-viral medication Molnupiravir can be prescribed to those 18 and older, while Paxlovid is EUA approved for adults and children ages 12 & older weighing at least 88lbs. The availability of each will depend on location in the state and what the pharmacy has in the area.
As with any new medication, please be sure to tell the healthcare provider all the medications you are currently on since there are interactions with some medications and the anti-viral pills.
The 3 closest locations for the test to treat centers within a 10 mile radius of New Canaan are:
1) PhysicianOne Urgcare/Norwalk (Also offers 24/7 telemedicine consultations)
346 Main Ave, Norwalk, CT 06851
Telemedicine Virtual Visits | PhysicianOne Urgent Care
2) CVS Store #02210
1239 East Putnam Ave., Riverside, CT 06878
Book an appointment at CVS Store #02210
3) PhysicianOne Urgcare/Ridgefield
10 South Street Suite 101, Ridgefield, CT 06877
Phone # 860-650-3848
For additional locations in CT: A web-based site locator (click on locator hyperlink) is now available to make it easier to find Test to Treat locations. Those who may have difficulty accessing the internet or need additional support locating a Test to Treat site can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to get help in English, Spanish, and more than 150 other languages – 8am to midnight ET, seven days a week. The Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) is also available to specifically help people with disabilities access services. To get help, call 1-888-677-1199, Monday-Friday from 9am to 8pm ET or email DIAL@usaginganddisability.org.”
I would like to wish everyone a safe Memorial Day weekend. Thank you to our veterans, and current servicemen & servicewomen for their dedicated service as we remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. We hope to see everyone on Monday to commemorate them at our annual town Memorial Day Parade down Main Street.
FREE AT-HOME COVID-19 TESTS
Every home in the US is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. You can order one set of 4 free tests to be delivered to your home by clicking on the link below. Orders will start to be shipped via the USPS in late January. Limit of one order per household.
Deliver Covid Tests to My Home
Original source can be found here.
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