Coronavirus, COVID-19

The Town of Durham is providing this page which contains information on the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)—a new respiratory virus first identified in Wuhan, China that is known to cause mild to severe respiratory illness.

This page will have communications from the Town of Durham as well as links to important resources. For more information, visit ct.gov/coronavirus

Questions on COVID-19 Call 211

Durham Health Department:

860-349-8253 or 860-349-3153

Chris Hansen, Health Director
Bill Milardo, Assistant Health Director and Sanitarian
Morgan Perry, Epidemiologist and Social Service Coordinator
Jennifer Perry, Administrative Coordinator

___________________________________________________________________________

Local Updates: Weekly Report

See here for Weekly Reports. Updates will be posted on Fridays for the foreseeable future

COVID-19 Testing

The portal to order more COVID-19 at-home tests has reopened: https://www.covid.gov/tests or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).

Don’t throw out those expired at-home tests just yet. Check if the shelf life has been extended here: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list

If you have health insurance through an employer, the Marketplace, Medicare, or Medicaid, your insurance will pay for 8 at-⁠home tests each month for each person on your plan: https://www.cms.gov/how-to-get-your-at-home-OTC-COVID-19-test-for-free

Find a testing site: https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites/index.html

What to do if you test positive for or were exposed to COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html?CDC_AA_refVal=http%3A%2%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fyour-health%2Fquarantine-isolation.html

Please note that at this time the Durham Health Department does not have any more at-home COVID-19 tests.

Visit www.ct.gov/coronavirus and enter your zip code in the top right to find a
testing site
●CVS – https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing/?icid=covid_testing_dt_banner
● Walgreens – https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/covid19/testing to make an appointment online or call 800–925–4733
● Free Drive-Up Testing in Middletown: Cross Street AME Zion Church, 440 West Street,
Middletown: Tuesdays 3PM – 6PM and Saturdays 1PM – 4PM (Bring Insurance card, no
appointment necessary) (Saliva-based test, do not eat or drink anything 30 minutes prior to your test) (The schedule is posted here: https://wrencovidtesting.com/community.html)
● Free Drive-Up Testing in Meriden: 13 Orange Street, Meriden: Thursdays 3PM – 6PM and Saturdays 9AM – 12PM (Bring Insurance card, no appointment necessary) (Saliva-based test, do not eat or drink anything 30 minutes prior to your test) (The schedule is posted here: https://wrencovidtesting.com/community.html)

COVID-19 Tests for Folks Who are Blind or Have Low Vision:

These tests will be available for order until supplies run out. The announcement about the program being suspended on September 2nd does not apply to these tests. To order, visit https://special.usps.com/testkits/accessible or call 1-800-232-0233.

COVID-19 Vaccine

The CDC recommends everyone ages 6 months and older get vaccinated against COVID-19 and everyone 5 years and older get a COVID-19 booster vaccine once eligible.

Find out when you can get a booster using the CDC’s Booster Tool: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html#when-you-can-get-booster

Find a COVID-19 vaccine near you:
● Enter your zip code here: https://www.vaccines.gov/ or text your zipcode to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233
● CVS: https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine
● Walgreens: https://www.walgreens.com/topic/findcare/coronavirus.jsp or call 1-800-925-4733
● Stop and Shop: https://stopandshopsched.rxtouch.com/rbssched/program/covid19/Patient/Advisory
● Rite Aid: https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/scheduler
● Homebound: May contact the Human Services office: 860-349-3153 or fill out the form here: https://dphsubmissions.ct.gov/homebound

Long Term Recovery Efforts in Durham

Durham has a Long-Term Recovery Team operating with the First Selectman and the Director of Emergency Management to assist people and businesses who have been affected by COVID-19 and local emergencies. The role of the team is to assist the community in accessing resources that may help toward recovery.
The town government and schools have had to adopt new methods of conducting business, delivering services, and communicating information since the advent of COVID-19.

Please contact longtermrecovery@townofdurhamct.org or by phone at 860 740-4089 if you have specific needs due to COVID-19 or the recent storm that you would like help in addressing or to tell us what we have been doing during COVID-19 (Zoom meetings, for example) that you would like to see continued when we aren’t under the threat of a pandemic.

A Message from the First Selectman:

Dear Residents,
The Town of Durham is taking an active role in overseeing the local response to COVID-19. This includes participating in regular meetings with Governor Lamont, public health officials, public safety officials, RSD13 officials, staff and other municipalities. We are receiving guidance from the State of Connecticut and will communicate that guidance through our communication network including: the municipal website, social media and email notifications. Check this page frequently for COVID-19 information which is changing almost daily.

The Town of Durham has set policy to support recommendations to wear a mask and practice social distancing. Please note the following new measures regarding local government functions to protect town employees and members of the public. We are making every attempt to keep local government operational during this crisis.

COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
Business Re-Opening Rules
COVID-19 Property Tax Relief Program
Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
Government Operations
COVID- 19 Testing and Vaccine Transportation
Elderly Nutrition Program Meals
Mental Health and Wellness Resources

Mortgage Assistance: MyHomeCT

A program to assist with mortgage payments and foreclosure prevention for those financially impacted by COVID-19. For more information or to apply visit: https://www.chfa.org/myhomect/ or contact the Capital for Change out of Wallingford: (203) 789-8690

Scam Alerts

Be on high alert for scams, fraud and malware infected emails perpetrated by people who want to capitalize on the COVID-19 health emergency, including those impersonating utility companies such as Eversource. These fake emails and messages are known as "phishing scams" and may steal your personal information if you click on links contained in them. To learn more about phishing scams, see here

Regional School District 13

Decisions about school closures fall within the purview of the Superintendent of Schools. For Superintendent latest communication see: rsd13ct.org