The Fourth of July fireworks have been canceled in Westport for the summer of 2021 as of May 7. Due to CDC guidelines, the PAL board along with other Fairfield County towns, such as Danbury and Ridgefield, decided to postpone the fireworks until next year.
“It is safest to avoid crowded places and gatherings where it may be difficult to stay at least six feet away from others who are not from your household,” the CDC guidelines dictate.
With the history of large crowds attending the celebration in previous years, local officials and public health experts worry that there will be no control over testing, social distancing and contact tracing. Alternative locations to host the fireworks were also considered, but ultimately, the concerns regarding safety, space and security overruled the decision to host the fireworks.
The COVID-19 positivity rate in Connecticut has decreased to 3.55%, but the number of deaths due to coronavirus has surpassed 7000, as reported on Jan. 28. It is projected that Connecticut will have an increase in hospitalizations and deaths as March approaches, and many hold out hope that vaccinations will become more readily available.
“I hope life begins to return to normal as more people get vaccinated,” Romy Nusbaum ’22 said. “I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now more than ever.”
According to The United States Department of Health and Human Services report on Jan. 29, the statewide adult inpatient occupancy is at 81.2%, and the statewide adult ICU occupancy is at 62.3%. These numbers have increased from what they were in past reports, and there are currently 985 people with the virus in Connecticut hospitals.