Dear Suffield Community & Town Employees,
We are sorry to reach out on a Saturday morning to inform you that the NCDHD confirmed that there are a number of staff and residents at Suffield House, Suffield’s sole skilled nursing facility, that have tested positive for COVID-19 with other tests pending. There are also cases confirmed at Suffield by the River, which provides assisted living, independent and memory care. Both facilities are working closely with NCDHD and the CT Department of Public Health to address and limit the situation. Families of residents have been contacted by the facilities and lines of communication are being kept open between them and the Town’s Emergency Management Director as the situation evolves.
At this time, we ask for the community’s help. Emergency Management is in need of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to keep residents, staff and first responders safe.
We are asking the public for donations of new and unused:
- N95 respirator face masks
- Disposable face masks
- Reusable or disposable isolation gowns
- Face-shields and goggles
- Disinfection wipes and liquids
- General-purpose hand cleaners
- Rain ponchos with sleeves
Please drop off donations to the Suffield Fire Department Station One located at 73 Mountain Road at the public door steps on the West side of the building.
We understand at this time that residents are eager to help and share information with their neighbors. However, we urge those well-meaning individuals to honor the following necessary protocols:
- Allow Emergency Management to collect needed items and distribute as warranted.
- Entrust the State and Town to communicate important, verified information to the public.
- Help by sharing these official notifications, emails and posts with neighbors and friends.
- Continue to self-isolate and encourage others to do so as well.
Growing numbers of confirmed Suffield cases is not unexpected news, but heartbreaking just the same. We anticipate these numbers to continue to increase over the coming days. Though the Town will not report on each confirmed case going forward, we will continue to keep each of them in our prayers. We ask our community to do the same.
Continue to take care of each other and be well.
Melissa M. Mack
First Selectwoman
John Spencer
Emergency Management Director