cheshirecitizen.com
Volume 13, Number 2
Thursday, January 13, 2022
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Businesses, organizations adapt to latest surge By Jessica Simms Special to the Record-Journal
With the omicron variant of COVID19 surging through the country, area businesses and organizations are having to adapt once again to provide services while also keeping employees safe.
“Even during the peak of the pandemic ... we never really shut down our facility, we’ve always been up and running,” said Doug Johnson, president of Marion Manufacturing in Cheshire. “We haven’t had any real issue up until recently. The omicron has been the biggest challenge for us so far, as far as employees making it in.”
Businesses and organizations of all types have had to modify operations due to employees not being able to come into work because of exposure to COVID-19. “If someone in their organization tests positive or is ill, that can slow down the progress of the on-site work,” said Ray Andrewsen, execu-
Events to mark MLK Jr. Day
“We are so grateful that St. Peter’s Church is able to partner with CHRO in their efforts to recognize and raise up the voices of children and young people from around the state, who are calling out racial healing and See MLK, A3
Allison Ebner, director of member relations and partnerships for the Employers Association of the Northeast, said that some businesses were See Surge, A4
Wallingford Health Department staff, bottom, distribute athome COVID19 rapid test kits and N-95 masks to town residents at the Toyota Oakdale Theatre Tuesday, Jan. 4. Wallingford police assist in checking identification during the drive-thru distribution.
By Joy VanderLek The Cheshire Citizen
Cheshire will be among towns across the nation to host observances in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, Jan. 17. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and the state’s Commission on Human Martin Rights and Luther OpportuniKing, Jr. ties partnered together again this year to create an inclusive, anti-racism Children’s March and Bell Ringing Ceremony for Unity to mark the day.
tive director of the Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce. “That’s just a temporary thing we’re going through right now.”
Dave Zajac, Record-Journal
COVID test trailers open, test kits distributed By Mary Ellen Godin Record-Journal staff
Dr. James Cardon, Hartford HealthCare’s chief clinical integration officer, told reporters Friday, Jan. 7, that the MERIDEN — Hartford HealthCare has system had opened a trailer at St. Vinopened COVID-19 testing trailers at cent’s Hospital in Bridgeport and locations in Bridgeport, Torrington, were looking to open similar trailers Newington and New Britain. On Friat Windham Hospital, Norwich Hosday, the network announced a plan to pital and MidState Medical Center. put a trailer at MidState Medical Cen“Testing has become essential and ter in Meriden and two other sites limited,” Cardon said. Last week, he were on the schedule to open this projected that “by next week this will week.
bring us seven total sites. We’re doing 4,000 a week. This will increase our capacity another 1,000 tests a day.” Testing is for symptomatic and nonsymptomatic patients, by appointment only. The centers will be open seven days a week and staffed by three health care workers who will supervise self-testing. All tests are nasal swab PCR tests. See COVID, A2