The Ridgefield Board of Selectmen has voted to declare a local state of emergency due to severe COVID conditions.  First Selectman Rudy Marconi asked that the matter be added to the agenda of their meeting Wednesday.  It passed unanimously among the three Selectmen in attendance.  The declaration provides liability coverage to Community Emergency Response Team volunteers.  Marconi noted that the town purchased 17,000 rapid test kits from Florida for $340,000, which will likely be paid out of the town's share of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.  CERT will distribute kits to community members in the coming weeks.