Bethel Extends Mask Mandate To All Public Indoor Settings

BETHEL, CT — First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker has issued an order requiring everyone in the town to wear masks or cloth face coverings at all times while in indoor settings that are open to the public, regardless of vaccination status.

The mandate will go into effect on Monday.

Business owners have been advised to put notices at all entry points to inform the public of the requirement. On Wednesday, an order requiring masks be worn in all municipal buildings went into effect.

Specifically not included in the new order are private residences, work spaces not accessible to the general public, indoor restaurant dining when seated at the table, and outdoor dining.

The town has cited the spread of the more contagious delta variant of the coronavirus for the new order: "It is more easily contracted, especially by children, and can be spread asymptomatically to unvaccinated family members with the potential for very serious or fatal consequences," according to the notification on the town website.

Gov. Ned Lamont empowered municipal leaders to tighten mask restrictions through an executive order he signed last week.

Since then, neatly 40 towns have been added to the state's roster of coronavirus red zone municipalities, reporting 15 or more cases per 100,000 over a 2-week average. The statewide daily positivity was reported at 3.52 percent Thursday, a 0.37 percent increase over the previous day.