New Town Hall Mask Policy To Go In Effect Aug. 9

GREENWICH, CT — In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 and stomp out the current uptick in positive cases, Greenwich will require all town employees and visitors at Town Hall and other town facilities, regardless of vaccination status, to wear masks beginning on Monday, Aug. 9.

First Selectman Fred Camillo sent a letter to town employees alerting them of the change in policy on Wednesday.

"This is a temporary measure — a minor adjustment of our operations to help us get through this recent uptick in cases. This does not signal any change in our daily operations — we are open for business," Camillo said in his letter.

The contagious delta variant has been the cause of an uptick in cases both locally and nationally. This week, Fairfield County was labeled as a "substantial" area of coronavirus transmission, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC recommends that fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors in public if they live in an area with "substantial" or "high" transmission levels. Those who aren't fully vaccinated are urged to wear masks in those settings, regardless of transmission level.

Camillo urged town employees to get vaccinated if they haven't done so.

"If you are not vaccinated, I cannot stress strongly enough that you consider doing so to protect not only yourself, but your family and your co-workers," he said. "Yes, there are breakthrough cases of the COVID variant. Those patients experience very mild symptoms of the illness."

Camillo said he will deliver the same message to residents soon.

As of Wednesday, Greenwich had amassed 5,277 total COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began last year. From July 27 to Aug. 3, Greenwich recorded 52 new cases, of which about half were among unvaccinated people, according to Greenwich Health Director Caroline Baisley.

At Greenwich Hospital, there were six COVID-19-positive patients being treated as of Wednesday, with zero in the Intensive Care Unit.

Vaccine information

Locations of vaccine providers and how to contact them can be found here.For homebound residents, the Family Health Division of the Health Department can provide assistance. Residents should contact their physician to request that a doctor's order for a vaccine shot is forwarded to the Health Department. Doctors can contact the Family Health Division by calling 203-622-6495.

Testing information

• Greenwich Hospital and the Yale New Haven Health system can be found here.
• Community Health Center can be found here.
• Family Centers at Wilbur Peck Court can be found here.