Emergency Order: Face Masks Now Mandatory In Mansfield

Press release from the Town of Mansfield:

August 12, 2021

Mansfield Issues Mask Mandate Effective 12:01 AM August 14

MANSFIELD, CT – The Town of Mansfield is issuing an Emergency Order that masks or cloth face coverings must be worn by all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, in all indoor public spaces, meeting spaces, private indoor businesses and all places of employment except when eating and drinking. This Emergency Order is effective Saturday morning, August 14, at 12:01 AM. The full Emergency Order can be viewed on the Town’s website. (https://www.mansfieldct.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11753/FINAL-Emergency-Order-re-Face-Coverings-8-12-21)

The Mansfield Town Council authorized the Town Manager to issue the Emergency Order out of concern for the region and state’s increasing cases of COVID-19, particularly the highly infectious DELTA variant. Governor Ned Lamont granted municipalities the authority to take necessary steps to halt the spread of COVID-19 through an Executive Order 13A issued on August 5.

“The Town of Mansfield is taking this proactive step to protect our residents, visitors and business owners,” says Town Manager Ryan Aylesworth. “Wearing a mask in public spaces can help prevent the spread of the virus, and it is a prudent step to take at this time.”

The Emergency Order states that “it is in the best interests of the Town of Mansfield and the residents of and visitors to the Town of Mansfield to promote public health and to ensure civil preparedness, to minimize the adverse impact and substantial threat to public health created by the current public health emergency and civil preparedness emergency posed by the threat of COVID-19.”

Over the next few weeks, the University of Connecticut will see increased on-campus activity with many students returning already in advance of the student move-in the last weekend of August. “We know that students, families and faculty members will be coming back to Town in just a couple of weeks, and there will be many visitors here enjoying our community and its great resources throughout the fall semester,” says Town Manager Aylesworth. “The safety of our residents, those who work in town and those who operate businesses in Mansfield remains our top priority. We now have an increased number of vaccinated individuals so we’re stronger against the virus. However, ongoing adherence to many of the basic public health-recommended protocols that were adopted this past year is critical. We are still concerned that our youngest and most vulnerable residents—including children under 12—don’t have access to a vaccine, and we must protect them as best we can.”

The Town will communicate the Emergency Order through its website, email to registered Town residents and businesses, and social media, in coordination with the Mansfield Downtown Partnership.

“We ask our visitors and residents to please be patient as the Governor’s office and CT Department of Health continue to refine state-level guidance to all sectors. It is our sincere belief that enforcing mask-wearing within our community will proactively help to thwart the spread of COVID in Mansfield,” adds Mr. Aylesworth. “It’s one simple thing we can do that will have a major impact while efforts continue to as many people vaccinated as possible.”

This press release was produced by the Town of Mansfield. The views expressed here are the author’s own.