Mayor Simmons To Provide Update On Stamford's Mask Mandate

STAMFORD, CT — Mayor Caroline Simmons is scheduled to give an update on Stamford's mask mandate in a news conference Friday afternoon from the Stamford Government Center.

Simmons will be joined by Director of Public Safety Ted Jankowski; Acting Director of Health Jody Bishop-Pullan; Infectious Disease Specialist from Stamford Hospital Dr. Asha Shah; and the city's medical advisor Dr. Henry Yoon.

Last week, in a statement through her assistant Lauren Meyer, Simmons told Patch that her administration was monitoring the changing COVID-19 data closely, and that any decision on the city's mask mandate would be based off current data and what's in the interest of the public health and safety of Stamford residents.

A mask mandate has been instituted in Stamford since Dec. 21, 2021 when COVID-19 cases skyrocketed due to the highly contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus. Over the past few weeks, cases have decreased both locally and around the country.

According to Stamford's public COVID-19 dashboard, the city is experiencing 19.8 cases per 100,000 residents on a seven-day average. A week ago on Feb. 2, that number was 45.

Any decision Simmons makes on masking would not affect masking in schools.

Gov. Ned Lamont announced earlier this week that masking would be left up to local school districts after Feb. 28. Lamont's emergency powers expire on Feb. 15, and he urged legislators to extend the mandate until the end of the month.

Justin Martin, a spokesperson for the Stamford Public Schools District, said the Board of Education is expected to meet next week to discuss masking policy.