Stamford Lifts Indoor Mask Mandate, Effective Immediately: Mayor

STAMFORD, CT — With COVID-19 cases continuing to decline both nationally and locally, the city of Stamford is lifting its indoor mask mandate, effective immediately. The easing only applies to the city, and not the Board of Education, Mayor David Martin explained.

The announcement came during Martin's biweekly COVID-19 update on Tuesday night. He said the decision was made in accordance with Stamford's Acting Director of Health, Jody Bishop-Pullen.

Masks will still be required in the Stamford Government Center and city buildings until further notice, and Stamford businesses can set their own mask regulations and requirements. Martin encouraged businesses to keep the mandate in place if there have been recent cases within a business or retail establishment.

"This isn't to say everyone should immediately take their mask off," Martin said. "Although masks will no longer be required, Stamford residents are still advised to take reasonable safety precautions, practice social distancing, utilize regular hand washing and other Personal Protective Equipment, and of course, get the vaccine."

Martin warned that some experts believe COVID-19 numbers will begin to rise as winter approaches and more people remain indoors and gather for the holidays.

"If our numbers start to rise again, particularly given this concern, then the mask mandate will come right back again," Martin said. "I'm going to continue to wear my mask in most settings, even though this mandatory mask mandate is lifted now."