Mask Mandate Lifted For Town Buildings In Stratford

STRATFORD, CT — The face mask requirement for all staff and visitors to all town buildings and facilities for fully vaccinated people is being lifted effective Tuesday, Feb. 15, Mayor Laura R. Hoydick announced.

Those who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated are “strongly encouraged to continue wearing masks in public spaces,” according to Hoydick. Masks may be required for vaccination clinics conducted by the town.

Hoydick put the policy in place in November during a surge in the regional COVID-19 positivity rate and what she said was an added precaution against transmission. Hoydick made the decision to lift the requirement Monday in consultation with the Stratford Health Department, and in consideration of Gov. Ned Lamont announcing that the state would lift its mandate for masking in state buildings and the requirement that students, teachers, staff wear masks in schools effective at the end of the month, according to a news release.

“With Governor Lamont’s decision to lift masking mandates, the sharp decline of COVID positivity throughout the region and Stratford, and in consultation with our Health Department, we have decided that it is appropriate to lift our requirement for masks regardless of vaccination status in all Town facilities,” Hoydick said.

Hoydick noted that individual businesses remain, as they have throughout the pandemic, able to set their own individual policies about mask use in their place of business for employees and patrons.

As the decision to mask in schools will be delegated to local school districts, the Stratford Board of Education will be responsible for deciding on mask policy for teachers, staff, and students from March 1 forward, according to Hoydick.