Mask Requirement Back At West Hartford Municipal Buildings

WEST HARTFORD, CT — An indoor mask requirement for all municipal buildings in West Hartford beginning Monday.

Employees and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear a mask upon entering municipal buildings and in public areas within the building including hallways, restrooms and meeting rooms, officials said.

The mask will also apply to those participating in and attending public meetings.

Town staff members will be offering masks to visitors who arrive without one. People who are unable to wear a mask "due to a health condition" will be exempt from the requirement.

“We are taking this action due to the high rate of community transmission,” West Hartford Town Manager Matt Hart said. "The Town will continue to monitor conditions and will make policy changes accordingly."

Mayor Shari Cantor added, "We greatly appreciate the cooperation of all visitors and employees as we work together to reduce the spread and incidence of Covid-19. "It is important for us to protect our workforce and our visitors so that we can continue to serve our community."

Aimee Krauss, Executive Director of the West Hartford Health-Bloomfield District, said that getting vaccinated remains "the best defense" against the coronavirus, including the Delta and Omicron variants.

"Vaccinated persons are less likely to experience severe effects of the virus nor require hospitalization if they contract COVID-19," Krauss said. "Vaccines are widely available at our Health District, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, urgent care centers, area hospitals, and many other locations."