New Executive Order On Masks Gives Towns Options, Lamont Says

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont may not be mandating that you wear a mask, but your mayor might.

The governor signed an executive order Thursday that provides town and city leaders with the option of requiring masks in indoor public places within their local jurisdiction for all residents, regardless of vaccination status.

This means that towns will now have the option of moving beyond the minimum requirements in the statewide policy on masks implemented by Lamont in May.

The governor said he issued the order at the request of municipal leaders who wanted to return to the universal mask requirements that were implemented near the beginning of the pandemic. Lamont has argued against universal masking in the state, as many towns throughout Connecticut have achieved high rates of vaccination.

In the latest vaccination rate data released by the Department of Public Health on Thursday, 100 percent of the residents of Canaan have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and over 94 percent are fully vaccinated. The numbers are a sharp contrast with those of Mansfield, where less than 34 percent of the people are fully vaccinated, and less than 36 percent have gotten their first dose.

"Connecticut has one of the highest vaccination rates in the entire nation, and for that the residents of our state are to be applauded," Lamont said. "That being said, there are some pockets of the state that are lagging behind others, and some leaders in those areas have requested the option of requiring everyone to wear masks until they can get their vaccination rates higher."

Based on the current policy — pending any changes by your first selectman or town council — masks are not required outdoors, but unvaccinated people must wear masks while in indoor public places. Everyone must wear masks regardless of vaccination status while inside certain settings, such as health care facilities, facilities housing vulnerable populations, public and private transit, correctional facilities, schools, and childcare. Businesses, private property owners, and state and local government offices may require masks to be worn by everyone inside their own facilities.

What About The Schools?

The Lamont Administration has not yet provided school districts with any guidance or mandates regarding mask wearing or other COVID-19 mitigation protocols for the upcoming school year. In a statement released Thursday, the governor reminded residents that all are currently expected to wear masks while inside of schools, regardless of their vaccination status. During a news conference earlier in the week, the governor promised superintendents and parents at he would make a decision on the state's mask wearing policy for schools at least two weeks before the start of the fall semester.