MANCHESTER, CT- Acting General Manager Steve Stephanou and Mayor Jay Moran, in response to Governor Lamont’s Executive Order Executive Order No. 13A (which gives municipalities the ability to legally require indoor mask wearing in their cities and town’s public places), have announced that while the Town of Manchester strongly recommends that all residents, visitors, and businesses follow CDC guidance to wear masks indoors, the Town will not be implementing a legal mandate requiring masks in private establishments at this time. All visitors entering municipal buildings including Town Hall and Libraries are required to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status.

“As a result of the uptick in COVID-19 cases and rise in the Delta variant, anyone entering a Town building will be required to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status,” said Acting Manager Stephanou. “However, without a more regional and state-wide policy regarding masking mandates, we do not believe legally requiring the mask mandate in private establishments is appropriate at this point in time.”

“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, I have been so proud of how the Manchester community has responded by doing what’s right,” said Mayor Moran. “Given the increasing positivity rate in Connecticut, we are strongly encouraging the community to wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status. While the Town won’t legally require it, we are asking the Manchester community to step up and do their part to help stop the spread and defeat this virus.”

The Town of Manchester, in addition to strongly recommending indoor masking, is emphasizing the importance of vaccinations in ending the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The vaccines developed over the past year are safe and effective. They are the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the development of serious symptoms,” said Health Director Jeffrey Catlett, MPH, R.S. “In order for Manchester to put this pandemic in the rear-view mirror, we need everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated. At this point, we do not believe a legal mask mandate would be effective unless implemented state-wide, however, we will continue to monitor public health data and prepare to adjust local guidance as necessary to protect the health and safety of the Manchester community.”

For information on COVID-19 vaccinations, please contact the Manchester Health Department directly at 860.647.3173 or email [email protected]