Latest Guidance: Mask and Face Covering Requirements

Posted on: March 3, 2022 - 9:14am
covid-19

Effective, March 1st, 2022, the East Hartford Town facilities indoor mask mandate will be lifted. This change is based on the significant reduction in COVID-19 community transmission based on the number of cases and laboratory test positive rates, as well as vaccination coverage among East Hartford residents. During the recent wave due to the Omicron variant, East Hartford’s average daily case rate increased to 324 per 100,000 Town population by the last week of December, but has rapidly declined to approximately 8 per 100,000. The latest 7-day average COVID-19 lab positive rate has declined to 5.6%. Another factor in our decision to lift the mask mandate is our progress in vaccination coverage among residents; 83.6% of residents five years and older receiving their first dose, including approximately 80% of adolescents 12 to 17 years of age. 

All individuals in Connecticut, regardless of vaccination status, are still required to wear face masks in the following locations:

1. Healthcare settings: In any areas accessible by patients or clients* inside a licensed healthcare facility, or other healthcare setting, including, but not limited to:

  • Hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes (in compliance with, and as required by, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), assisted living services agencies and other institutions as defined in Conn. Gen. Statutes Section 19a-490;
  • Outpatient healthcare settings, including doctors' offices, urgent care centers, dental offices, physical/occupational therapy offices, chiropractic offices, medical spas and blood-collection facilities;
  • Clinical laboratories as defined in Conn. Gen. Statutes Section 19a-30; and
  • Congregate living settings, including residential care homes and group homes, when healthcare or supportive services are being provided.

2. Shelters: Inside homeless shelters or other shelters, such as temporary shelter operations.

3. While on public transit.

Private businesses have the option of requiring masks to be worn inside of their establishments (this includes places such as private retail stores, government office buildings, correctional facilities, etc.). Town facilities will no longer require vaccinated or unvaccinated visitors to wear masks, although mask wearing by those unvaccinated, and persons of high-risk of severe disease due to underlying conditions in indoor settings is still encouraged. Masks will be made available to all guests who request one. 

For questions regarding this guidance, please contact the East Hartford Health Department at 860-291-7324.