WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio)—Due to a town mandate, West Hartford residents are required once again to wear a face mask inside public places until further notice.
Town Manager Matthew Hart implemented a municipal universal indoor mask mandate that takes effect at noon on Friday, August 20.
The mandate requires everyone in West Hartford to wear a mask in any public indoor space, regardless of a person's vaccination status.
Exemptions will be given to people who are unable to wear a mask for medical reasons, so long as the person provides written documentation from a certified professional that the person is qualified for the exemption, the executive order states.
Masks are also not required for anyone under the age of two and for anyone who is eating or drinking in a public space.
"We have reached out to our community over the past few weeks to alert them of the possibility of a local indoor mask mandate," Hart said. "We will continue to take proactive steps to make sure that our businesses, restaurants, places of worship, schools, grocery stores and long-term care facilities are aware of this new requirement."
Though the requirement does not apply to residential homes, town officials strongly advise residents to still mask-up whenever they're indoors with people who are not part of their household.
"We want to keep our communities safe while keeping schools, towns and businesses open," Mayor Shari Cantor said.