Schools
Bristol's Congregate Housing Plans To Keep Masks For Now
Despite Governor Lamont's mandate, some schools still plan to still keep their masks on as a precaution.
By Brian M. Johnson, The Bristol Press
February 10, 2022
Amid Gov. Ned Lamont’s call to end mask mandates in schools, some facilities, such as Bristol’s congregate housing, plan to still keep their masks on as a precaution.
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Mitzy Rowe, executive director of the Bristol Housing Authority, which oversees congregate housing in Bristol, said that there are three congregate housing programs in the city - Dimitry J Kamanetsky Estates, Gaylord Towers and the John F. Kennedy Apartments.
“It’s for elderly, frail people who need extra care,” said Rowe. “The congregate programs provide for meals, housekeeping and activities.”
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Due to their age and medical conditions, Rowe said that congregate housing residents are more at risk for covid-19.
“At the beginning of the pandemic, we shut down (to visitors),” she said. “Then, we opened back up when things started to get better. However, the omicron variant spread like wildfire. Many tenants and some of our staff got sick. We were grateful that they didn’t get very sick, but we went back to requiring masks. Our staff also returned to working remotely for a time. We just came back to work this Monday, but we’re still seeing clients on an appointment-basis only.”
At Dimitry J Kamanetsky Estates, a three-story building with 44 units, anyone entering the building or entering a common area in the building must wear a mask under the current policy.
Rowe said that she and her staff have a plan to review policies. They participate in weekly calls with the State Department of Housing, who ask where the congregate housing facilities are in-terms of resident health and to gauge the needs for masks and other protocols.
“They also tell us about the availability of supplies,” added Rowe.
Policies are determined based on these conversations, and whether or not there have been recent covid-19 cases.
Overall, Rowe said that the Bristol Housing Authority has, for the most part, been able to keep residents safe by being careful. Out of an abundance of caution, she plans to keep the mask requirement in place for the time-being.
Brian M. Johnson can be reached at 860-973-1806 or bjohnson@bristolpress.com.
