New Mask Guidance Issued For Westport Town Hall, Library Visitors

WESTPORT, CT — Staff and visitors to all town buildings, including Town Hall and the Westport Library, are required to wear a mask, regardless of their coronavirus vaccination status, as of Thursday.

In a statement, First Selectman Jim Marpe said the updated safety measures were implemented in light of new mask-wearing guidance for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals issued by the Centers for Disease Control and the state Department of Public Health.

New mask requirements come as the highly contagious delta variant of the virus continues to sweep across the nation. The variant, which originated in India, now accounts for more than 93 percent of all new cases in the United States, according to data released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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"There remain a number of factors about the transmission of the delta variant that are uncertain," Marpe said in a statement. "Westporters are urged to remain vigilant and informed as the delta variant continues to spread and impact even those who are fully vaccinated."

Walk-ins will continue to be allowed at Town Hall, however visitors must follow contact tracing, mask requirements, temperature checks and other safety protocols upon entering the building.

For in-person meetings, officials recommend using the town's online services or other options as an alternative. Meetings can also be held outside Town Hall, at the picnic table in the rear of the building, and in the lobby of the building.

Town Hall staff will be required to check their temperature upon entering work for the day. Town and library employees will also receive weekly coronavirus testing again for their safety and the safety of visitors, Marpe said.

First responders will resume wearing masks when interacting with the public indoors, regardless of their vaccination status.

"The public should expect that many businesses and restaurants will return to requiring masks regardless of vaccination status," Marpe said, "although that decision is currently at the discretion of the establishments."

According to library spokesperson Nancy Klein, the mask mandate was reinstated as part of town-issued guidance for all local facilities, including the library.

"The library is [also] restricting eating to the café and deck," Klein said in an email. "No other operations are affected."