Vaccinated Can Ditch Masks At East Greenwich Government Meetings

EAST GREENWICH, RI — Mask-wearing during in-person meetings at all East Greenwich public buildings will be optional for vaccinated people, beginning Monday, town officials said.

Those wishing to take their masks off will have to provide proof of vaccination. For those who remain unvaccinated, masks must continue to be worn at all times while in any town buildings or during in-person meetings.

The new town policy comes the same day that Gov. Dan McKee said he's lifting the statewide indoor mask mandate Friday, which required masks for all unvaccinated people. East Greenwich had required masks regardless of vaccination status, but will now relax rules to allow vaccinated people to unmask at town meetings.

The state's school mask mandate is expected to end March 4, McKee said, though local school districts will be allowed to make their own decisions.

East Greenwich will also consider making masks optional, and those discussions are expected to begin at Tuesday's school committee meeting.