Masks required in Columbia Town Buildings Starting August 2, 2021.

Masks required in Columbia Town Buildings Starting August 2, 2021. Effective Monday, August 2, 2021 the Town of Columbia is re-instituting face mask requirements for all employees and visitors within Town buildings. Town buildings will remain open to the public at this time. 

Late this past week, the CDC designated Tolland County and Windham County as “substantial” in terms of COVID transmission. In areas with substantial transmission, the CDC recommends that everyone (including fully vaccinated individuals) wear a mask in public indoor settings to help prevent spread of the Delta variant and to protect others. This is important because new data show that fully vaccinated people are considerably more likely to become infected with the Delta variant than the original strain of COVID. This means that vaccinated individuals are also more likely to transmit the virus to others, including children who are not able to obtain a vaccine given their age.

It is important to note that while Governor’s Lamont’s Executive Order 12a stipulates that vaccinated individuals are not required to wear masks indoors, the Connecticut Commissioner of Public Health, Dr. Deidre Gifford, is strongly recommending that vaccinated persons wear masks in public indoors spaces within these counties. As such, the Town of Columbia will adhere to this guidance with respect to our municipal facilities. Please see Dr. Gifford's statements in the links below: 

https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Press-Room/Press-Releases---2021/Statement-from-Deidre-S-Gifford-MD-MPH-Acting-CT-DPH-Commissioner

https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Press-Room/Press-Releases---2021/Connecticut-DPH-Issues-Health-Alert-For-Fairfield-Tolland-And-Windham-Counties

The increase in COVID transmission in Tolland and Windham County is cause for concern. Eastern Highlands Health District formally communicated its full support for the recommendations made by the CDC and the Connecticut DPH regarding the masking of fully vaccinated persons for indoor public spaces. Below is the link to the CDC interim guidance for fully vaccinated persons:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html

If you have any questions, please contact the Town Administrator's office at 860-228-0110. Thank you