Indoor Mask Mandate Goes Into Effect Friday In South Windsor

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — In view of a recent upsurge in coronavirus cases, South Windsor Town Manager Michael Maniscalco has ordered "a town-wide mask mandate for all indoor spaces frequented by the public," effective Friday.

The only exceptions to the mandate are "when people are seated and eating or drinking in an establishment or have a valid written medical exemption from a physician," according to the mandate released Thursday.

The complete text from Maniscalco reads:

Over the last three weeks, the Town of South Windsor has seen a progressive increase in COVID-19 cases. In accordance with Executive Order 13A, the Town Manager as the Chief Executive Officer of the Town has the authority to issue a mask mandate for the community. Through coordination with the Towns of Manchester and East Windsor, effective 8/20/21 I am ordering a Town wide mask mandate for all indoor spaces that are frequented by the public. The only exemptions to this mandate are when people are seated and eating or drinking in an establishment or have a valid
written medical exemption from a physician. All private businesses within the Town of South Windsor are required to have all employees and patrons wear a mask while in their facility and following the CDC mask wearing guidelines.

I have come to this conclusion by keeping in mind two goals for our community. By keeping COVID-19 numbers low enough we can:

1. Keep kids in school, in person;
2. Avoid business shut downs and capacity mandates.

Through keeping these two goals in mind, we are protecting the health, safety and welfare of our residents while ensuring the vitality and strength of our economy and community. The time to
take action is now before we see numbers spike even worse.

Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to call on the Governor to do the right thing: exhibit the leadership he had done earlier in the pandemic, look out for the safety of our youth and vulnerable populations and mandate masks Statewide.

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