Redding brings back indoor mask rule

REDDING — Redding is requiring masks indoors for all residents again, vaccinated and unvaccinated, after a rapid rise in cases this month and the spread of the new omicron variant.

“The beginning of the next COVID-19 wave has begun,” a press release from Town Hall reads.

The mandate applies to municipal buildings, schools, school buses, childcare facilities, restaurants, places of worship, work, healthcare, and congregate living settings, the release explains.

It does not apply to private homes or outdoor activities.

The health advisory message, released Monday but dated Thursday, Dec. 9, came through the local ‘Redding Alert’ system. It was signed by Doug Hartline, the town’s health officer, and Lawrence Leibowitz, the health director.

Redding implemented a mask mandate along with four other Danbury area towns in August to slow the spread of the delta variant before rescinding the mandate later in the fall. As the town hit a case rate of 21.2 cases per 100,000 residents last week, putting it in the state’s “red zone” on its color-coded COVID-19 map, residents are being asked to mask up again.

Cases have risen throughout the Danbury area and state, but Redding is the first local town to reinstate a mask mandate. Danbury Mayor Dean Esposito has said he’s encouraging masks indoors, while Brookfield is urging visitors to town buildings to wear masks after a selectman tested positive for COVID.

Redding requested the cooperation of residents in contact tracing.

“We’re looking to break the chain of transmission. The interview is brief, and honest candid answers help the tracing be effective,” the town release states.

First Selectman Julia Pemberton could not be reached for comment.