COVID-19

WEST HARTFORD REACHES ‘RED ZONE’ THRESHOLD AND
IMPLEMENTS LOCAL MANDATORY UNIVERSAL MASK MANDATE

WEST HARTFORD, CONN. (August 20, 2021) – Mayor Shari Cantor and Town Manager Matt Hart announced today that the Town of West Hartford will impose a local universal indoor mask mandate effective at 12:00 noon on August 20, 2021. The order shall remain in effect until further notice.

On August 13, town officials announced that if West Hartford reached high community transmission level, or “red zone,” as defined by the State Department of Public Health as an average daily case rate of 15 or more per 100,000 people, the Town would require all individuals regardless of their vaccination status to wear a mask when indoors.

The West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District reported that West Hartford has now exceeded that threshold with 16.7 cases per 100,000 population. 

Even though West Hartford has one of the highest vaccination rates in the state, the Delta variant is so contagious that extra measures are needed to slow the transmission and to protect the most vulnerable.

Under the Governor’s Executive Order No. 13A order issued on August 5, 2021, the Town Manager, as the Town’s chief executive officer, has the sole authority to issue a municipal mask mandate in West Hartford. Town Manager Matt Hart said the decision to issue the mask mandate was made in consultation with public health and safety officials.

West Hartford’s indoor mask mandate will require all persons to wear a mask in any indoor place in town. The mandate shall not apply to any residential dwelling and includes the following exceptions to the requirement to wear a mask:

• Persons more than 6’ apart;
• Persons with a medical condition, behavioral condition, or disability that prevents them from wearing a mask, or anyone under the age of 2 years; and
• Persons eating and drinking.

West Hartford joins other state municipalities in making masks mandatory. Those cities and towns include Bloomfield, Bridgeport, Danbury, East Windsor, Easton, Fairfield, Hartford, Manchester, New Haven, Norwalk, South Windsor, Stamford, and Westport. All of Connecticut’s counties are now in the ‘red zone.’ Under the Governor’s executive order, the Town has the authority to enforce the mandate, including the issuance of citations. 

“Our approach has been, and continues to be, education first, enforcement second. We have reached out to our community over the past few weeks to alert them of the possibility of a local indoor mask mandate. We will continue to take proactive steps to make sure that our businesses, restaurants, places of worship, schools, grocery stores, and long-term care facilities are aware of this new requirement,” said Hart.

“We all want to keep our communities safe while keeping schools, towns, and businesses open,” said Mayor Shari Cantor. “Please, if you have not been vaccinated, do so to protect yourself, your family and your community. Vaccines are safe, free and easier than ever to obtain.”

A copy of the Town Manager’s executive order requiring universal indoor masking can be viewed here. 

Please read our safety protocols below to ensure staff and customers stay safe and healthy! 

• We encourage all customers to continue conducting their business virtually, by email, or by phone. Our staff directory can be found here.  
• For anyone who needs to physically drop off an item, there will be a general drop box installed outside the entrance to Town Hall. All payments (including taxes) can still be made through the secure deposit box to the south of the main entrance. 
• For customers requiring access to Town Hall, access will be limited and controlled to prevent crowding and to maintain social distancing at service counters. Appointments are still highly encouraged and walk-ins will be accommodated if appointment slots are available. 
• The Town Hall lobby will be staffed with a greeter to provide contact information to residents for specific Town Departments.  
• Masks are required for everyone, vaccinated or unvaccinated. Our greeters will offer a mask to visitors if they arrive without one. We will make exceptions for persons with health issues that prevent them from wearing a mask.
• Customers with an appointment will be allowed to proceed to the destination once their appointment is verified with the greeter. If the customer does not have an appointment, the greeter will contact the Department to determine if there is appointment capacity for the customer to proceed to Department.
• Preference is that customers bring their own pens but pens will be provided if needed.

Eligible Connecticut residents are entitled to a free COVID vaccine. By getting your vaccine, you are protecting yourself, your family and your community.  Please also see "Upcoming Vaccination Clinics" offered by West Hartford Health District below on this page. 

There are several ways to sign up to receive a vaccination.

Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS)

To do this you must self-register online at ct.gov/CovidVaccine (CT Department of Public Health) website. The registration requires an email address. If you do not have an email, you will need to create one for this purpose.

CT Vaccine Appointment Assistance line 

The second way is to register by phone by calling the CT Vaccine Appointment Assistance line,  877-918-2224 or 211. The phone system is designed to help those who have limited access to technology, or who have language, disability, or other barriers. The help line is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00AM to 4:30PM. It offers a callback option when all lines are busy.

Other Health Providers 

In addition to VAMS, there are over 100 healthcare providers across the state that are offering the vaccine. Providers include UConn Health, Hartford Healthcare, Trinity Healthcare of New England and Yale New Haven Health.

In addition vaccines are now offered at select pharmacies including CVS, Walgreens, Walmart and Rite-Aid. All locations require registration and an appointment – no walk-ins are allowed. The Connecticut COVID Vaccine Portal has a list of all providers. Go to: https://portal.ct.gov/Vaccine-Portal.

Public Service Messages 

Public service messages on the importance of getting the COVID vaccine and the phone number to call are here in English, Spanish and American Sign Language:

• Spanish (30 second ) 
• Spanish (15 second)
• English (30 second )
• English (15 second )
• American Sign Language 

The West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District is now scheduling third dose shots for immunocompromised individuals who are eligible.  The third dose shot is by appointment only on Wednesdays from 9:00AM to 12:00PM at 580 Cottage Grove Rd, Suite 100, Bloomfield. To schedule an appointment or ask questions about eligibility, please call us at 860-561-7900 x0. 

Everyone will be eligible for a booster shot eight (8) months after their second vaccine dose beginning September 20, 2021. Boosters will be widely available. Updates will be given as we draw closer to the eligibility date.

A newly formed and state-authorized At-Risk Community Health program, or ARCH, was established in partnership between the West Hartford Fire Department and the Health District to provide mobile vaccinations to homebound residents who have specific mobility issues that prevent them from obtaining the vaccine through other methods. The program began operation on Wednesday, February 10, 2021.

ARCH is reserved for residents who meet the State age criteria and have unusual or exceptional circumstances that limit their access to the vaccine due to the logistics of transportation and administration at the clinic sites.

To receive a vaccine through the ARCH program, complete the sign-up form here. The Health District will review the form, and when approved, a Fire Department paramedic and a Register Nurse will come to the resident’s home to administer the vaccine.

If you need a ride to a vaccine clinic, ITNCentral CT is offering friendly, affordable transportation to elderly and visually impaired residents. Please call 860-508-9847 for this service. ITN’s office is located at Town Hall. 

Dial-A-Ride also provides transportation its members.

The West Hartford Fire Department keeps an updated database of residents that would need, perhaps, more assistance should an incident occur at their residence. Please complete the online Special Needs Registry form. 

People want to know how they can help. Please use this Volunteer Form to help us collect contact information. We are monitoring the needs of our community and will connect volunteers with assignments on an as-needed basis.