Bridgeport, Connecticut’s Largest City, to Retain Mask Mandate | Connecticut News

BRIDGEPORT, Connecticut (AP) – ConnecticutFrance’s largest city plans to keep its local indoor mask mandate in place, even as the number of COVID-19 cases has declined and some neighboring municipalities have decided to lift their masking requirements.

Bridgeport officials cite slow vaccination rates for the decision to continue requiring face coverings for the foreseeable future.

“The mandate remains as is for now,” Rowena White, communications director for Mayor Joe Ganim, told the Connecticut Post, adding, “you want to err on the side of caution.” She said authorities hoped to see an increase in vaccinations.

State data released Thursday shows that 61.4% of eligible Bridgeport residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In most of the communities surrounding the city, more than 70% of residents have received at least one injection.

As of October 23, there were 9.8 cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 in Bridgeport, down slightly from 10.1 cases as of October 16.

In August, Democratic Governor Ned Lamont signed an executive decree that offers city leaders the option of requiring masks in indoor public places within their communities, regardless of vaccination status. Ganim relaunched Bridgeport’s mask tenure on August 10.

Fairfield, Danbury and Stamford recently canceled their indoor mask mandates.

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