After Gov. Ned Lamont’s pandemic emergency powers were extended for the sixth time on Tuesday, he went ahead and signed several COVID-related executive orders, including a mask mandate.
Lamont’s emergency powers have been extended through Feb. 15, 2022.
If the governor had not extended the deadline for those orders, they were set to expire on Sept. 30, 2021.
Those orders include requiring masks in schools, childcare facilities, and certain higher-risk settings. It also allows cities and towns to require universal masking in certain settings.
The order also allows the requirement of long-term care facility workers, state hospital workers, state employees, preK through 12 school workers, and childcare facilities staff members to get vaccinated, with test-out options for those not working in long-term care facilities and hospitals.
Republicans said the divisiveness around COVID has become dangerous, that Connecticut’s low positivity rate should be enough, and people should be free to live.
Democrats said the pandemic is still in full swing.
State lawmakers have 72 hours to decide whether they want to challenge any of these orders. They can meet to veto any of them or do nothing, and the orders will stand.