*The following is an excerpt from a press release from the City of Springfield on Tuesday, Dec. 28*

SPRINGFIELD -- Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Health and Human Services (HHS) Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris announced today that masks will be required in City Hall and all municipal buildings. Mayor Sarno and Commissioner Caulton-Harris also announced that by order of the Department of Health and Human Services and Board of Health, the City of Springfield will reinstate a mask mandate policy, regardless of vaccination status beginning January 3, 2022.  The mask mandate will remain in place for 60 days, to be reassessed on March 1, 2022.  

The mask mandate is for all public places including municipal buildings, private businesses, and public gatherings and events to help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus. After the 60-day period, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Board of Health will review the situation and make the recommendation on lifting or keeping the mask mandate based on the COVID-19 trends over that time period.  If, prior to the 60-day timeframe COVID-19 cases decrease substantially a review and decision to lift the mask mandate could happen.

Mayor Sarno stated, “We have had our first reoccurrence of positive Covid-19 cases in City Hall, therefore masks will be required in City Hall and all municipal buildings, effective immediately. Deep cleaning is underway where necessary. This measure is to preserve and protect our work force to keep our vital city services going. A city-wide indoor mask mandate will also be implemented, effective January 3, 2022. '

For more information on the City of Springfield’s mask mandate, please visit: https://bit.ly/3nciqPk.