WESTPORT — Citing the rising number of infections of the Delta variant of COVID-19, town officials  announced that as of Thursday, Aug. 5, staff and visitors to all municipal buildings will be required to wear masks, regardless of their vaccination status.

The health requirements, issued Wednesday afternoon in Westport, were prompted by new guidelines issued by the federal Centers for Disease Control and the state Department of Public Health.

The Delta variant of the virus is described by health officials as highly contagious, and cases are rising locally as well as across the U.S. and internationally.

Under the new protocols, everyone entering town buildings, including the Westport Library, will be required to wear masks.

Walk-ins, however, will continue to be allowed at Town Hall. Visitors also must comply with contact tracing, temperature checks and other safety protocols upon entering. As an alternative, officials recommend the public consider accessing services and meetings via the town’s website — westportct.gov — or other options for in-person meetings. 

The Westport Library also will remain open to the public, as will access to the various services available there, including the Cafe. Children under two years old are exempt from the mask requirement.

Town Hall employees will be required to check their temperatures when entering the building for the day. Town and library employees will return to weekly testing for COVID to ensure their health and for the safety of visitors, officials said.

First responders will return to previous COVID protocols by wearing masks when interacting with the public indoors, regardless of vaccination status.

The public also should expect that many local restaurants and businesses will require patrons to wear masks indoors, whether a person is vaccinated or not, town officials said.