HARTFORD, Conn. — Fully vaccinated athletes, coaches and officials in Connecticut will be required to wear masks while participating in athletic competitions, the state Department of Public Health announced Wednesday.
The requirement will go into effect on Dec. 23.
The decision comes following the rapid emergence of the new highly transmissible Omicron variant, according to Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD.
DPH previously made the assessment that student-athletes and other fully vaccinated participants would have the choice to to unmask during sports competitions.
State health officials advise all participants to continuously wear a mask over the nose and mouth during all indoor athletic activities to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The new guidance is in line with neighboring states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, officials wrote in a release.
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