Mark Sommaruga Talks on Connecticut Public Radio on Legal Ramifications of the End of Mask Mandates

Mark Sommaruga, an attorney in Pullman & Comley's School Law and Labor, Employment Law and Employee Benefits practices, was interviewed on Connecticut Public Radio's "All Things Considered" talk show to discuss the latest update on mask wearing in Connecticut. Since early March of this year, no Connecticut cities or towns have a blanket mandate requiring people to wear masks. Although there are no city-wide mask mandates currently in effect, there are  still certain rules individuals still need to abide by. In this interview, Mark clarifies the legal ramifications some schools and businesses may come across in this next stage of the pandemic. 

With the statewide mask mandate expired, schools who have decided to continue to require that students and teachers continue to wear masks are protected by the law. Mark explains that as long as they have used "reasoned decision-making," such as a lower vaccination rate or condition of school buildings, they can continue to require masks in the schools.

When asked how the legal landscape can change for businesses who are navigating this issue, Mark says the latest guidance from the CDC recommending individuals to not wear masks in low transmission areas helps businesses. "The fact is in terms of liability, you look at a duty to care and the fact that the CDC, which is responsible for public health on this nation-wide level is saying masks are not required, I think a business can take good comfort in relying upon that."

Listen to the full interview on ctpublic.org.