By Paul Hughes and Elio Gugliotti, Staff
HARTFORD — Restaurant dining rooms are going to reopen June 17, a few days sooner than planned.
Gov. Ned Lamont on Friday announced he decided to push up the anticipated June 20 start of the second phase of the gradual relaxing of restrictions on business and personal activities that he imposed to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease.
He said the move will give restaurants a head start on Father’s Day on June 21.
“It gives them a chance to prepare for what is a really big weekend,” Lamont said.
Eating establishments were closed for Mother’s Day, typically one of the busiest and most lucrative days of the year according to the National Restaurant Association. Father’s Day is also up there as one of the higher demand and grossing days of the year.
Lamont said he decided to advance the start of the second reopening phase based on how the infection, hospitalization, death and testing rates have been trending in the pandemic.
He also said he believes the first two weeks of limited outdoor dining has worked well, including compliance with state requirements.
“I think customers are slowly getting back and feeling confident, and all the restaurants that I have witnessed are taking the protocols seriously,” he said.
THE CONNECTICUT RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION petitioned Lamont last week to restart indoor dining on June 10, saying the industry is teetering financially because of the coronavirus shutdown.
While later than desired, the June 17 date will put Connecticut restaurants ahead of neighboring Massachusetts and New York, said Scott Dolch, the association’s executive director.
Lamont closed bars and restaurants on March 17 in coordination with the governors of New York and New Jersey. Lamont’s order limited food service to takeout and delivery only. Bars that did not serve food had to shut down.
Restaurants were allowed to add outdoor dining on May 20, subject to state requirements.
“Connecticut restaurants are ready for this next step,” Dolch said.
Lamont on Sunday released capacity limits and other rules for indoor dining as part of the business guidance for the second reopening phase. The guidelines include restaurants cannot exceed 50% of its regular indoor seating capacity, indoor waiting areas must remain closed, no buffets and self-service stations, and tables must be 6 feet apart unless separated by a non-porous barriers like Plexiglas.
THE SECOND REOPENING PHASE also includes amusement parks, hotels, indoor museums, zoos and aquariums, indoor recreation like bowling and movie theaters, libraries, outdoor events, personal services such as nail salons and tattoo parlors, and sports and fitness facilities.
The state laid out capacity limits and rules for each area to follow to reopen. For instance, equipment at gyms that require customers to wear a mask while must be 6 feet apart and 12 feet apart at gyms that don’t require customers to wear a mask.
Outdoor sporting events will be limited to two teams, officials and limited family members.
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ON SUNDAY reported no net change in the number of patients hospitalized, which stood at 333.
There were 150 additional COVID-19 cases reported Friday. This includes laboratory-confirmed cases and probable cases of untested people whose symptoms indicate they are likely infected. To date, there have been 41,895 confirmed cases and 2,073 probable cases.
Another 16 confirmed and probable deaths were also reported Sunday, bringing the total to 4,071 fatalities.
Day-to-day changes reflect newly reported cases, deaths, and tests that occurred over the last several days to weeks. Data for previous dates is regularly updated as new reports are received and data errors are corrected.
THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY HEALTH DISTRICT reported there have been 367 cases in Naugatuck and 47 in Beacon Falls as of Friday. The health district reported there have been 32 confirmed and three probable deaths associated with COVID-19 in Naugatuck and none in Beacon Falls.
As of Friday, the Chesprocott Health District reported there have been 64 cases in Prospect and no coronavirus-related deaths.
