Name: Gov. Ned Lamont hints at major rollback of COVID-19 restrictions, including increased capacity for restaurants, retail and entertainment facilities
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Gov. Ned Lamont hints at major rollback of COVID-19 restrictions, including increased capacity for restaurants, retail and entertainment facilities

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AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantMar 01, 2021 at 6:07 pmConnecticut restaurants and retail outlets will likely soon be allowed to operate at greater capacity, Gov. Ned Lamont indicated Monday, hinting at a major rollback of COVID-19 restrictions.Lamont’s office is considering elimination of the state’s travel advisory, increasing capacity for entertainment and sports venues and allowing restaurants to expand to 75% of capacity — or even full capacity with masks and social distancing requirements.AdvertisementThe governor has not made any final decisions on reopening steps and will discuss options with his advisers, with an announcement expected Thursday. Any potential changes are contingent on continued improvement in daily COVID-19 metrics.“We’re making progress in the war against COVID,” Lamont said Monday. “That’s why on Thursday we’re going to make some announcements in terms of our cautious reopening, in terms of capacity for our stores and our restaurants and our retail and personal services.”AdvertisementCurrently, restaurants are capped at 50% capacity indoors with six feet between parties and a maximum of eight people per table. Retail outlets are also capped at 50% capacity. Personal services are capped at 75% capacity with six feet of spacing and/or non-porous barriers.Lamont also said the state will also ease its travel restrictions, which currently require travelers to quarantine after arriving from nearly any state.“We’re going to be making some announcements on that on Thursday, but we’ll be opening up the travel a little bit more,” Lamont said. “I’m trying to get some confirmation on that from my fellow governors.”As Connecticut has seen fewer COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths, Lamont has begun to loosen some of the state’s restrictions. So far, he has extended restaurant curfew, allowed for greater capacity at places of worship and performance venues, permitted attendance at sporting events and announced large private events can resume March 19.Though some experts have argued it’s too early to begin large-scale reopening, Lamont has said he thinks it’s time for gradual steps toward normalcy.“You look at where our infection rates are, you look at hospitalizations, you look over the last week, over the last month, over the last three or four months, you see a trend line that gives you some confidence,” he said in February.As it happensGet the latest updates on Coronavirus and other breaking news events happening across Connecticut &gt; Scott Dolch, executive director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, said Monday he was encouraged by Lamont’s comments and hopes to see greater capacity at restaurants, plus a later curfew and a less stringent cap on table size.“Any announcement on capacity is a good thing for building consumer confidence,” Dolch said. “I’d like to see [greater] capacity, and I’d like to see some movement on the curfew. Maybe it’s not a full lift, maybe it’s a little bit more time, maybe an extra hour. And then possibly the seating requirement on the table size is just a little bit above eight.”AdvertisementWith COVID-19 cases declining nationwide, some states have begun to significantly ease restrictions. Massachusetts on Monday began allowing restaurants to operate at full capacity, while also allowing greater leniency for performance arts venues, indoor recreational facilities and more. Pennsylvania eliminated all restrictions on out of state travel.Still, health experts have urged caution, warning that reopening too quickly could lead to increased spread of COVID-19, especially as more infectious variants begin to take hold.“The risk of moving too quickly is the risk that we will again begin the spread of the virus,” Dr. Tom Balcezak, chief clinical officer at Yale New Haven Health, said in mid-February. “The governor is in an extremely difficult position about balancing the needs of the economy, the need of people to have jobs and livelihood, with the need to prevent the spread of this infection.”Connecticut currently has 417 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, lower than at any time since early November but still much higher than the state recorded last summer.Alex Putterman can be reached at aputterman@courant.com. Advertisement

AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantMar 01, 2021 at 6:07 pmConnecticut restaurants and retail outlets will likely soon be allowed to operate at greater capacity, Gov. Ned Lamont indicated Monday, hinting at a major rollback of COVID-19 restrictions.Lamont’s office is considering elimination of the state’s travel advisory, increasing capacity for entertainment and sports venues and allowing restaurants to expand to 75% of capacity — or even full capacity with masks and social distancing requirements.AdvertisementThe governor has not made any final decisions on reopening steps and will discuss...

Gov. Ned Lamont hints at major rollback of COVID-19 restrictions, including increased capacity for restaurants, retail and entertainment facilities

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