CT Phase 2 And 3 Reopening: Here Is What Will Reopen And When

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont laid out the basic plan for Connecticut’s second and third reopening phases amid the coronavirus pandemic. Connecticut started its first reopening phase Wednesday.

Phase two of reopening is scheduled for around June 20 and it will include the following openings:

• All personal services (nail salons, tattoo parlors, etc.)
• Movie theaters
• Outdoor arts, entertainment and events up to 50 people.
• Bowling alleys
• Social clubs and pools
• Indoor restaurants
• Hotels (but no bars)
• Museums
• Zoos
• Outdoor amusement parks
• Public libraries
• Youth sports
• Summer day camps (June 22)
• K-12 summer school (July 6)

The exact rules of for businesses reopening during phase two will be sent out at least two weeks prior to the opening date, Lamont said.

Phase two will also include a limited opening at colleges and nonresidential workforce programs over the summer.

Here are the metrics Connecticut needs to hit to get to phase 2:

• Run 100,000 coronavirus tests per week.
• Complete at least half of contact tracing cases within 48 hours.
• Keep less than 20 percent of hospital beds occupied by coronavirus patients.
• Less than a 100 bed net increase in hospitalizations in the last week of phase 1.
• Testing plan for key workers and priority high-risk communities implemented.

The third reopening phase will start at least four weeks after phase two begins. It includes the opening of bars, indoor event spaces and venues, indoor amusement parks and arcades and outdoor events with up to 100 attendees.

Plans will have to remain flexible, especially during the fall if a resurgence of the virus occurs, Lamont said.

“If COVID was clear then we could be clear but its fast-changing situation,” he said.

Lamont also urged businesses and towns to stick to the phased reopening schedule. Cromwell’s town council voted Tuesday night to draft a declaration that would allow businesses in town to reopen when they want as long as they follow health guidelines.

“I know some of the mayors are feeling politically jumpy and ready to say to heck with the rules you can do whatever you want I’m not going to enforce it,” Lamont said. “That’s no way to run a state, we are working together as best we can and I need your compliance on this.”

In most cases a business that violates the reopening rules will be issued a warning and education by local law enforcement. In cases of a second or more egregious violation law enforcement will refer the complaint to the local health department or chief elected official who would then have the option to close the establishment.

See also: Connecticut Restaurant Installs ‘Private Domes’ For Customers

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