Patch Readers Sound Off On Second Reopening Phase

CONNECTICUT —Connecticut Patch informally surveyed readers over the past several days regarding their thoughts about the second reopening phase, which starts Wednesday.

The second reopening phase will reopen about 95 percent of Connecticut's total economy, according to Gov. Ned Lamont. Things like indoor dining, nail salons and movie theaters will make their return, albeit with capacity and other restrictions. The survey got 670 reader responses.

Readers who took the survey said they looked forward to expanded personal services like nail salons and tattoo parlors the most out of the second reopening phase. Indoor dining was a close second.

More readers said they would wear a mask than not if they were to go to a public gym. Gyms are allowed to set their own rules regarding masks; those who mandate masks can have a social distance of six feet while those who don't mandate masks must have patrons maintain 12 feet of space.

Reader opinions varied on when bars should reopen; they are tentatively scheduled to reopen as part of the third reopening phase in July. Around 45 percent of readers who took the survey felt that bars should open sometime after the third reopening phase.

Lamont gets his share of criticism on social media for his handling of the pandemic reopening, but most of the readers who took the survey said he was doing a good job. Around 61 percent agreed or strongly agreed he was handling it well while around 20 percent felt he wasn't doing a good job.

Most readers felt that towns made the right call to cancel 4th of July firework shows. Lamont announced Monday that structured outdoor events like firework showings would be permitted, but the limit of people would be around 500.