The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Lamont: There are ‘no other plans’ to open bars
Governor postponed phase 3 in early July
Anyone hoping Connecticut would soon move into the longawaited Phase 3 — which would increase occupancy limits for private gatherings and restaurants, as well as open bars — of the state’s reopening plan will have to wait a little longer.
Gov. Ned Lamont said Thursday there are no plans to move into the next phase anytime soon.
“For me, the schools and the colleges is a big part of the next reopening,” Lamont said. “The rest of phase 3 would be upping the occupancy in restaurants and bars, obviously, we’re going to have to take a look at that as the weather gets colder starting next month, but no other plans at this point.”
That means private gatherings will remain at 25 people inside and 100 people outside, bars will remain closed and indoor dining at restaurants and gyms will remain at 50 percent capacity. Large entertainment venues, including racetracks, will remain at 25 percent capacity. Early last month, Lamont postponed phase 3, originally slated for July 20, after COVID outbreaks began to surge across the country.
Connecticut has been in phase 2 since June 20.
The Connecticut Restaurant Association has spent much of the summer pushing for expanded indoor dining and increased capacity limits for private events, to no avail.
Bars, in particular, have been a widely reported source of outbreaks
“For me, the schools and the colleges is a big part of the next reopening.” Gov. Ned Lamont
across the country, one reason Lamont has opted to keep them closed in Connecticut. Local health departments in some cities have been forced to take action against bars that have opened illegally, Lamont has said.
Restaurants may serve alcohol, but it must accompany food.
As of Friday, Connecticut has conducted more than 1 million COVID tests, and the positivity rate has held steady at less than 1 percent for almost six weeks.