The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Gov. delays plan for full reopening of bars
Cites increases in virus infections in parts of U.S.
Gov. Ned Lamont shut the door Thursday on a full-scale reopening of Connecticut bars in midJuly, though he said a formal announcement won’t come until next week.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I think the bars are going to have to take a pause right now,” Lamont told reporters during a daily briefing at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. “I’m just looking around at the rest of the country.”
The governor already ordered visitors from 16 other states to self-quarantine for two weeks upon arriving in Connecticut. He noted that Texas, Florida and California — three states with rapidly escalating COVID-19 infection rates — have closed bars in many areas. “I’m learning from that,” he said.
On Thursday, the state Department of Public Health reported two new fatalities in the coronavirus pandemic, bringing the total to 4,326. There was a net increase of one patient, for 101 people hospitalized, down from 1,972 on April 22. There were 74 new positive COVID-19 tests out of 11,461, for a percentage of six-tenths of 1 percent.
The month of June had 4,371 infections reported from 225,816 tests, for a 1.93 percent rate. That compares with a rate of 8.8 percent positive results in Connecticut in May. The state announced Thursday it will no longer report results on weekends and instead will report the full weekend results each Monday.
For the past two weeks, Connecticut restaurants and bars licensed to serve food have been allowed to serve customers indoors,
including alcoholic beverages, with restrictions.
Indoor capacity must be limited to 50 percent, with parties spaced at least six feet apart and guests wearing masks when not eating and drinking.
Parties can be seated at bar counters provided they are:
⏩ Ordering food;
⏩ Seated six feet apart;
⏩ The bartender is separated from customers by a plastic shield.
Scott Dolch, executive director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, said many small bars serve little or no food, and were counting on being able to serve patrons just seeking alcoholic drinks in mid-July.
There also have been discussions between the association and the Lamont administration about removing the plastic shielding requirement, though no decision had been reached.
Dolch said he remains hopeful that talks between the association and the governor’s staff will continue.
“Let’s go back and revisit where we are currently and where we’re trying to get,” Dolch said, adding that Connecticut bar owners understand they must be diligent in enforcing
any public health standards tied to a broader reopening. “It’s not only about metrics. It’s also about following the rules.”
The governor hinted on June 29 that he was considering scaling back phase three of Connecticut’s economic reopening from the pandemic, and specifically reassessing bars.
Besides reopening bars and amusement parks in mid-July, the administration’s plan calls for limits on indoor gatherings to grow in about two weeks from 25 people to 50. The limit on outdoor gatherings would jump from 100 to 250.
Lamont continued to stress that Connecticut, and several of its neighboring states in the Northeast, have made great progress in stemming coronavirus spread through social distancing and other public health measures.
“We’re open because of each and every one of you doing the right thing,” Lamont said, referring to the more than 140 state beaches, parks and forests that are open for the Fourth of July weekend.
For seven consecutive days, fewer than 1 percent of Connecticut residents tested for the virus have been found to be positive, he said.
“Don’t take that for granted because you’ve
seen what’s going on around the rest of the country,” Lamont added. You see how that can change fast. But also you can see the benefits of paying attention.”
Surging caseloads in large states in the southern and western U.S. have dominated headlines over the past week. But on Monday, Lamont acknowledged the spread is creeping closer to Connecticut, with increasing infections in Ohio and other Rust Belt states.
But new data from the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center shows several key states have begun to trend in the wrong direction.
The rolling, three-day average for new infections in Ohio was 381 on June 13, and had more than doubled to 886 by June 27. In Pennsylvania, new infections jumped from 452 to 574 over the same period. In Michigan — which connects quickly to upper New York via Canada — infections rose from 202 new daily to 319 during those two weeks.
State beaches, parks and forests are expected to reach capacity this weekend.
Lamont and other administration officials Thursday warned people not to relax social distancing and other public health safeguards when celebrating the long holiday
weekend.
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes said most state beaches, parks and forests are expected to reach capacity this weekend.
Potential visitors are urged to check the state’s website before going, she said, adding a new webpage has been created to provide updates when beaches and parks have reached capacity and can’t accept more visitors.
Attendees must wear masks, maintain a six-foot distance from others when walking, and keep 15 feet apart from other parties when setting up a towel or blanket at beaches, Dykes said.
Swimming is not available at most inland parks, in large part because the ponds or lakes involved with those sites often feature beach areas that are too small to allow sufficient distancing between guests, she added.
Private indoor events are limited to 25 people and outdoor gatherings to 100 guests, acting Department of Public Health Commissioner Deidre Gifford said.
Those attending municipal fireworks shows are expected to remain 15 feet apart from other parties in attendance, she said.