CT Capitol partially shut after COVID hits police

An outbreak of COVID-19 in the ranks of the State Capitol Police has resulted in a partial shutdown of the Connecticut Capitol and adjacent legislative office building until at least the end of January.

In an email on Wednesday to legislators and their staff, Jim Tamburro, executive director of the Joint Committee on Legislative Management, which runs the 14-acre complex, said that “several” Capitol police officers have recently been infected and staffing levels have been cut in half among the 42-member department because of the lingering pandemic.

Both the Capitol and the legislative office building will be closed to both the public and staff on Thursday. There will be modified building openings on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday through January. Employees were asked to work remotely on Wednesdays and Fridays.

“On the dates the buildings are open there will be one public entry point,” Tamburro wrote. “Members of the public may enter the complex through the west entrance of the Legislative Office Building. Legislators and staff may enter the Capitol via the governor’s door vestibule and the LOB through the skywalk, terrace or west entrance.”

All visitors and employees are required to wear masks in the Capitol and legislative office building, except when they reach their work stations, regardless of vaccination status. “Any employee who feels more comfortable may continue to wear a mask at any time, even in a private office and may ask others to do so when speaking with them.” Tamburro added. Six-foot social distance requirements will also remain in place, while elevators will be limited to two people at a time.

Public tours of the Capitol complex resumed last July, but they have been limited to only the first floors of the buildings, eliminating both the House and Senate chambers and observation galleries from public access.

The partial closure comes at a time when legislative leaders are considering plans for the next session of the General Assembly, which begins on Feb. 9.

“It’s not surprising that we have seen staffing levels challenged in our state Capitol,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk. “It is important to keep our staff safe and the building properly patrolled at the same time to ensure everyone’s safety.”

Duff said that House and Senate leaders should be talking soon about procedures for the upcoming 12-week session. Last year, the majority of committee meetings were held remotely and access to the House and Senate chambers was limited, with new rules adopted to allow lawmakers to vote on legislation from their offices.