New rules reopen CT wider

Live music in restaurants, dancing at indoor weddings

Indoor weddings planned for late summer might be a little more fun as the result of quietly loosened guidance in the state’s distancing rules, with dancing, passed hors d’oeuvres and staffed buffets.

Restaurants will be a little more lively indoors. They can now allow comedy and musical performances, though singing is still prohibited.

Those updates — all part of Phase 2, as Gov. Ned Lamont has kept Phase 3, including the reopening of bars, on hold — are among a bevy recent updates to Connecticut’s coronavirus rules by the state Department of Economic and Community Development.

Capacity restrictions are still in effect, and have not increased. For example, indoor social events, including some weddings, depending on the venue, are still limited to 25 people and outdoor events carry a maximum attendance of 100.

Still, the easing for weddings and restaurants opens up more possibilities for the events industry, one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic shutdown. The updates also specifically give nonessential businesses the right to refuse service to anyone not wearing a mask — an edict that was spoken but not written until now.

DECD Commissioner David Lehman said the updates are the result of near-weekly meetings of a rules committee within the department that has been tasked with establishing and evaluating the reopening protocols based on feedback from industry leaders.

“This is going to be a constant and evolving process,” Lehman said, noting that, for example, restaurant employees are no longer required to wear gloves.

Tuesday’s numbers for the state continued to show low infection rates but the list of states subject to quarantines for visitors and returning residents to Connecticut, New York and New Jersey grew further.

Some of the new guidance represents loosened rules; other language in the state’s lengthy descriptions of allowable activities clarifies existing rules and recommendations, eliminating some gray areas.

For example, Lehman said, “The more we talked through with people from the industry and experts, the more we felt handwashing frequently was better than wearing gloves,” he said.

The updates also include a recommendation that if an employee tests positive for COVID-19, businesses observe a 24-hour passive decontamination, followed by cleaning and disinfecting.

The state has been in Phase 2 of its reopening plan since June 17, which allowed most industries to reopen with restrictions. Foe example, restaurants are allowed only 50 percent capacity indoors. Lamont indefinitely postponed Phase 3, originally slated for July 20, after outbreaks started to increase across the country.

As a result, bars and large performing arts venues are still closed.

But those outbreaks continue. On Tuesday, Lamont along with the governors of New York and New

Jersey increased the list of states requiring a 14-day quarantine for travelers and returning residents from 31 to 34, adding Illinois, Kentucky and Minnesota — plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C

And, as Hearst Connecticut Media reported this week, the transmission rate, a calculated number intended to show how many people will contract the disease from each infected person who has it — rose above 1, meaning COVID-19 might be resuming its spread in Connecticut.

“I’m concerned about indoor anything right now,” said Sen. Matt Lesser, DMiddletown, who stopped short of saying he’s opposed to the new rules. “We’ve’ been playing the pause button. I think that is the right thing to do.”

For now, new infection rates remain low. The state reported 94 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday on 7,638 reported tests, a 1.2 percent rate. There were five new deaths, bringing the total to 4,423 and five fewer people were in Connecticut hospitals with the illness, bringing that total to 54.

While comedy shows and other small performances can now occur at restaurants and similar venues, Lehman said singing is still considered dangerous because of the vapors released by loud talking and vocal music. Those performers that are allowed must wear masks and perform at a distance from the guests, according to the new protocols.

State Rep. Vin Candelora, R-North Branford, said he has appreciated DECD’s willingness to adapt guidelines for businesses that don’t fit into specific categories. Candelora, for example, owns and operates the Connecticut Sportsplex in North Branford, which is considered a fitness facility, but also includes an indoor “family fun” area and offers food like a restaurant.

“I will say, unlike other states, DECD really tried to understand every different segment,” Candelora said Tuesday. “I’m grateful to DECD that they were able to accommodate businesses like mine. Other states aren’t getting that level of accommodation and a lot of businesses were forced to close unnecessarily.”

Columnist Dan Haar contributed reporting. kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt