CT 3rd Reopening Phase Schedules: Here's What's In It

CONNECTICUT — Connecticut will advance to its third phase of reopening on Oct. 8, but bars and nightclubs will remain closed indefinitely.

Indoor dining capacity limits will increase from 50 percent to 75 percent, Gov. Ned Lamont said during his Thursday news conference. It will help restaurant business, especially as cold weather makes outdoor dining a less popular option. Restaurants tables will still need to be at least 6 feet apart or have plexiglass barriers.

"This Oct. 8th date is a date we've been working for for a while and I like to think that Connecticut we've sort of earned it by working together," Lamont said. "We've earned the right to take a little more risk I've got to admit it when it comes to restaurants and some of these events and some of these gatherings, but I think it's important that we keep this progress going as long we are doing it cautiously."

The Connecticut Restaurant Association applauded Lamont's decision.

Today’s news is another important step in Connecticut’s nation-leading efforts to respond to COVID-19 in a safe and responsible manner," said Connecticut Restaurant Executive Director Scott Dolch in a statement. "Like the rest of the country, Connecticut is not out of the woods of this pandemic by any stretch, but we've proven that it’s possible to be mindful of our local economy at the same time we keep our residents as safe as possible.

Lamont didn't give a date for when bars and nightclubs might reopen. It is possible that new coronavirus tests, therapies and a vaccine rollout could change that at some point.

“We are going to know so much more in two months, I think it’s worth waiting a little longer,” he said.

Personal services like barber shops will also be able to increase capacity from 50 to 75 percent, as will libraries.

Outdoor venues like amphitheaters and racetracks will be able to increase from 25 percent to 50 percent capacity. Masks and social distancing will be required.

Indoor performing arts will be able to open up to 50 percent capacity.

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Private social gatherings will remain capped at 25 people, but there will be changes for gatherings at commercial areas such as wedding venues come Oct. 8. Indoor commercial private gatherings will go from a maximum of 25 people to a maximum of 50 percent capacity or 100 people, whichever is less. Outdoor commercial private gatherings will increase to a max of 150 people from 100.

Indoor graduation and religious ceremonies will be able to go up to 50 percent capacity or a maximum of 200 people, whichever is less. Outdoors, there will be no cap for graduation or religious ceremonies so long as social distancing and mask use is maintained.

Lamont admitted the increased capacity limits do invite an increased amount of risk, but at the same time businesses overall in Connecticut have been diligent in protecting their customers.

It is still possible that some of these expanded capacity limits will be rolled back if the coronavirus situation takes a turn for the worse, Lamont said. He said it will be discretionary and that it won't be linked to any specific metrics. The state does have specific metrics for schools with cutoffs that would force all schools to either go into hybrid or remote learning.

Lamont said his reasoning for discretion came back to the state's planned third reopening phase in July, which would've brought back bars. At the time coronavirus activity in Connecticut was low and a specific reopening metric would've meant that bars would reopen. However, Lamont dialed back the bar reopening after several outbreaks in southern states were linked to bars.

Connecticut’s original economic reopening called for three different phases. The first phase kicked off in May and brought the return of hair salons, limited-capacity office space, outdoor restaurants and retail that hadn’t already opened.

The second reopening phase reopened nearly all of Connecticut’s economy in a limited capacity fashion. Hotels, amusement parks, libraries, gyms, nail salons and indoor spaces like museums, zoos and aquariums were part of the second phase.

Lamont hit pause on the state’s third reopening phase, which was originally scheduled for July. It would’ve brought back bars and larger capacity outdoor events like concerts. The delay was caused by the realization that outbreaks were being linked to bars in southern states.