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03/24/2021 08:53 AMOver the next month, some restrictions that were put in place by Governor Ned Lamont to combat the COVID-19 pandemic will be lifted. Here is a run down on what that means for average citizens.
In early March, the governor announced that he would be scaling back some of his executive order requirements, in particular ones that have to do with limiting capacity or travel restrictions. While the measures are being eased, Lamont’s press release announcing the move did stress that protocol measures related to things like face coverings, social distancing, and sanitizing will remain in effect.
Starting on March 19, capacity restrictions for restaurants were revised, though they are still limited to no more than eight people at a table and dining rooms must close at 11 p.m.
Libraries, retail, person services, gyms, indoor recreation places, museums, zoos, aquariums, offices, and houses of worship all will have no capacity restrictions. Theaters will continue to operate at a 50 percent capacity level, according to the press release.
Additionally, guidelines for social gatherings at private residences will be expanded to advise for 25 people indoors and 100 people outdoors, while the limits will be expanded to 100 people indoors and 200 people outdoors for commercial venues. Sports teams will be allowed to practice and compete according to guidance from the Department of Public Health. Connecticut’s travel advisory will be changed from a requirement to a recommended guideline.
Starting on March 19, scheduling for vaccine appointments were opened to all individuals age 45 to 54.
In April, outdoor amusement parks can open along with stadiums, outdoor event venues can increase to a 50 percent capacity at a limit of 10,000 people and indoor stadiums can open at 10 percent capacity. The release advised summer camps and festivals to begin planning stages for upcoming events.
Indoor theaters will continue to have a 50 percent capacity and bars that only serve food must remain closed.
A tentative date of April 5 was set for individuals aged 16 to 44 to begin scheduling vaccine appointments.
For Clinton
Like everywhere else in the state, Clinton residents are no doubt eager to embrace the relaxed rules and the freedom of the pandemic hopefully ending. However, Town Manager Karl Kilduff told the Harbor News that he does not expect the governor’s orders to completely revert every protocol to the way it was before March 2020.
“Right now, the governor’s emergency powers were extended out to April 19. It is hard to see that the state would reach a high enough level of vaccination or low enough level of COVID community spread by that time to nullify everything,” said Kilduff.
COVID-19 very much remains a problem in Clinton. In the 23 days between Feb. 23 and March 18, 107 people in Clinton tested positive for the virus, compared to 72 people in the 21 days from Feb 2 to 23 according to data from the town’s Facebook page. There is hope that the increased availability of vaccines will combat the spread.
Kilduff also said that some of the measures Lamont enacted through executive order could be extended, and the General Assembly may also take action to make certain aspects of the orders into law.
“I think a majority believe that virtual meetings will be allowed to continue beyond the pandemic as it has allowed more people to participate in meetings. As an added benefit, it has also allowed engineers and other professionals that present residents or developers before the town’s land use boards to reduce their costs to their clients, making it easier and less costly to develop in the state,” said Kilduff.
In the meantime, residents are encouraging to continue wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and correctly sanitizing.