#Middlebury
As the June issue of the newspaper went to press, more than 40,000 Connecticut residents had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and more than 3,700 had died. Businesses that have been closed entirely or partially since mid-March were beginning to reopen under a plan developed by an advisory group organized by Gov. Ned Lamont. Lamont explained the three phases of the reopening plan at a recent press conference.
He then posted the 43-page plan, “Roadway to Reopening Connecticut,” on the state website May 26. Readers can find it at bitly.ws/8Evc. Lamont cautions residents that these plans may have to be adjusted as new information about the virus becomes available. For now, reopening is to take place in three phases.
Social guidelines will remain in place during the three phases. Residents 65 and older and high risk residents are advised to stay home, stay safe during Phases 1 and 2, and high risk residents are advised to stay home right through Phase 3. Face masks are to be worn by all during all three phases, and hand washing and social distancing are to be practiced at all social gatherings.
Phase One is under way. It began May 20, and it allowed the reopening, under specific rules, of restaurants, non-essential retail businesses, offices, museums, zoos and outdoor recreation. (See related article on Middlebury restaurants.) Hair salons and barber shops also were scheduled to reopen May 20, but Gov. Lamont, on May 19, moved their reopening date to June 1.
Lamont said some of the hair salon and barber shop owners contacted him and said they were struggling to arrange child care and put in place all the requirements for reopening. In deference to them, Lamont postponed all hair salon and barber shop openings. Some owners, however, were ready to reopen May 20. They were eager to get to work and earn some income for the first time since mid-March.
The rules for the businesses that did reopen May 20 limit many of them to outside activities only. Restaurants can offer outside dining only, and bar areas may not open. Museums and zoos are limited to outdoor activities, too, and offices, while allowed to open, are encouraged to continue to have employees work from home where possible.
As readers are probably well aware, it’s hard to predict exactly how things will go during this pandemic. If the Phase One re-openings result in a sharp surge in coronavirus cases, the plans to move into Phase Two likely will be delayed or change.
Moving to Phase Two also depends on increased testing for COVID-19. Entering Phase One, 45,000 people per week were being tested. That number is to increase to 100,000 per week by June 20, 170,000 per week between June 20 and the start of Phase Three and be at 200,000 per week plus additional tests for public education institutions by September 1.
Phase Two allows re-opening of more indoor venues, among them hotels and motels; gyms, fitness and sports clubs; personal services; movie theaters; bowling alleys; social clubs and pools; museums, zoos, and aquariums; and indoor dining, but no bar areas, at restaurants. Outdoor arts and entertainment events for up to 50 people also will be allowed, as will outdoor amusement parks.
Assuming all goes well during Phase Two, Phase Three will begin about four weeks later (around July 20). During this phase, bars will be allowed to reopen, along with indoor event spaces and venues. Indoor amusement parks and arcades also will be allowed to open, as will outdoor events for up to 100 people.
Some education and community services will re-open in Phase Two; others will be delayed until the fall school year. On June 20, public libraries and some youth sports may reopen. On June 22, summer day camps may reopen. In mid-June, nonresidential workforce and nonresidential clinical/laboratory courses may resume.
On July 6, K to 12 summer schools may open. During July and August, nonresidential programs at community colleges, graduate programs and some undergraduate residential small-scale pilot programs will open. During the fall school year, undergraduate residential programs, K to 12 schools and boarding schools may will reopen.
These plans and dates were in effect as the June issue went to print May 27. Changes will be posted in the July print issue, online at bee-news.com and on our Facebook page.
