As Connecticut sees some of the lowest numbers of COVID-19 infections in the past 15 months, a broad easing of restrictions Wednesday may offer the first glimpse of life after the pandemic.
Restaurants can return to full capacity, people can gather in groups small and large, houses of worship can return to regular services, people can crowd in for a ballgame. And for those vaccinated, they can leave their mask — a constant symbol of safety throughout the pandemic — at home.
“I’d like to think Connecticut has really earned the right to get back to this normal,” Gov. Ned Lamont said Tuesday.
Connecticut officials had planned since late April to ease these restrictions on Wednesday as people quickly filled vaccine slots and continued to abide by the rules to limit the spread of the virus.
As more people were vaccinated, state officials pointed to a dropping number of infections, and, just as important, a sharp decline in the number of people hospitalized with the virus to show Connecticut was ready for what Lamont has described as a “new normal.”
By Tuesday, those numbers were some of the lowest since a lull in infections last summer. Hospitalizations were down to 168 patients and the positivity rate for new COVID-19 tests was 1.12 percent. Four more deaths were recorded for a total of 8,198.
The sweeping restrictions, which Lamont established in March 2020 with his extraordinary executive powers during a state of emergency, shuttered many businesses, ordered people to wear masks and socially distance and largely kept people home.
But a slow lifting of those restrictions over the past 12 months will culminate Wednesday with the least restrictive environment Connecticut has seen since before the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in the state.
Here are answers to some questions as restrictions are lifted:
Is it safe to lift restrictions?
State officials have pointed to declining COVID-19 metrics and an increase in vaccinations when saying Connecticut is ready to lift restrictions.
Both hospitalizations and new infections have dropped. There have been more deaths, but officials said that remains a “lagging indicator.”
Through the weekend, nearly 50,000 new COVID-19 tests were administered and 662 came pack positive, state statistics show. Hospitalizations have dropped by more than 300 net patients in the past month.
By Monday, more than 2 million Connecticut residents have received a first dose of the vaccine and nearly 1.7 million are fully vaccinated.
“Connecticut is one of the most vaccinated states in the nation, and I couldn’t be more proud of the people of our state who have made the commonsense decision to be vaccinated, as well as all of our health care workers who have done an incredible job rolling the vaccine out as quickly as possible,” Lamont said.
Will you have to wear a mask?
Falling in line with the recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, Lamont said unvaccinated people will no longer be required to wear masks indoors as of Wednesday. The guidance was loosened last week by the CDC, but Lamont said it would take until Wednesday to amend the executive order regarding masks.
For those gathering outdoors, masks are not required for anyone.
But, there’s still cause to wear masks. Lamont said that businesses, along with local and state offices and events may still require people to wear masks. Certain settings, like health care facilities, schools and public transportation, will also require masks.
A number of prominent businesses, including Target, Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Costco and Stew Leonard’s have said they will not require customers to wear masks. Other chains and smaller businesses have not yet said how they will address the lifting of the mask requirement.
What will happen with restaurants and bars?
Restaurants will no longer have restrictions on Wednesday. Previously, they had to follow mask requirements and social distancing. Among the requirements was a limit of no more than eight people at a table. A curfew, which had last been pushed back to midnight, will also be lifted.
Bars that do not serve food have been shuttered for most of the pandemic. But as of May 1, they were allowed to have outdoor operations, and on Wednesday, they can open fully with no restrictions.
Are there limits on gathering sizes?
One of the many restrictions lifted on Wednesday will be caps on the number of people who can gather both in personal settings and in commercial areas.
Both had been limited throughout the pandemic. The most recent requirement for commercial venues was that outdoor gatherings be capped at 200 people and indoor gatherings be capped at 50 percent occupancy or 100 people. For personal gatherings, the indoor cap was 25 people and the outdoor cap was 100 people.
The state Department of Public Health has been working on guidance for large gatherings.
Will stadiums and theaters be open to full crowds?
The restrictions on stadiums and theaters, both indoor and outdoor, will also be lifted. Both previously had a cap on the number of guests. Outdoor event venues were limited to 50 percent capacity up to 10,000 people and indoor venues were restricted to 10 percent capacity.
Some outdoor venues have established how they will handle the lifting of restrictions. The Yard Goats, who play at Dunkin’ Donuts Park in Hartford, said masks will not be required at their games as of Wednesday and they will follow guidance.
Similarly, DPH is working on guidance for these events.
Lamont has recommended that people continue to wear masks in certain settings with a lot of people, but there is no requirement to do so.
If you still want to get vaccinated, is it difficult?
Since someone needs to be fully vaccinated to go without a mask indoors, some will be wondering if they can still get vaccinated.
Providers said appointments are readily available at sites and clinics across the state. In recent weeks, demand for the vaccine has fallen, but the supply remains steady.
Does anything change with out-of-state travel?
The warm weather and holiday weekend later this month means people will likely be traveling. And the state has no strict rules on travel after easing restrictions in March. There are changes slated for Wednesday.
People are not required to quarantine or get tested if they have traveled. But state officials recommend people who aren’t vaccinated still get tested and quarantine if needed.
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