HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut will phase out all of its restrictions on businesses on May 19, with the exception of indoor masking, Gov. Ned Lamont said Monday.
The state will make the following changes to restrictions on its businesses starting May 1, Lamont said at a news briefing:
• Business curfew moved back to 12 a.m.
• Alcohol without food allowed outdoors
• No table size limit outdoors
On May 19, meanwhile, the following changes will take effect:
• All remaining business restrictions ended
• Health department will issue recommendations for safe operation of indoor and large outdoor events
"We're going to essentially end all of the remaining business restrictions. And what does that mean? That means the social distancing will be relaxed, it'll be guidance, it'll be up to you and your restaurant, how you want to do it, keep people safe, but no mandates from us," Lamont said.
There won't be any gathering size limitations after May 19 either.
Connecticut residents will still be required to wear masks indoors, Lamont said. The new rules are “subject to low incidence and continued improvements in vaccination rates, a slide he shared on Twitter noted.
“Over the coming days, we’ll continue to slowly, cautiously and safely phase out business restrictions,” the governor tweeted.
Connecticut recorded a total of 19 new COVID-19-related fatalities on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Lamont said Monday.
As of Sunday night, 494 people in the state were hospitalized with COVID-19. The state’s infection rate currently stands at 2.68 percent.
Sixty-one percent of adults in Connecticut, meanwhile, have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, he said.