Citing a climbing vaccination rate and a falling infection rate, Gov. Ned Lamont is preparing to ease some pandemic restrictions.
One move, announced Tuesday, will please couples planning spring or summer weddings. Effective March 19, indoor event facilities can expand capacity to 50% or 100 guests (up from 25). Outdoor sites can host up to 200 people (up from 50).
The governor says it's unclear if the summer will bring even bigger weddings. "I know you want some guarantees we can have a big wedding in July," he says, "I can't give you any guarantees, but right now, the trends are good."
"This new timetable for reopening will give confidence to our customers and guests who need to plan months in advance for their special events," says Connecticut Restaurant Association Executive Director Scott Dolch. "We’re thankful the Governor understood that dynamic, and that his administration took action."
For now, there's no increase for indoor restaurant capacity, and no word on when that may change. The governor does plan an announcement soon on crowds for sports events.
Lamont points to progress in a few of the key COVD-19 metrics. For the second day in a row, the seven-day positive test average has fallen to less than 3% (2.8% for the last 24 hours). 12 more people were hospitalized in the last day, but the total number of hospital patients with the virus has been falling for weeks. It now stands at 606.
Meanwhile, the vaccination rate and the vaccine supply are rising. State COO Josh Geballe says that Connecticut is receiving about 59,000 doses this week, and another 72,000 next week.
The governor says more vaccinations are likely contributing to the decrease in infections: "You see how effective it is reflected in lower positivity rates, lower hospitalizations and, I believe, lower fatalities. That's in no small part thanks to the vaccinations."
Progress on the immunization front is also leading the governor to provide more insight on what's next in "Phase 1b" of the rollout. Next week, he'll announce when the next subgroup will become eligible to sign up for shots. He says that's probably "essential workers," a designation that includes teachers.