State Targets June 20 for Phase Two Reopening

05.22.2020
Economy

The Lamont administration is targeting June 20 for the second phase of the state’s economic reopening.

While details and guidelines have yet to be released, that date could see movie theaters, hotels, bowling alleys, gyms, fitness centers, and outdoor amusement parks open with restrictions, along with indoor restaurant dining.

Gov. Lamont emphasized this week that reopening those businesses is contingent on the state meeting public health targets, including testing, contact tracing, and hospitalization rates.

“We have to make sure we have safety protocols in place that employees feel safe and you feel safe going back,” Lamont said.

Offices, retailers and malls, and restaurants were allowed to reopen—with restrictions—May 20. Hair salons and barbershops were in the May 20 plan and are now delayed until June 1.

Target List

The target list for June 20 also includes:

  • Nail salons and tattoo parlors
  • Outdoor arts, entertainment, and events with up to 50 people
  • Social clubs and pools
  • Museums, indoors
  • Zoos, indoors
  • Aquariums
  • Libraries
  • Youth sports

Phase two criteria includes the state administering at least 100,000 COVID-19 tests per week—more than double the current rate—and completing contact tracing within 48 hours, Lamont said.

In addition, no more than 20% of the state’s hospital beds can be occupied by COVID-19 patients, and the net increase in hospitalizations from the last week of phase one must be less than 100.

Lamont said testing must also be in place for essential workers.

Third Phase

“We’ll be looking at the metrics, where we are over the next couple of weeks,” Lamont said.

“That will be really important as we give you the guidance a couple of weeks before June 20 and beyond.”

If phase two begins June 20, Lamont said the third phase could begin a month later, impacting bars, indoor event venues, indoor arcades and amusements, and outdoor events capped at 100 people.

Everything depends on whether there’s a resurgence of the virus, Lamont said.

“It’s a fast-changing situation,” he said. “We’ve got to be dynamic here. We have to be nimble.”

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