Update: June 17 – State Response to Coronavirus

Friends and Neighbors,

Last night, Governor Lamont announced Executive Order 7ZZ regarding Phase 2 of the state’s reopening efforts, and other measures regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.

For more information and a link to the Executive Order, please click here: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Office-of-the-Governor/Executive-Orders/Lamont-Executive-Orders/Executive-Order-No-7ZZ.pdf

Executive Order No. 7ZZ enacts the following provisions:

• Modifications to adapt to Phase 2 reopening efforts: In preparation for Phase 2 of Connecticut’s reopening efforts, which begins June 17, 2020, the executive order makes modifications to several previously issued executive orders to adapt to this change. This includes sectors such as hotels/lodging; indoor dining; personal services; sport and fitness facilities; amusement parks; and museums, zoos, and aquariums.
• Restrictions on large gatherings and events: Amends previously issued executive orders on large gatherings and events and permits the commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development to issue rules on these gatherings except for religious gatherings.
• Further clarification of limits on alcohol sales by restaurants, bars, and private clubs: Allows hotel liquor permit holders to sell liquor with pick-up and delivery services under the same rules previously issued to other liquor permit holders.
• Restrictions of off-track betting extended: Extends the prohibition of operations at of-track betting facilities through July 20, 2020.
• Extension of essential business rules: Extends the previously issued rules on essential businesses for the duration of the public health and civil preparedness emergency.
• Clarification of Executive Order No. 7MM: Clarifies that any activity permitted by the expedited approval process provided in Executive Order No. 7MM is allowed to continue throughout the public health and civil preparedness emergency, unless closed because of enforcement of existing law, permit conditions, or executive orders.
• Extension of remote notarization: Extends Executive Order No. 7Q, Section 3 for the duration of the public health and civil preparedness emergency.

**Download: Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 7ZZ

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Updated guidance on indoor and outdoor gatherings released

Governor Lamont today announced updated guidance for indoor and outdoor gatherings over the next several weeks. The plan is as follows:

Effective June 17:

• Indoor private gatherings – 25 people
• Outdoor gatherings – 100 people
• Outdoor event venues (e.g. amphitheaters, race tracks) – 25% of fire capacity and distancing (consistent with outdoor amusement parks)

Effective July 3:

• Indoor private gatherings – 25 people
• Outdoor private gatherings – 100 people, one time exception for graduations at 150 people
• Outdoor organized gatherings (e.g. fireworks, concerts in municipal parks) – 15 feet of space blanket to blanket, cap of 500 people; event organizer responsible for compliance with guidance
• Outdoor event venues (e.g. amphitheaters, race tracks) – 25% of fire capacity and distancing

Effective mid-July (date to be determined):

• Indoor private gatherings – 50 people
• Outdoor private gatherings (including graduations) – 250 people
• Outdoor organized gatherings (e.g. fireworks, concerts in municipal parks) – 15 feet of space blanket to blanket, no cap; event organizer responsible for compliance with guidance
• Outdoor event venues (e.g. amphitheaters, race tracks) – 50% of fire capacity and distancing

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As of 4:00 p.m. – Tuesday, June 16^th – the state is reporting a total of 45349 cases of Coronavirus. Updated virus totals and Town-by-Town statistics can be accessed here: https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus

*In Connecticut during the early months of this pandemic, it became increasingly clear that it would be necessary to track probable COVID-19 cases and deaths, in addition to laboratory-confirmed (RT- PCR) cases and deaths. This was needed to better measure the burden and impact of this disease in our communities and is now part of the national surveillance case definition for COVID-19. Probable cases of COVID-19 involve persons who have not had confirmatory laboratory testing (RT-PCR) performed for COVID-19, but whose symptoms indicate they are likely to have a COVID-19 infection. In Connecticut, most of the probable COVID-19 cases involve persons whose death certificates list COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. Prior to June 1, probable and confirmed cases were reported together.

Latest COVID-19 Testing Data in Connecticut

Updated 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Total patients who tested positive: 43415 confirmed/1934 probable

There have been 4210 COVID-19-associated fatalities.

Fairfield County: 15738/295

Hartford County: 10601/305

Litchfield County: 1381/21

Middlesex County: 1177/37

New Haven County: 11695/149

New London County: 1213/26

Tolland County: 817/14

Windham County: 462/1

Pending address validation: 331/0