Here’s What’s Open as CT Begins Phase 2

Phase 2 of the reopening of Connecticut began yesterday and more businesses that had to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic are able to reopen.

Capacity will be limited to 50 percent for most businesses and people heading out to those businesses will need to bring a face mask or face covering.

Gov. Ned Lamont said about 95 percent of the state’s economy will be able to be up and running after the start of Phase 2.

Governor Lamont provided a preview on Tuesday ahead of the state's phase 2 reopening.

Here is more on what to expect for Phase 2 in Connecticut.

This Is What Can Open During Phase 2:

Businesses that are allowed to reopen in Phase 2 include:

Amusement parks
Hotels and lodging
Indoor dining
Indoor museums, zoos and aquariums
Indoor recreation, including bowling, movie theaters
Libraries
Outdoor arts and entertainment events
Personal services, including nail salons, tattoo parlors
Restaurants for outdoor and indoor dining, but no bar areas
Social Clubs
Sports and fitness facilities, including gyms, fitness centers, pools

Amusement Parks:

Outdoor amusement parks can open at up to 25 percent capacity
Parking will be in every other spot to allow for social distancing during peak parking times
Physical barriers will be at ticket areas, where possible
Ticket purchases will be online when possible
Markers should be place on the ground 10 feet apart to encourage people buying tickets to social distance
Markings will guide patrons to a one-way flow, when possible.
Water fountains will be restricted to water bottle filling stations only.
All self-serve stations and reusable and/or refillable cup programs will be shut off
Lines for rides will be in a "maze style" to keep people from having to pass others within six feet when possible.
Rides and attractions will have empty rows and guests should be separated to safe distances
Get more details here.

Bowling Alleys and Movie Theaters:

Reservations will be required where possible
Indoor waiting areas will be closed
Partitions will be set up between employees or between employees and customers if a distance of six feet is not possible
All self-serve items will be removed
Customers should only use one piece of equipment, like one bowling ball and equipment should be cleaned between use by customers

Governor Lamont announced Friday that phase 2 of the state's reopening would now take place on June 17

Hotels and Lodging:

Hotels and lodging are open to guests with reservations
Hand sanitizer will be at entrances and in common areas
Employees are not allowed to enter guest rooms while a guest is there
Room service deliveries should be bagged and left at the door and food should be on disposable dishes and served with disposable cutlery
Meeting and convention spaces will be limited to current indoor social guidelines
Pools and gyms must follow the same rules that fitness and athletic facilities have to follow
Social distancing will be encouraged in elevators
Shields will be placed at the front desk if it's not possible to stay six feet apart
Contactless payment and mobile check-in and check-out with digital receipts shoud be available
Disposable items will be provided where possible, including plastic cups, single-use shampoo/conditioner, tissues
Linens will be stored in closed cabinets
Get more information here

Today is the beginning of Phase 2 of reopening Connecticut and Whaler's Inn is Mystic is preparing to open.

Indoor Dining:

The maximum indoor capacity will be 50 percent
Outdoor dining is still encouraged
Businesses are encouraged to use no-touch or disposable menus. If no disposable options are available, menus have to be sanitized between uses
Buffets and self-service stations must be closed
Condiment packets or containers should be single-use
Hand sanitizer should be made available at the entrance
Indoor waiting areas must be closed
Tables must be spaced at least six feet apart
Contactless payment is encouraged
Bar seating is permitted as long as there are no active work areas or working staff behind the bar or there is a physical barrier separating customers from the bar space
No standing customer service will be allowed and parties at the bar must be spaced six feet apart
Plexiglas should be placed at "key" points of customer interaction, where possible
Pick-up or payment locations will be at least six feet from customers waiting in line
Learn more here

Restaurants in Connecticut will soon be allowed to operate indoor dining with capacity limits and other health restrictions.

Libraries:

Libraries will be able to open up to 50 percent capacity
Libraries are encouraged to waive fines and extend due dates to discourage patrons from going to the library in person
They are also encouraged to limit in-person services, such as the reference desk
Patrons might be encouraged to use book drops instead of going to the desk
Social distancing must be maintained in aisles and between book stacks
Physical barriers should be installed around the circulation desk
Every other computer terminal should be blocked off
Libraries have been encouraged to have separate entrances and exits to allow for one-way traffic
Read more here

Museums, Zoos and Aquariums:

Museums, zoos and aquariums can open outdoor and indoor exhibits at 50 percent capacity
One-way floor markings will be posted when possible
Social distancing markers will be posted
Use of cash and paper receipts will be limited
Timed tickets or reservations should be offered to stagger visits
Only the interactive exhibits subject to thorough, routine cleaning can open
Physical barriers should be set up for ticket counters when possible
Performances are only allowed outside
Tours to be limited to allow for social distancing
Face masks are required during tours
No audio guides are allowed during phase 2
Learn more here

Mystic Aquarium will be reopening to the general public on May 22 but limiting visitors to outside spaces.

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Outdoor Events:

Contactless ticketing should be offered where possible
Hand sanitizer at entrance points and common areas where possible
Learn more here

Personal Services:

The following guidelines are in place for services, including day spa, electrology, estheticians, floating, piercing, spa, tanning, tattoo, waxing, massage therapy, nail technicians and eye lash technicians
They will open at 50 percent capacity
Personal services that require a customer to remove a mask cannot be performed in Phase 2
Employees should not share equipment if possible, shared equipment has to be cleaned between uses
Appointments must be pre-scheduled to ensure there is no overlap between customers. Appointments shall be 1:1 only
Workstations should be six feet apart
Front desks should have Plexiglas or another similar barrier
Waiting rooms, high-traffic areas, lobbies, relaxation lounges must be closed
Anyone handling laundry should wear a mask, gloves, eye protection and a protective cover over clothes
Towels and other laundered items must be properly cleaned and stored. If not done on the premises, a commercial linen service can be used
Every other or every third locker should be blocked to enforce social distancing
Procedure area cleaning sanitizer should have medical/hospital/surgical grade disinfectant
Read more here

Phase 2 of Connecticut's reopening includes indoor dining for restaurants and nail salons.

Gyms, Fitness Centers and Pools:

Sports, sports clubs and complexes, gyms, fitness centers and pools can open in Phase 2.
Each outdoor sporting event field will be limited to two teams, officials and limited family members
Indoor sporting events will be limited to 50 percent of building capacity of 25 people, whichever is smaller, per field, court, pool, rink
For indoor sporting events, capacity limits can be exceeded, but only to include one parent/guardian per athlete
Gyms, sports clubs and fitness centers that do not provide organized sports can operate at 50 percent capacity
Establishments that require customers to wear a mask while exercising must maintain six feet of space between equipment.
Establishments that do not require customers to wear a mask while exercising must maintain 12 feet of space between equipment
Touchless appliances should be available wherever possible, including for payment, paper towels, soap dispensers and trash cans
Athletes, coaches and customers are required to bring their own water bottles
Equipment should be cleaned frequently and customers must wipe down equipment after each use
Every other or every third locker should be blocked to enforce social distancing
Common areas where customers or employees may congregate should be closed, including break rooms, check-in counters other than touchless
Concession stands are allowed to open, but must follow sector rules for restaurants. Sales of prepackaged food and drink do not have to follow the same rules for restaurants
Tanning beds should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized between each use
Customers should schedule participation in a group fitness class in advance
Group classes should be held outdoors or virtually when possible and maintain six feet of distance at all times
Indoor group classes should only be held at 50 percent while maintaining six feet of distance while wearing a mask and 12 feet if not wearing a mask
People who are going swimming should arrive in a swimsuit and have showered before arriving
No personal or facial items, including goggles, nose clips, snorkels or caps should be shared.
Learn more here

As states across the U.S. lift coronavirus lockdowns, gyms are starting to reopen their doors - within limits. We talked to David Thomas, Director of Infectious Diseases for Johns Hopkins Medicine, and Natalie Bushaw, spokeswoman for Lifetime Fitness, to find out how safe you should feel at the gym.