Thought Leadership

On June 6, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) released the sector-specific rules for the Phase 2 entities that can reopen on June 17, including:

• Amusement parks
• Hotels/lodging establishments
• Restaurants
• Museums/zoos/aquariums
• Indoor recreation (e.g., bowling alleys, movie theaters)
• Libraries
• Outdoor events (no specific number of people, but must maintain six feet of social distance)
• Personal services (spas, nail salons, tattoo parlors)
• Sports and fitness centers (gyms, fitness centers, pools)

DECD issued separate rules for each sector, but there are many common elements, including:

• Capacity limit of 50 percent for most businesses that reopen.
• Maintenance of six-foot social distance except for family members.
• Strict cleaning and disinfection protocols required in all settings.
• Those who can work from home should continue to do so.
• Those in high-risk groups (comorbidities) and over the age of 65 should continue to stay safe and stay home.
• Face masks should continue to be worn in public at all times.
• Reopened businesses must self-certify compliance with the rules that are applicable to their type of business.

Last, DECD provided additional general guidance as follows:

• Social clubs must follow all rules applicable to their operation (e.g., restaurant or pool).
• Driving schools must follow office rules for the classroom and allow only two people in a car, wearing masks and with windows rolled down.
• Short-term housing rentals must follow hotel/lodging rules.
• Professional sporting events require DECD approval.

As always, businesses covered by the reopening rules are allowed to make their own choice on when they reopen. However, when a business reopens, it must comply with the DECD rules applicable to its type of business.

For more Day Pitney alerts and articles related to the impact of COVID-19, as well as information from other reliable sources, please visit our COVID-19 Resource Center.

COVID-19 DISCLAIMER: As you are aware, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, things are changing quickly and the effect, enforceability and interpretation of laws may be affected by future events. The material set forth in this document is not an unequivocal statement of law, but instead represents our best interpretation of where things stand as of the date of first publication. We have not attempted to address the potential impacts of all local, state and federal orders that may have been issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.