Phase 2 to Reopen CT New Date: June 17, 2020. The Governor and public health officials are monitoring test results for possible links to large demonstrations, but as long as COVID hospitalizations and infection rates remain low, look for Phase 2 on June 17!

"Our public health professionals are continuing to monitor test results for possible links to large demonstrations, but as long as COVID hospitalizations and infection rates remain low, we will be in a very good position for a June 17 Phase 2," Gov. Ned Lamont said on Friday.

Phase 2 includes indoor dining, gyms, nail salons, movies theaters, museums, amusement parks and more.

The state partially reopened on Wednesday, May 20. It was the first of three phases that were outlined by the governor and the Reopen CT Advisory Group.

With Phase 1 came outdoor dining, and the reopening of non-essential retail businesses, offices, outdoor museums and zoos, outdoor recreation.

Hair salons and barbershops reopened on June 1.

In mid-May, hospitalizations continued to trend in the downward direction, which was a major goal to be reached before the first phase.

Along with downed hospitalizations, the advisory group wanted the state to also:

• Achieve an increase in widespread and streamlined testing

• Establish sufficient capacity for contact tracing and isolation

• Implement a high touch program to protect persons and populations that are at higher risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19

• Ensure our hospitals are able to provide optimal standard of care to all patients, including those without COVID-19, as prior to the surge

• Guarantee appropriate PPE is available to everyone who needs it

• Implement protocols to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for safe opening of each sector of our economy

For more on the guidelines and what businesses reopened,click here.

As Phase 1 got underway on May 20, Gov. Ned Lamont also outlined what will come with Phase 2, slated for June 20, however that could change depending on how the state meets required public health metrics.

See the latest coronavirus statistics here.

For Phase 2 to happen, five criteria must be met, which include: Declining transmission, with a less than 100-bed net increase in hospitalizations in the last week of Phase 1; testing and contact tracing, with 100,000 tests a week connected with less than 50% of identified contacts within 48 hours; business and social safeguards; protection for critical and at-risk individuals; healthcare capacity, with less than 20% of beds occupied by COVID-19 patients amongst total peak COVID-19 bed capacity.

The Phase 2 businesses that are expected to reopen on June 17 include:

• Hotels (no bar areas)

• Gyms, fitness, and sports clubs

• All personal services

• Outdoor arts, entertainment and events (up to 50 people)

• Outdoor amusement parts

• Movie theaters

• Bowling alleys

• Social clubs, pools

• All museums, zoo, aquariums

• Restaurants (indoor, no bar)

Also under Phase 2 are several education and community services, including:

• Selected youth sports (Jun 20)

• Public libraries (Jun 20)

• All summer day camps (Jun 22)

• Nonresidential workforce programs (mid Jun)

• Nonresidential clinical/laboratory courses (mid Jun)

• K- 12 summer school (July 6)

• Other nonresidential programs, community colleges (July/Aug)

• Graduate programs (July/Aug)

• Undergraduate residential small scale pilot programs (July/Aug)

During Phase 2, those who are at-risk and those who are 65 and older are encouraged to continue to stay home and stay safe.

Face masks/coverings will also be worn at all times during both Phase 2 and Phase 3, and social distancing would still be encouraged.

Phase 3 would happen four weeks after Phase 2, and would include the reopening of:

• Bars

• Indoor event spaces & venues

• Indoor amusement parks & arcades

The Reopen CT Advisory Group and Gov. Lamont said they will continue to monitor several risk factors as the state continues the phases, including a second surge of outbreak, testing statuses, contact tracing, PPE supplies, and more.

For a closer look at the complete reopening plan,click here .

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