Daily coronavirus updates: Lamont defends next phase of reopening as Connecticut’s COVID-19 numbers increase further

Gov. Ned Lamont on Monday defended his decision to proceed with expanding indoor restaurant dining this week, even as Connecticut’s coronavirus numbers remain higher than they were for much of the past few months.

The latest reopening phase, set to begin Thursday, would allow indoor dining at restaurants to increase from 50% to 75% capacity, along with relaxed restrictions on hair salons, barber shops, libraries, places of worship, outdoor concerts and more.

“We just wanted to give our restaurants a little bit of flexibility," Lamont said. “They’ve been managing very well when it comes to the protocols, and we’re going to stick to that plan.”

Lamont on Monday announced 823 new COVID-19 cases out of 50,333 tests over the weekend, for a rate of 1.64%. The state’s positivity rate has now risen to 1.6% over the past seven days, up from as low as 0.7% at times over the summer.

Connecticut now has 129 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, a jump from 19 and Friday, and 54 more than last Monday — and the most of any day since June 23. New London County has experienced a particularly significant increase, from two hospitalized patients on Sept. 18 to 26 as of Monday.

The state recorded four more coronavirus-linked deaths over the weekend, bringing its total to 4,517 during the pandemic. The United States has now recorded 210,013 COVID-19 deaths, according to the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University.

Lamont said he would consider pausing Connecticut’s reopening process if the state’s positivity rate reached 4% or 5%. Still, he said he preferred not to commit to a specific number that would trigger a change in course.

Lamont noted that Connecticut’s 1.6% positivity rate ranks among the lowest in the nation, with some western states exceeding 20%.

Dr. David Banach, epidemiologist at UConn Health, said Monday that the state should be “very careful thinking about expanding reopening in light of what we’re seeing."

Indoor dining, Banach said, represents a particular risk. One recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found that adults who tested positive for COVID-19 were about twice as likely as others to have dined at a restaurant within the previous two weeks.

“You would think that by the nature of indoor dining, with people not wearing masks, potentially talking loudly, small settings, indoor dining would be something to be very cautious with," Banach said.

Banach noted that capacity is just one factor in restaurant safety — ventilation, distancing and barriers also play a role. Still, he said he won’t personally eat out indoors anytime soon.

“It’s tough to make a one-size-fits-all decision," he said, "but my personal practice is to not do indoor dining at restaurants.”

On Monday, the CDC posted a fresh warning about transmission of COVID-19 indoors.

“There is evidence that under certain conditions, people with COVID-19 seem to have infected others who were more than 6 feet away," the CDC posted on its website Monday. “These transmissions occurred within enclosed spaces that had inadequate ventilation.”

Lamont said Monday he and his administration “don’t see restaurants as a big accelerant in terms of the contagion, looking around the rest of the country.” When reminded of the CDC study, the governor clarified that he was comparing restaurant dining with bars.

“I think certainly compared to bars, restaurants have managed themselves pretty well,” he said. “I think our restaurants here in Connecticut have managed that very professionally."

Asked if he would feel comfortable eating indoors when the state allows restaurants to increase their indoor capacity, the governor hedged.

“If I could be outside, I’m going to be outside as long as I can,” Lamont said.

When pressed again, the governor said he’d “get there” and that he would probably size up a restaurant setup before eating indoors, checking for precautions such as plastic partitions.

“A lot of [people] would prefer to be outside as long as they can,” Lamont said. “But it’s been … four, five months now, I think people would be comfortable getting inside.”

Restaurant owners have lobbied publicly and privately for expanded indoor dining, particularly as the weather cools and eating outdoors becomes less practical. Scott Dolch, executive director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, has called the coming phase “another important step in Connecticut’s nation-leading efforts to respond to COVID-19 in a safe and responsible manner.”

In addition to restaurant capacity, Thursday’s reopening phase will include the following changes:

Hair salons, barber shops and libraries will be allowed 75% capacity, up from 50% currently.

Places of worship will be allowed up to 50% capacity indoors capped at 200 people, up from 25% capped at 100 people.

Maximum capacity at outdoor event venues such as racetracks and amphitheaters will increase from 25% to 50%.

Private outdoor gatherings will now be capped at 150 attendees, up from 100.

Indoor performing arts venues will be allowed to open at 50% capacity.

Alex Putterman can be reached at aputterman@courant.com.

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