Indoor Dining Capacity For Restaurants May Soon Increase In CT

Brian McCready
Updated ·4 min read

CONNECTICUT — There may be some good news on the horizon for the restaurant industry as a new report says Gov. Ned Lamont is considering increasing capacity of indoor dining in September.

The Republican-American's Paul Hughes reports that Lamont said if Connecticut's coronavirus infection rate remains low — and on Wednesday it was a minuscule 0.3 percent — then he would consider increasing the capacity of indoor dining.

Right now restaurants are allowed to offer 50 percent capacity when it pertains to indoor dining. (You can read all the current rules for indoor dining here.)

Hughes reports Lamont didn't say how much of an increase he is considering, but it would likely be announced in a few weeks. There are no plans for bars to reopen anytime soon.

Scott Dolch, executive director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, told the Rep-Am that with cooler weather approaching, it is vital to have indoor dining capacity increase.

>>>Read the full Rep-Am story here.

More fines issued for violation of state's travel restrictions

Earlier this week, state officials revealed two people were fined $1,000 each for violating the state's coronavirus travel restrictions. On Wednesday, NBC Connecticut reported five more people have been fined. Four are Stamford residents who returned from North Carolina and the fifth is an Old Lyme resident who returned from Texas, the station reported.

See also: CT Heroes: Help Patch Recognize Those Making A Difference

Last month, Lamont signed an executive order subjects visitors who violate the state's coronavirus travel advisory to a fine. Earlier this week, he showed he meant business when law enforcement officials issued the first such fines to two people who refused to fill out the state's travel quarantine form. One was from Louisiana and the other was from Florida. One of the travelers was fined twice — once for not filling out the travel form and another for not following the 14-day quarantine rule.

States are put on the advisory list if they have a daily positive coronavirus test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or a 10 percent or higher positive rate over a seven-day rolling average.

As of Tuesday, the following 34 locations met the criteria and are included in Connecticut's travel advisory:

  • Alabama

  • Arkansas

  • Arizona

  • California

  • Florida

  • Georgia

  • Hawaii

  • Iowa

  • Idaho

  • Illinois

  • Indiana

  • Kansas

  • Kentucky

  • Louisiana

  • Maryland

  • Minnesota

  • Missouri

  • Mississippi

  • Montana

  • North Carolina

  • North Dakota

  • Nebraska

  • Nevada

  • Oklahoma

  • Puerto Rico

  • South Carolina

  • South Dakota

  • Tennessee

  • Texas

  • Utah

  • Virgin Islands

  • Virginia

  • Washington (Metrics for Washington are currently under review, status may change)

  • Wisconsin

>>>Read the full NBC CT story here.

Eversource executive sold stock one day before Isaias hit CT

State Treasurer Shawn Wooden, on behalf of the Connecticut pension funds that invest in Eversource energy, released a statement in response to learning an Eversource executive sold $500,000 in shares the day before Tropical Storm Isaias hit Connecticut.

"The Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds’ (CRPTF) current investments in Eversource are valued at roughly $7.2 million," the statement said. "This week, Treasurer Wooden urged swift action by the Board, given the intense scrutiny of the company’s poor preparation, slow restoration of power, and the associated increase in regulatory action, reputational harm, and potential impairment of long-term shareholder value.

"It is inappropriate and irresponsible for an executive of any energy company who’s compensation is built on the backs of ratepayers – many of whom lost power for days on end – to have sold half a million dollars worth of shares within hours of one of the most impactful storms in our state’s history. Eversource’s leadership should have been laser focused on storm preparation and response. These latest revelations concern me as a shareholder, and should concern all shareholders. The Eversource Board owes us an explanation about this timing."

NBC Connecticut and CT News Junkie's Christine Stuart reported in-depth on the Eversource executive's stock sale and a company official told her the sale was perfectly legal. You can read her story here.

See also: New Mall Development Plans Make Officials Nervous

This article originally appeared on the Across Connecticut Patch