Hospitalizations due to the COVID-19 pandemic experienced the largest one day drop to date, Gov. Ned Lamont said Friday. Meanwhile, state colleges and universities said they’re planning to have students back on campus this fall.
Members of the governor’s Faith Advocacy Council joined him on the steps of the State Capitol to discuss the public reopening of places of worship.
They also shared reaction to the death of George Floyd and the riots in Minneapolis, Minn.
“George Floyd could have been me. George Floyd could have been you,” said Kelcy G.L. Steele, pastor at Varick Memorial AME Zion Church in New Haven. Steele asked for a moment of silence for Floyd after speaking about “the disease of racism.”
Minnesota officials announced Friday afternoon the former police officer who pinned Floyd under his knee would be charged with murder.
Lamont said Connecticut residents have reason to be angry about the death of Floyd. “It reminds all of us every day what it means to be part of a common humanity,” Lamont said. He called for a need for diversity in state and local police forces, teachers, and faith leaders.
Meanwhile, the governor said public health data indicate positive trends continue as the state gradually reopens its economy.
Numbers released Friday afternoon say 577 people are now hospitalized with COVID-19, a drop of more than 70 people since yesterday. The governor said it was the largest one day decline to date. The state reported 203 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the total to 41,762 total cases overall.
Lamont said social gatherings inside homes and other buildings can increase to 10 people and outdoor gatherings can increase to 25. The previous state guideline was to limit gatherings to five people. “Outside is safer than inside,” Lamont said.
Casinos Invite Selected Guests Saturday, Plan To Open Monday
Lamont continued to say that he disagrees with tribal leaders' decision to reopen Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun in the next few days. Both casinos said Friday that they invited a select number of guests to the casinos this weekend and that they plan to reopen Monday to the public, with limits on visitor numbers.
But Lamont said his administration and tribal leaders had reached some common ground.
He said he agreed with the casinos’ decisions to bar out of state guests from staying at casino hotels and said he was pleased that the casinos will make dining takeout or outdoor only through June 20.
Tribal leaders and the governor’s office are still discussing whether smoking will be allowed and how alcohol will be served.
Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun both have announced safety measures that include checking people’s temperatures as they enter, plexiglass at table games and the closure of certain slot machines to encourage social distancing. The casinos are on tribal land which are sovereign nations not held to the state’s COVID-19 regulations.
Lamont said Friday that the state may post electronic signs warning of the danger of returning to the casinos.
Connecticut State University System Plans For Fall
The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities announced Friday that it is planning to open its physical campuses to residential and commuter students in the fall. The plan would include UConn, Central Connecticut State University, Western Connecticut State University, Eastern Connecticut State University, and the state’s community college system.
Under the plan announced Friday:
- Residential and commuter students can return to the four universities beginning August 24.
- Classes will follow a common calendar through Thanksgiving, but classes and exams may switch to online after that.
- Regulations and guidelines for residential students to move in are still being determined.
- The 12 community colleges in the CSCU system can resume in-person classes June 1 for students who need to complete academic programs.
Plans for faculty and staff to return to campuses are still being worked out, CSCU said Friday. Though plans are to have students, faculty and staff on campus by fall, CSCU warned Friday that public health conditions may force remote courses and services for everyone if there is a resurgence of the COVID-19 virus.
Worship Spaces To Reopen Under Phased Approach
Lamont announced Friday loosened guidelines to reopen in-person worship services. Places of worship could open to 25 percent capacity or 100 people -- whichever is smaller -- for inside services and 125 people for outside services as long as social distancing standards can be observed, under the new guidelines.
Members of the governor’s Faith Advisory Council voiced support for a slow reopening along with new standards. “What was, will never be again,” said Lindsay E. Curtis, pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Norwalk.
Many churches in the state will remain closed to the public for the foreseeable future. While some church staples, like communion and singing, at those that open their doors will depend on the guidance of individual church leaders.
Episcopal churches in the state will remain closed, said Ian Douglas, Bishop Diocesan of The Episcopal Church in Connecticut. Steele said his church has begun offering communion in individual, single-use cups. First Calvary Baptist Church in New Haven will have one soloist instead of its usual choir when it does reopen, said Boise Kimber, president of the Greater New Haven Clergy Association and senior pastor of the church.
Catholic Churches Announce Limited Reopenings
The three Catholic dioceses in Connecticut say they will be gradually resuming weekday masses, funerals, and weddings. But churchgoers looking for Sunday services will have to wait a little bit longer.
The Dioceses of Bridgeport announced Friday that it would resume daily mass, funerals and weddings inside churches beginning the weekend of June 13 and 14.
Daily masses may resume inside churches in the Archdioceses of Hartford and Diocese of Norwich beginning June 8. Services will be limited to 50 attendants.
Churches in the Archdioceses of Hartford and the Diocese of Norwich will also reopen for funerals and weddings, but Sunday masses will remain temporarily closed to parishioners to attend in person, both dioceses announced Wednesday.
State’s Second COVID-19 Rapid Testing Center To Open
The state's second COVID-19 rapid testing site is planned to open at the Samuel V. Arroyo Recreation Center at 30 Pope Park Drive in Hartford, U.S. Rep. John Larson and Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin announced Friday. Patients will need to call Hartford 311 at 860-757-9311, Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., to schedule a same-day appointment to be tested.
The state’s first rapid testing center opened on April 17 at the former Gateway Community College campus at Long Wharf in New Haven.
“Testing is key to overcoming this pandemic, especially in communities of color that have been hard hit. This is a significant step forward in addressing these disparities and stopping the spread of COVID-19,” Larson said in a statement.
Utility Help For Connecticut Businesses
Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority announced Friday that it extended a moratorium preventing the shutoff of natural gas, electric and water services to businesses through July 1.
The authority had announced a similar moratorium for residential customers as long as the governor’s civil and public health preparedness emergencies are in effect.
