Hair salons and outdoor dining are allowed from May 20

To the relief of many, hair salons and barbershops in Connecticut are allowed to open again on May 20. 

Gov. Ned Lamont announced on Friday, May 8, that a limited number of business types can open on that date, but they must follow safety protocols. It is also up to individual business owners to decide whether they will open on that date.

Restaurants can also open again on May 20, but they can only offer meals in an outdoor setting. 

Any retail businesses that were closed during the quarantine can open again. 

Outdoor recreation is allowed from May 20, although of course hikers are encouraged to maintain social distance and to exercise basic safety precautions. They should also clean up after themselves and not leave trash on trails. Always take a flashlight and a change of clothing and do not eat or touch anything that is unfamiliar.

“Offices” can now open again but it is suggested that employees continue to work from home if possible. 

Schools remain closed but university researchers can return to their work. 

And the outdoor sections of museums and zoos can open.

Salons and barbershops

According to the state guidelines, hair facilities need to reorganize their work stations so that they are 6 feet apart from each other. 

Customers must wait outside in their cars until their appointment begins (and there can be no walk-ins; appointments are required). There can not be a waiting room and there can’t be magazines and print media or coffee and water stations for clients.

No work can be done that requires the removal of a face mask (apologies to the gentlemen in desperate need of a beard trim). Conversation between the client and the salon staff is supposed to be as minimal as possible.

Restaurants

Restaurants with a large outdoor area will be the best able to comply with the regulations, which only allow for outdoor dining. This will no doubt make it more challenging than ever to find a parking space at popular area eateries if they decide to set up seats in their parking lot. 

As always, if you park at a distance and walk along the road to the restaurant, keep in mind that the roads here are often narrow, winding and dangerous and drivers of cars and trucks do not expect to see pedestrians walking four abreast in a traffic lane when they come quickly around a corner.

Drivers should also take note that there will be many more pedestrians on roads now, including some walking in the dark after a meal (and perhaps a glass of wine).

Seating capacity will be limited by as much as 50%. Groups can sit together at a table but all groups must be separated by 6 feet. Servers are required to wear face masks; so are customers. Presumably diners are allowed to take off their masks while they eat and drink but they are expected to put them back on when communicating with the kitchen and wait staff.

Everyone is supposed to wash their hands frequently. Men and women as always are asked to wash their hands after using the bathroom (and before preparing food).

It is strongly suggested that anyone over the age of 65 and anyone with health risks should remain at home. All workers and clients of the reopened businesses are required to remain at home if they have any COVID-19 symptoms.

The full text of the Reopen Connecticut guidelines can be found online at www.portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus; look for Reopen Connecticut in the center of the page and click on “Sector Rules for May 20 Reopen.”

Survey of workers, owners

The state is asking small-business owners to fill out a survey about how ready and willing they are to open their businesses again, www.research.net/r/CTSmallBusinessReopen; and workers are also asked to fill out a survey about whether they feel safe and ready to get back to work, www.research.net/r/CTWorkerSentiment.

All Connecticut residents who are employers or employees are encouraged to take part. And everyone is encouraged to fill out the U.S. Census survey form; survey responses help the government determine funding levels for the Northwest Corner and other regions.

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