HARTFORD, Conn — Gov. Ned Lamont signed an executive order on police use of force and accountability.
Lamont tweeted Monday saying he would sign an executive order regarding police accountability and transparency. The details of this order would be discussed at the briefing.
Senator Dennis Bradley (D-Bridgeport, Stratford), Representative Brandon McGee (D-Hartford), and Representative Joe Verrengia (D-West Hartford) joined to speak about police reform in Connecticut.
Some of the specifics of the order are:
- prohibiting chokeholds in Connecticut
- reviewing and updating Connecticut's use-of-force policy
- Appointing and creating more troopers in each Connecticut State Police Troop as a community trust liaison in addition to the Resident State Trooper program.
- De-militarization, in which the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection will no longer by military-grade equipment from the federal government
- Provide every state trooper with a body camera and every state police car with a dashboard camera.
Read the order below:
The Governor also said during the press conference Connecticut has the third-lowest infection rate in the country. The state has 45,235 people confirmed to have the virus and the 4,204 people have died. There are 203 people currently hospitalized due to COVID-19. Fairfield County continues to have the most cases and deaths in the state. Hartford County has the third most people to have the virus but the second most COVID-19 related deaths.
On Wednesday, it's expected that the state will enter Phase 2 of the reopening. Restrictions on restaurants, public spaces and other businesses are expected to be eased.
Here is what will be allowed to reopen in phase two:
- Amusement Parks (up to 25% capacity)
- Hotels / Lodging
- Restaurants (indoor, no bar -- current table limit is 25)
- Museums, zoos, and aquariums
- Indoor recreation (e.g., bowling alleys, movie theaters, etc.)
- Libraries
- Outdoor arts, entertainment and events (up to 50 people)
- Personal services (e.g., nail salons, tattoo parlors, etc.)
- Sports and fitness facilities (e.g., gyms, fitness centers, pools, etc.)
During phase two, restaurants are permitted to welcome patrons back in for indoor dining. However, the current table limit is 25 people and bars are still not allowed. What can customers expect?
- Indoor waiting areas will be closed
- Visual markers to encourage 6 ft social distancing
- Buffet and self-serve stations eliminated
- Amenities non-essential to businesses main function (e.g. dance floor, pool table) closed or removed
- Employees to not share equipment. If shared, clean after each use
- Servers should serve specific zones in the restaurant to minimize overlap, where possible
- Businesses are strongly encouraged to use no-touch or disposable options for menus (e.g. phone app, whiteboard). If no-touch or disposable options are not utilized, businesses must sanitize menus between uses
- Use single use packets or containers
- Utensils should be rolled or packaged
- Install touchless appliances wherever possible, including: contactless payments, paper towel dispensers, soap dispensers, trash cans
Gov. Ned Lamont's office released its daily update Sunday afternoon on stats in the state's fight against the Coronavirus, indicating the downward trend in the figures.
As of Sunday, 45,088 people have tested positive, an increase of 94; Fifteen more people have died, 4,201 people have died; 205 people are currently hospitalized which is a decrease of 28 and 347,190 more tests have been reported bringing the total to 4,852.