With Positivity and Hospitalization rates decreasing and the availability of vaccinations to more people increasing, we are all cautiously optimistic for the future. This cautious optimism is also shared by Governor Lamont. This week he announced if the decreasing trajectory continues, he will increase gathering limits at commercial venues effective March 19, 2021 to 50% capacity indoors up to 100 people indoors and 200 outdoors. In home private gatherings are still capped at 10 people both indoors and out.
For Connecticut restaurants and catering halls, this is great news as there are many people that have the need to celebrate some life milestones and with indoor limits at 100, hosts don’t have to cut their lists down to 25 any longer. Of course, all the standard safety protocols will still be in place, such as wearing a mask, hand washing and sanitizing as well as social distancing. We are waiting for additional guidance but this is a start. When I spoke to the Governor’s office last week, they said they are waiting for phase 1c for vaccinations; when we are closer to herd immunity, before relaxing more gathering restrictions.
The CT announcement is following the NY guidelines released in late January by Governor Cuomo effective March 15, 2021. However, in NY, the events are limited specifically to weddings up to 150 people at commercial venues, all participants must have a negative COVID tests and it will be monitored through a permit process with the local Health Department.
Even with the higher permitted indoor limits, many clients I have spoken to recently are still seeking outdoor locations for early spring events. Who doesn’t love the outdoors in the spring? We have all become more comfortable outside in the last year, we feel safer outside, too. Demand for outdoor venues is high and don’t forget all the events that were postponed from 2020 may now be scheduled for 2021.
We are now almost into a full year of this uncertainty and rapidly changing restrictions; with so much to keep up with, it can get hard to keep it all straight. Do you know of any couples or families that can use some guidance or assistance with regards to safely hosting a milestone event or celebration? Do you need assistance in finding an outdoor location to suit your needs? Looking for a place that has both indoor and outdoor capacity? Consider giving me a call – my Venue Research and Event Consultation Service may just be what you need to alleviate some of the uncertainty of this time. It would be my pleasure to safely assist you.