CONNECTICUT — As usual these days, there was a flurry of developments Thursday concerning Connecticut and the new coronavirus. The updated numbers are 1,012 positive cases, 21 deaths and 125 hospitalizations.

And late Thursday, Lamont signed another executive order regulating restaurants, retail stores, gun-buying and more. Below is a summary of the new regulations.

Gov. Ned Lamont ordered social gatherings across the state be limited to five people or less. He said he came up with this new edict after viewing a large group of people walking together over the weekend.

No more than five, please

All social and recreational gatherings are restricted to no more than five people through at least April 30. This order includes, but is not limited to, community, civic, leisure, or sporting events; parades; concerts; festivals; plays or live performances; conventions and similar activities. For religious, spiritual or worship gatherings, the limit is 50 people. The order does not apply to government operations, private workplaces and retail establishments.

Restaurants and bars that remain open for takeout must limit customers and delivery personnel from entering the premises. They must also use remote-ordering and touchless payment systems if possible.

You can only buy a gun by appointment only

Open retail establishments must take "appropriate and reasonable measures" to ensure customers maintain a 6-foot distance between each other. It also requires stores to employ touchless payment technology if they already have it.

All businesses that sell guns, ammunition and similar components must conduct transactions by appointment only. A 6-foot distance must be maintained between customers and staff. Only customers conducting such transactions will be allowed in the store.

Bag tax suspended

Tax on single-use, plastic checkout bags at grocery stores and other retail businesses is suspended. Employees are not required to place items in a customer's reusable bag. Customers are still permitted to bring in reusable bags but they may need to bag their own items.

Family assistance

The 21-month limit on Temporary Family Assistance is lifted, allowing families to get the resources they need until the coronavirus emergency is over, Lamont said.

School tests done

School testing assessments for the 2019-2020 school year are suspended, as Lamont said the pandemic has caused a major disruption for students.

Lamont seeks disaster declaration from President Trump

Gov. Lamont on Thursday submitted a request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a major disaster declaration from President Trump for Connecticut. If the disaster declaration is approved, Connecticut residents may have access to additional resources for child care, crisis counseling and other need.

Business can apply for the Connecticut Recovery Bridge Loan Program

Lamont's emergency loan program provides no-interest loans to Connecticut small businesses and nonprofits for immediate assistance with cash flow.

More Connecticut coronavirus updates

Residents, businesses and other organizations around Connecticut continue responding to a request for donations of personal protective equipment that Lamont issued last week. Some of the recent donations include:

Mercy Free Dental Clinic: Nitrile gloves, earloop masks, disinfectant wipes, Clorox bleach germicidal wipes, Clorox hydrogen peroxide, hand sanitizer, lab coats, and isolation and patient gowns.

Bethel Public Schools: Nitrile gloves, earloop masks, disinfectant wipes, N95 masks, oral thermometers, oral thermometer covers and Braun Tremoscan PC200s.

Glastonbury Public Schools: N95 masks, children's surgical earloop masks, adult surgical earloop masks and vinyl powder free exam gloves.

Those willing to donate supplies should fill out a form on the state's coronavirus website.

Connecticut National Guard deploys tents to expand capacity at the West Haven V.A. Medical Center

The Connecticut National Guard on Thursday deployed two climate-controlled tents on the grounds of the West Haven VA Medical Center to deal with potential patient overflow. The Guard is in the process of delivering two similar tents to the Newington VA Medical Center.

These tents are in addition to the Connecticut Department of Public Health mobile field hospitals that were set up this week on the grounds of Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford and Danbury Hospital. A third mobile field hospital is being prepared at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown.

Department of Correction begins manufacturing face masks

To assist with the shortage of personal protective equipment, the Connecticut Department of Correction developed a mass-production prototype of a cotton fabric face mask to use where respirators or surgical masks are not available. The department has the ability to convert five of its manufacturing shops for production of the masks. Full-scale manufacturing of the masks began Monday. A total of 1,200 to 1,400 face masks could be produced daily. Since Monday, the unit has produced more than 3,300 masks. It is likely that daily production will increase as the production process is streamlined.

Connecticut Insurance Department calls on automotive and motorcycle insurers to extend coverage for personal delivery drivers

Connecticut Insurance Department Commissioner Andrew N. Mais is calling on insurers to immediately institute an extension of coverage for personal delivery drivers in light of the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a bulletin released Thursday, the department is requesting that all insurance companies that offer automotive and motorcycle liability insurance coverage in Connecticut immediately expand coverage for the personal use of vehicles for certain commercial purposes. This will ensure delivery workers have adequate protection while using their personal car or motorcycle to deliver food and medicine, Mais said.



Latest Connecticut coronavirus numbers

More than 6,500 tests have been conducted in Connecticut among both state and private laboratories. This is the county-by-county breakdown:

Fairfield County: 607 cases, 49 hospitalizations, 13 deaths.

Hartford County: 138 cases, 27 hospitalizations, 2 deaths.

Litchfield County: 44 cases, 3 hospitalizations, no deaths.

Middlesex County: 18 cases, 5 hospitalizations, one death.

New Haven County: 156 cases, 34 hospitalizations, two deaths.

New London County: 13 cases, 2 hospitalizations, no deaths.

Tolland County: 33 cases, 5 hospitalizations, three deaths.

Windham County: 3 cases, 0 hospitalizations, zero deaths.

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