Governor Ned Lamont has signed another executive order addressing the public health emergency.  He has temporarily suspended the 10-cent tax on single-use plastic bags, until May 15th.  The order also prohibits employers of any grocery store or retail business from requiring their employees to bag items into a customer-provided reusable bag. Customers may bag their own items. 

He is also restricting social and recreational gatherings to less than 5. The modified order is in place through at least April 30th.  This does not apply to government operations, private workplaces, or other activities that are not social.  Religious, spiritual, or worship gatherings are still prohibited to no more than 50 persons.  

The order requires all firearm transactions to be conducted by appointment only. Appointments must be limited in order to allow a six-foot distance between any customers and staff in a store, and only customers conducting such transactions will be allowed in the store.

Another order restricts restaurant payment and pickup operations When reasonable, restaurants and bars should limit entrance of customers or third party delivery personnel into their locations to pick up and/or pay for orders, use touchless payment systems, and have remote ordering and payment.  The order does not require businesses to acquire or use technology that they do not already have. The order doesn’t prohibit drive-through ordering and pickup, and doesn’t prohibit in-person payment or cash payment where this is no reasonable alternative. Previously issued guidance for hospital and business cafeterias remains in effect.