Gov. Ned Lamont faces criticism over the rate at which barbershops, restaurants and others are reopening.

Some question choice of which businesses can reopen first

Gov. Ned Lamont is facing a burst of criticism as he navigates a path to restarting Connecticut’s economy, left for dead since midMarch when the coronavirus began its advance across the state.

Businesses are set to take the first opening steps Wednesday, a much-anticipated milestone since April 30 when Lamont announced that he and his advisory team, relying on medical and business data, settled on the date.

But critics question the complicated plans to open an array of businesses now and in the months ahead, while keeping at bay the coronavirus that has left nearly 3,500 residents dead.

Lamont’s decision Monday that barbershops and hair salons will instead open in early June, and changes in other policies to reopen businesses, have prompted criticism that run counter to his high marks from the public. A midApril poll found 67% of Connecticut residents approved of the governor’s communication about the pandemic.

Incoming fire has grown more intense, faulting Lamont for failing to be more specific about plans for the second stage of the business reboot in June.

“The phases are going too slowly,” Cromwell Mayor Enzo Faienza said. “I understand the governor’s executive orders are there to protect the residents. We’re two months in the crisis. The numbers have really gone down.”

Hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients have been falling for nearly four weeks and Lamont said Monday that Connecticut has met key public health criteria necessary to begin the task of restarting businesses. He cited increased testing and an adequate supply of personal protective equipment.

Faienza said “a lot of uncertainty” surrounds state policy

about which businesses, such as gyms, massage therapists and cinemas, will open.

Lamont issued an executive order Monday that reverses previous orders and extends a state of emergency through June 20, prohibiting large gatherings and closing numerous facilities, from movie theaters to gyms.

“I’m listening to people a lot smarter than I am on these various subjects and they thought those are areas where it’s much more difficult to contain the virus, much more likely for it to be spread and probably a place that we should wait right now and not a key priority,” he said at his daily briefing Tuesday. “Certainly not on June 1.”

Faienza had scheduled a town meeting Tuesday evening to discuss with lawyers what choices, if any, are available to Cromwell to go its own way opening businesses.

Lamont said municipalities are responsible for enforcing state rules and if he fails to persuade local officials to do their jobs and municipal police fall short, the state will step in with a “friendly reminder.”

“Lets keep our discipline a little bit longer,” he said. “I don’t want people peeling off, making exceptions. I know it’s getting summery out there and people are feeling a little frisky, but it’s really important to do this.”

New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart, who rapped Lamont on Monday over what she called his “last minute” decision to exclude barbershops and hairdressers from the Wednesday opening, continued her criticism Tuesday.

“But Walmart and Costco can be open, all these other stores can be open,” she said on a video posted on Facebook. “But who am I? I’m not the governor, so I guess I can’t make that decision.”

Sate Sen. Len Fasano, R-North Haven, criticized Lamont’s decision to delay the opening of barbershops and hair salons, saying he ignored metrics showing a drop in hospitalizations, a key gauge for setting public policy.

The Senate Republican leader cited Lamont’s reversal of a policy that initially barred the use of blow dryers, but later allowed it.

“Blow drying, not blow drying. Open up, not open up,” Fasano said. “People wonder if there are other objective factors.”

Lamont said he is confident he and his administration “made the right decision.”

“There is a balance and there is nothing that is risk-free,” he said. “But I think, given the metrics we put in place for the best scientific team I think any state has put together, we’ve hit those metrics, we’re exceeding those metrics.”

Businesses, too, have questioned Lamont’s policies. A coalition of restaurants, hotels and other industry players wrote to Lamont on May 13 asking that he allow restaurants to open half their interior spaces to the public June 3, earlier than contemplated by the governor and his advisers. Outdoor seating at restaurants will begin Wednesday, but less than 25% will do so, said Scott Dolch, executive director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association.

Businesses expressed to Lamont in their letter “confusion and concern” over recommendations from the governor’s advisory group that would keep restaurants from offering indoor dining during the initial phases of reopening.

The businesses said “limited, safe indoor dining” is possible, and asked that a 50% capacity be allowed indoors beginning June 3, 14 days after other businesses are allowed to begin some operation indoors.

“Doing so would keep many local restaurants from going out of business in the weeks ahead,” they said.

Hours before the first businesses were to open, Lamont said Connecticut “can proceed on a very thoughtful basis.”

“I’m looking forward. I think this is a good day for the state,” he said.