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November 18, 2020

COVID rule violators face fines in New Haven 

PHOTO | Pixabay.com
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

Businesses and establishments in New Haven which break COVID-19 rules regarding mask-wearing and gathering size will face fines starting this week, city officials announced Tuesday.

Mayor Justin Elicker said during a press conference that the city’s COVID inspection team will initially issue a written warning.

After that, a business or entity will be fined $100 if an employee fails to wear a mask or cloth face covering while at work.

Additionally, any person or business entity which organizes, hosts or sponsors a gathering that violates the state’s rules on maximum capacity will face a $500 fine.

“Our COVID inspection team has been very proactive for many months in making sure establishments are abiding by COVID-19 regulations,” Elicker said. 

Municipalities are allowed to implement fines in accordance with Gov. Ned Lamont’s executive orders, and any money collected will go to state coffers.

“We just want to make it very clear,” Elicker said. “We want businesses to take this very seriously. We will warn them once and then we will fine them.”

According to Elicker, city officials have seen a number of local businesses be lax about the number of people allowed to gather inside, and about employees’ mask usage.

Inspectors will continue doing random inspections, and will also go to review a particular business in response to a complaint, officials said.

The new fine policy will go into effect before the weekend, though officials didn’t give the exact day. 

Director of Health Maritza Bond said to date, the city has ordered the closure of 13 city establishments due to violations. Of these, 10 have reopened. Of the two which haven’t, two fall under Phase 3 of Lamont’s reopening schedule. One is currently taking corrective actions to address city officials’ concerns, according to Bond.

Earlier this week, Elicker called for Lamont to impose additional restrictions to help reduce the spread of coronavirus, including a return to Phase 1, though Lamont has not done so.

Lamont as of Nov. 6 ordered the state to abide by the rules under Phase 2.1, which allows 50 percent indoor capacity in restaurants, for example. Click HERE to see a complete list of the current restrictions.

Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.

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