Beginning March 19, 2021, businesses in Connecticut will no longer be obligated to follow the Sector Rules or Safe Workplace Rules for Essential Businesses that have been issued during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) has issued new recommendations in its reopening guidance.

Previously, DECD required all businesses and employers in Connecticut to follow detailed guidance setting mandatory practices on maintaining social distancing, cleaning the workplace, and avoiding other practices that could spread the virus.

Under the new guidance, DECD lifts these mandates, but encourages businesses to continue following the expiring directives as recommended best practices. DECD urges employers to allow employees to continue working from home and to continue to maintain employee logs, social distancing markers and signage, and increase facility ventilation, as available.

Notwithstanding these relaxed standards, the new guidance continues to require that all businesses continue to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cleaning and disinfecting protocols. The guidance also continues to encourage reporting of potential violations of the guidance to the Connecticut state hotline. However, the guidance is silent on enforcement mechanisms.