Posted inNews

Photo essay: As COVID-era restrictions fall, Connecticut residents look for a new normal

by Yehyun Kim May 21, 2021 @ 7:26 pmJuly 13, 2022 @ 3:20 pm

Facebook
Bluesky
X
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Print

Republish this article

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Nonprofit and hyperlocal news organizations are welcome to republish CT Mirror stories and opinion pieces at no charge. If you do republish CT Mirror content we ask that you follow a few guidelines:

You must use the HTML code below (including the Canonical code).
You must include a byline, ideally in this format: "by Ginny Monk, CT Mirror."
Access to CT Mirror content that you republish must remain free. You may not sell access to this article, place it behind a paywall, or grant downstream publication rights to other publishers.
You must receive approval from CT Mirror Publisher Bruce Putterman prior to re-publishing your first CT Mirror story.
See additional Republishing Guidelines, including conditions by which you may make small changes to story content, here.

Photo essay: As COVID-era restrictions fall, Connecticut residents look for a new normal

by Yehyun Kim, CT Mirror
May 21, 2021

<h1>Photo essay: As COVID-era restrictions fall, Connecticut residents look for a new normal</h1>
<p class="byline">by Yehyun Kim, CT Mirror <br />May 21, 2021</p>

<div class="wp-block-image size-full wp-image-934487">
<figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img src="https://ctmirror.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210520_YardGoats_DunkinDonuts_YK_015.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-934487" height="1333" width="2000" /><figcaption>Fans head to Dunkin’ Donuts Park to watch the baseball game between Hartford Yard Goats and Somerset Patriots on May 20.</figcaption><figcaption> Fans head to Dunkin&#8217; Donuts Park to watch the baseball game between Hartford Yard Goats and Somerset Patriots on May 20.</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<p>Connecticut residents took a few cautious steps into a world once known as “normal” this week, after the state’s COVID-19 restrictions were largely put aside.</p>
<p>Mask restrictions that have been in effect since April 2020 — including the requirement that people wear masks indoors — were<a href="https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Coronavirus/Community_Resources/Vaccinations/Print-Materials/Fact-Sheets/COVID_Rules_Vaccinated.pdf"> relaxed on May 19</a> for people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but residents weren’t uniformly eager to abandon the masks.</p>
<p>Many businesses took advantage of the new rules and dropped mask requirements, but it wasn’t unusual to see people wearing masks even in places without restrictions.</p>
<p>At the Hartford Yard Goats minor league baseball game in Hartford on Thursday night, though, the crowd seemed to embrace the relaxed rules.</p>
<div class="wp-block-image size-full wp-image-934491">
<figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img src="https://ctmirror.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210520_YardGoats_DunkinDonuts_YK_152.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-934491" height="1333" width="2000" /><figcaption>The audience watches the baseball game between Hartford Yard Goats and Somerset Patriots on May 20. Dunkin’ Donuts Park went to full capacity beginning May 19 when the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.</figcaption><figcaption> The audience watches the baseball game between Hartford Yard Goats and Somerset Patriots on May 20. Dunkin&#8217; Donuts Park went to full capacity beginning May 19 when the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-image size-full wp-image-934501">
<figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img src="https://ctmirror.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210520_YardGoats_DunkinDonuts_YK_518.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-934501" height="1333" width="2000" /><figcaption>Fans clap during an award event at the Dunkin’ Donuts Park.</figcaption><figcaption> Fans clap during an award event at the Dunkin&#8217; Donuts Park.</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-image size-full wp-image-934500">
<figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img src="https://ctmirror.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210520_YardGoats_DunkinDonuts_YK_501.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-934500" height="1333" width="2000" /><figcaption>Fans cheer during the baseball game.</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-image size-full wp-image-934498">
<figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img src="https://ctmirror.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210520_YardGoats_DunkinDonuts_YK_485.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-934498" height="1333" width="2000" /><figcaption>Fans pass by the Hartford Yard Goats merchandise shop. Stadium staff were wearing masks.</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-image size-full wp-image-934497">
<figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img src="https://ctmirror.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210520_YardGoats_DunkinDonuts_YK_432.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-934497" height="1333" width="2000" /><figcaption>From left, Kearah Vaught prepares the order while Caitlin Charest and Gabe Kucharski, of Plainville, have a conversation. Vaught said she’s fully vaccinated but prefers to wear a mask. “I feel more comfortable this way, especially when it’s a crowded area like now,” she said. “I prefer to have an extra level of safety.”</figcaption><figcaption> From left, Kearah Vaught prepares the order while Caitlin Charest and Gabe Kucharski, of Plainville, have a conversation. Vaught said she&#8217;s fully vaccinated but prefers to wear a mask. &#8220;I feel more comfortable this way, especially when it&#8217;s a crowded area like now,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I prefer to have an extra level of safety.&#8221;</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-image size-full wp-image-934492">
<figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img src="https://ctmirror.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210520_YardGoats_DunkinDonuts_YK_235.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-934492" height="1333" width="2000" /><figcaption>People greet each other during a baseball game. Fans in attendance at Dunkin’ Donuts Park were not required to wear a mask. But masks were recommended for fans who were not fully vaccinated.</figcaption><figcaption> People greet each other during a baseball game. Fans in attendance at Dunkin&#8217; Donuts Park were not required to wear a mask. But masks were recommended for fans who were not fully vaccinated.</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-image size-full wp-image-934489">
<figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img src="https://ctmirror.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210520_YardGoats_DunkinDonuts_YK_462.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-934489" height="1333" width="2000" /><figcaption>Mason Frost, 9, and Rylan Garceau, 9, decide which ice cream to order. They wore masks because they were not vaccinated.</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-image size-full wp-image-934488">
<figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img src="https://ctmirror.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210520_YardGoats_DunkinDonuts_YK_046.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-934488" height="1333" width="2000" /><figcaption>Barriers were still installed on the top floor. A staff member said that they will be removed in June.</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-image size-full wp-image-934495">
<figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img src="https://ctmirror.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210520_YardGoats_DunkinDonuts_YK_375.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-934495" height="1333" width="2000" /><figcaption>Fans walk around the hallway at Dunkin’ Donuts Park on May 20. Beginning May 19, vaccinated people were not required to wear masks indoors. Masks are still recommended for people who have not been fully vaccinated.</figcaption><figcaption> Fans walk around the hallway at Dunkin&#8217; Donuts Park on May 20. Beginning May 19, vaccinated people were not required to wear masks indoors. Masks are still recommended for people who have not been fully vaccinated.</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-image size-full wp-image-934327">
<figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img src="https://ctmirror.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210519_Reopening_BushnellPark_YK_004.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-934327" height="1333" width="2000" /><figcaption>Signs that require face coverings were seen at most shops at The Shoppes at Buckland Hills on May 19.</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-image size-full wp-image-934061">
<figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img src="https://ctmirror.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210514_PhantomBrewing_Hartford_YK_006.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-934061" height="1333" width="2000" /><figcaption>Gray Roegiers, left, and Yvonne Ledoux, of Middletown, have a beer outside Phantom Brewing Company in Hartford last week. It was the first time the couple, who were vaccinated a while ago, opted not to wear masks outside.</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-image size-full wp-image-934329">
<figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img src="https://ctmirror.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210519_Reopening_BushnellPark_YK_079.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-934329" height="1333" width="2000" /><figcaption>From left, Venya Barna, 8, and Rudra Barna, 4, climb at Bushnell Park in Hartford as their mom, Ritu Barna, watches. Ritu said she stopped wearing a mask at non-crowded outdoor areas about a week ago.</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://ctmirror.org/2021/05/21/photo-essay-as-covid-era-restrictions-fall-connecticut-residents-look-for-a-new-normal/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://ctmirror.org&quot;&gt;CT Mirror&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/&quot;&gt;Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;img src=&quot;https://ctmirror.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/cropped-CTMirror_bug_rgb-180x180.jpg&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;</p>
&lt;img id=&quot;republication-tracker-tool-source&quot; src=&quot;https://ctmirror.org/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=934305&amp;amp;ga4=G-9GVNVL530Q&quot; style=&quot;width:1px;height:1px;&quot;&gt;&lt;script&gt; PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: &quot;https://ctmirror.org/2021/05/21/photo-essay-as-covid-era-restrictions-fall-connecticut-residents-look-for-a-new-normal/&quot;, urlref: window.location.href }); } } &lt;/script&gt; &lt;script id=&quot;parsely-cfg&quot; src=&quot;//cdn.parsely.com/keys/ctmirror.org/p.js&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

Fans pass by the Hartford Yard Goats merchandise shop. Credit: Yehyun Kim / ctmirror.org

You've read 5 stories this month.

Support the CT Mirror reporting you rely on.

Donate

Fans head to Dunkin’ Donuts Park to watch the baseball game between Hartford Yard Goats and Somerset Patriots on May 20. Credit: Yehyun Kim / ctmirror.org

Connecticut residents took a few cautious steps into a world once known as “normal” this week, after the state’s COVID-19 restrictions were largely put aside.

Mask restrictions that have been in effect since April 2020 — including the requirement that people wear masks indoors — were relaxed on May 19 for people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but residents weren’t uniformly eager to abandon the masks.

Many businesses took advantage of the new rules and dropped mask requirements, but it wasn’t unusual to see people wearing masks even in places without restrictions.

At the Hartford Yard Goats minor league baseball game in Hartford on Thursday night, though, the crowd seemed to embrace the relaxed rules.

The audience watches the baseball game between Hartford Yard Goats and Somerset Patriots on May 20. Dunkin’ Donuts Park went to full capacity beginning May 19 when the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. Credit: Yehyun Kim / ctmirror.org

Fans clap during an award event at the Dunkin’ Donuts Park. Credit: Yehyun Kim / ctmirror.org

Fans cheer during the baseball game. Credit: Yehyun Kim / ctmirror.org

Fans pass by the Hartford Yard Goats merchandise shop. Stadium staff were wearing masks. Credit: Yehyun Kim / ctmirror.org

From left, Kearah Vaught prepares the order while Caitlin Charest and Gabe Kucharski, of Plainville, have a conversation. Vaught said she’s fully vaccinated but prefers to wear a mask. “I feel more comfortable this way, especially when it’s a crowded area like now,” she said. “I prefer to have an extra level of safety.” Credit: Yehyun Kim / ctmirror.org

People greet each other during a baseball game. Fans in attendance at Dunkin’ Donuts Park were not required to wear a mask. But masks were recommended for fans who were not fully vaccinated. Credit: Yehyun Kim / ctmirror.org

Mason Frost, 9, and Rylan Garceau, 9, decide which ice cream to order. They wore masks because they were not vaccinated. Credit: Yehyun Kim / ctmirror.org

Barriers were still installed on the top floor. A staff member said that they will be removed in June. Credit: Yehyun Kim / ctmirror.org

Fans walk around the hallway at Dunkin’ Donuts Park on May 20. Beginning May 19, vaccinated people were not required to wear masks indoors. Masks are still recommended for people who have not been fully vaccinated. Credit: Yehyun Kim / ctmirror.org

Signs that require face coverings were seen at most shops at The Shoppes at Buckland Hills on May 19. Credit: Yehyun Kim / ctmirror.org

Gray Roegiers, left, and Yvonne Ledoux, of Middletown, have a beer outside Phantom Brewing Company in Hartford last week. It was the first time the couple, who were vaccinated a while ago, opted not to wear masks outside. Credit: Yehyun Kim / ctmirror.org

From left, Venya Barna, 8, and Rudra Barna, 4, climb at Bushnell Park in Hartford as their mom, Ritu Barna, watches. Ritu said she stopped wearing a mask at non-crowded outdoor areas about a week ago. Credit: Yehyun Kim / ctmirror.org

Connecticut needs you now.

Across the country, reporters and news organizations are challenged, dismissed, even targeted for doing their jobs. It’s happening to CT Mirror journalists, too.

This year, for the first time, CT Mirror has needed to budget for security to protect our reporters from threats online where they have been harassed and in-person at events and large-scale demonstrations where their physical safety was at risk.

That’s the environment we're operating in. And it’s exactly why local journalism is needed now.

CT Mirror reporters run toward the hard questions. They dig into budgets, contracts, and submit near-endless information requests to uncover stories that need telling. They sit through the long hearings. They follow the facts wherever they lead. Holding power to account isn’t a slogan here — it’s our mission.

CT Mirror exists for one reason: to inform and strengthen a civically engaged public. When local journalism is strong, communities are stronger. Transparency improves. Accountability deepens. Democracy works better.

If you believe Connecticut deserves local reporting that is fearless, fair, and accessible to all, can you start a $15 monthly donation today?

Stand with the journalists who stand up for Connecticut and our democracy. Strengthen your community. Be a co-publisher of CT Mirror.

Thank you.

Tagged: COVID-19, COVID-19 Mask Mandate, Hartford

Yehyun KimPhotojournalist

ykim@ctmirror.org

Yehyun joined CT Mirror in June 2020 as a photojournalist and a Report For America Corps Member. Her role at CT Mirror is to tell visual stories about the impact of public policy on individuals and communities in Connecticut. Prior to joining CT Mirror, Yehyun photographed community news in Victoria, Texas and was a photo and video intern at USA TODAY and at Acadia National Park in Maine. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Yehyun was born and raised in South Korea.

More by Yehyun Kim