Conn. (WTNH) – This weekend marks the next big step for Connecticut towards a return to a new normal. On Saturday, the state will lift COVID-19 restrictions just over a week ago.

Governor Ned Lamont unveiled a two-step plan a few weeks ago to arrive at our “new normal,” as he put it, by ending COVID restrictions on state businesses.

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As of Saturday, May 1, the restaurant curfew will be moved from 11 p.m. to midnight. Exterior restrictions will be lifted and alcohol can be served without food. There will be no table size limit – the previous limit was eight to keep cohorts small.

Governor Lamont said Thursday: “These are all changes that are happening the day after tomorrow and are due to the good work of each of you that have brought our infection rate to the lowest rate in six months.”

As of Wednesday, May 19, all remaining trade restrictions will be lifted.

This is all coming, according to the governor, because so many people in the state have been vaccinated. He said that with three million people in the state fully vaccinated, you can see the difference it makes in the rate of infection, as well as hospitalizations and deaths.