GROTON, Conn. - Sailors and workers at Connecticut’s Navy submarine base may relish a new step in relaxing coronavirus shutdowns: Starting Tuesday, local restaurants can deliver to the base again.

The Navy announced the change Saturday.

Connecticut's measures to control the virus and "current conditions both on and off the base allow for the welcome return of these services," base commander Capt. Todd D. Moore said in a release.

Restaurants and local food delivery services haven't had access to the base in Groton since March 27. Institutional-scale food deliveries to the commissary and other on-base food options continued, and a food truck and Subway sandwich shop on the base stayed open.

Workers and sailors also can pick up take-out food from restaurants and bring it back to the base, officially called Naval Submarine Base New London.

The virus has been blamed for 4,251 deaths in Connecticut as of Saturday, an increase of 13 from Friday, Gov. Ned Lamont announced. Hospitalizations continue to decline.

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AMUSEMENT PARK REOPENS

Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury reopened Saturday, with restrictions in place to combat the spread of COVID-19.

George Frantzis, co-owner of the park, told News 12 that most rides are open but that the park's arcade is closed and indoor dining isn't allowed, though outdoor dining is allowed. Park visitors are required to wear a mask when entering.

A station that dumps gallons of water on children in the park's water park has been turned off to prevent large groups from gathering in close quarters, Frantzis said.

Lake Compounce in Bristol is scheduled to reopen on July 1 for season pass-holders and July 6 for the general public.

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GOODBYE, COLUMBUS (AVENUE)

New Yorkers are trading the Empire State for the Nutmeg State, according to data from the U.S. Postal Service.

Heart Connecticut Media reported that nearly 10,000 New York City residents have requested an address change to Connecticut since March, when the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.

During the same period in 2019, about 1,200 such requests were made.

More than 200,000 New York City residents have been sickened by COVID-19 and more than 17,000 have died.

Many of the New York transplants have relocated to lower Fairfield County, which is within easy commuting distance to the city. Nearly 5,000 address changes from New York occurred between March and early June this year in the county, compared to 765 during the same period in 2019, according to the postal service data.

News from © The Associated Press, 2020