The New Haven Hotel. Photo courtesy of Noble Investment Group.

Gov. Ned Lamont has ordered all of the state’s hotels and other lodging houses to close their doors to leisure travelers as part of efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The governor issued a new executive order Thursday evening that prohibits all hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts and short-term residential rentals – including those arrange through online hosting platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo – from renting to customers for leisure or vacation purposes.

The properties may only be rented to serve purposes of the coronavirus response effort. Operators of these properties may only rent to the following types of customers:

• Health care workers, first responders, and other essential workers;
• Workers engaged in transporting critical materials to hospitals;
• Vulnerable populations, including those who are homeless;
• Connecticut residents who need a place to self-quarantine away from family or roommates;
• Those receiving long-term care or specialized medical treatment;
• Connecticut residents in need of housing as a result of property damage, such as a fire;
• People unable to return home because of constraints on travel; and
• People engaged in providing or servicing lodging.

The move follows similar action by Massachusetts’ governor earlier this week.