Governor Gina Raimondo and the Rhode Island Department of Health hosted a press briefing to provide an update on COVID-19 in Rhode Island at 1 pm on Friday, May 22nd.
Press Briefing
Press Briefing Updates
Gov: Her intention is to move to Phase II on June 1st. Info on each phase is available at reopeningri.com. Phase I guidelines in place until June 1st.
Gov: Has extended all orders that were set to expire at end of today until June 1st. Social gatherings remain at 5, domestic travel 14 day quarantine order still in place until June 1st.
Gov: Says in Phase II, just about every sector will see some kind of reopening. In Phase II, social limit gathering will increase to 15.
Gov: In Phase II, travel restrictions will be largely lifted. 14 day quarantine order will only be for those coming to Rhode Island from a place where a stay at home order / outbreak is still in place. Still no international travel, she says.
Gov: Beginning June 1st, indoor dining at restaurants can return up to 50% capacity. This is to compliment outdoor dining, takeout, and delivery. Guidelines will come out next week.
Gov: Says office-based businesses will be allowed to bring back up to one-third of their workforce during phase 2. If you can still work from home, she says, work from home.
Gov: Says barbers/hairdressers/salons can return to work with Phase 2 on June 1. This includes nails, waxing, tanning, massage, tattoos. There will be restrictions. Guidance to come on reopeningri.com.
Gov: On all of these restrictions – these new rules are not meant to be permanent.
Gov: On gyms/fitness/studios, may reopen in Phase II. There will be restrictions and guidance, details coming to reopeningri.com.
Gov: On outdoor entertainment and recreation, not going to be back for a while. In Phase II, outdoor activities like the zoo, outdoor historical properties, minigolf, etc.
Gov: Next week, sometime after Tuesday there will be very specific industry guidelines posted on reopeningri.com.
Director of Health: On 23 new fatalities include 3 people in their 60s, 4 in 70s, 9 in 80s, 6 in 90s, and one older than 100.
More Inf0 – Governor’s Press Release
Governor Raimondo Extends Travel Restrictions and Gathering Size Limits Through Phase 1,
Unveils Plans for Phase 2 of Reopening
Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) provided an update on Rhode Island’s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
The Governor signed an executive order extending all current directives – including the five-person limit on social gatherings, the mandatory 14-day quarantine for anyone coming to Rhode Island from another state, and all of the current business and restaurant restrictions – until June 1st.
The Governor also announced new guidance for Phase 2:
- Social gatherings: The social gathering size will be 15 people.
- Travel: Domestic restrictions will largely lift. The 14-day quarantine will only be in place for people returning to Rhode Island from an area still under stay-at-home order or another similar type of restriction.
- Restaurants and Retail: Indoor dining will be allowed at up to 50% capacity. Capacity restrictions for non-critical retail will be relaxed and malls will be allowed to reopen.
- Offices: Those who can work from home should continue to do so. Businesses will be allowed to bring one third of their workforce back to the office.
- Haircare and Personal Services: Hair services including barbershops, salons, and hair braiders will all be able to reopen with capacity restrictions. In addition, many other close-contact services – nailcare, waxing, tanning, massage, and tattooing – will also be able to reopen under new restrictions.
- Gyms and Fitness Studios: Gyms and fitness studios will be able to reopen with restrictions. Group fitness classes will also be allowed to resume.
- Outdoor entertainment and recreation: Some outdoor activities will be allowed to resume. This includes things like the zoo and outdoor areas like public gardens and parts of historical sites.
For more information on what to expect in Phase 2, visit reopeningRI.com.
COVID-19 Data Update
RIDOH announced 170 new cases of COVID-19 today. This brings Rhode Island’s case count to 13,736. RIDOH also announced 23 additional COVID-19 associated fatalities. Rhode Island’s number of COVID-19 associated fatalities is now 579. A full data summary for Rhode Island is posted online.
Key messages for the public
- Anyone who is sick should stay home and self-isolate (unless going out for testing or healthcare).
- The people who live with that person and who have been in direct close contact with that person should self-quarantine for 14 days after the last day that that person was in isolation. Direct close contact means being within approximately 6 feet of a person for a prolonged period.
- Help is available for people living in quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19. Visit www.RIDelivers.com [ridelivers.com] for connections to groceries, home supplies, restaurants, and mutual aid groups. People can also call 2-1-1.
- When people are in public, they should wear a cloth face covering. A cloth face covering is a material that covers the nose and mouth. It could be sewn by hand or improvised from household items such as scarves, T-shirts, or bandanas.
- Groups of more than five people should not be gathering. Always avoid close personal contact with other people in public.
- People who think they have COVID-19 should call their healthcare provider. Do not go directly to a healthcare facility without first calling a healthcare provider (unless you are experiencing a medical emergency).
- People with general, non-medical questions about COVID-19 can visit www.health.ri.gov/covid, write to RIDOH.COVID19Questions@health.ri.gov, or call 401-222-8022. This is the COVID-19 Hotline that RIDOH has available to the public.
- Everyone can help stop the spread of viruses in Rhode Island.
- Wash your hands often throughout the day. Use warm water and soap. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow.
- Stay home and do not leave your house if you are sick, unless it is for emergency medical care.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
The Latest Local Data
RIDOH reports today 170 new positive cases (total now 13,736), 23 new associated deaths (total now 579), 242 are hospitalized (56 in ICU, 40 on ventilator).