Providence, RI – Governor Gina Raimondo and the Rhode Island Department of Health will host a press briefing at 1 pm on Wednesday, June 24th to provide an update on COVID-19 in Rhode Island.
What’s Up Newp will carry the press briefing live, and provide updates, live below as it happens.
The Latest Rhode Island Data
Updates From The Press Briefing
Gov: Next press briefing Friday and then Monday. Soon Governor’s press briefings may take place likely once per week, tells Rhode Islanders to sign up for her COVID-19 newsletter for updates.
Gov: Hopes to make official announcement regarding Phase 3 on Monday. Phase 3 could start as soon as June 30th.
Gov: Sports in Phase 3 – Allowing no contact and low contact games(baseball, tennis, golf, softball) to be played between stable groups. No limit on overall group size. Stable = same players and coaches together over the course of the summer. Will be back later in summer of what school sports will look like for when kids go back to school.
Gov: In Phase 3, strongly discouraging close contact sport games. (should stick to practices, drills, and scrimmages). By Monday, updated guidance will be posted on http://ReopeningRI.com, just for sports in Phase 3. Guidance expected later to address 2020-21 interscholastic sports.
Gov: RI will increase parking to 75 percent of capacity (up from 50%) beginning this weekend.
Gov: On beaches – As of this weekend, no longer selling seasons passes at state beaches. If you want to purchase them, buy them online.
Gov: By this weekend, state will launch new tool so Rhode Islanders can see if there is beach parking available. Will be available on RIParks.com.
Gov: On testing – This Saturday is the last day of testing at Twin River in Lincoln. Gov says state is prepared for it, testing demand runs well below state capacity. Moving in the direction of putting testing in communities.
Gov: On nursing homes – says communal dining and activities can resume for residents. RIDOH has received 40 plans from facilities so far to outline safe visitation. Plans may vary by facility based on data. Nothing concrete yet on allowing outside visitors
Gov: In response to reporter question – says she is considering travel restrictions on people coming from locations with high infection rates. May be more stringent than NY, Conn. Could be county based. Says she will take a few more days to make this decision.