For the second week in a row, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH)and Rhode Island Commerce announced during their weekly COVID-19 press briefing that restrictions would further loosen on venues and businesses in the state.

With the new guidance, that goes into effect beginning Friday, also came an increase in social gathering size – moving from just those to those within your household to 2 households when indoors and 3 households when outdoors.

The New Guidance

Following the announcement, RI Hospitality Association (RIHA) shared the following statement from Dale J. Venturini, President/CEO of RIHA, regarding Rhode Island allowing businesses to reopen their bars to seat guests with new guidance.

“The RI Hospitality Association is encouraged by the decision to lift some restrictions so that businesses can serve limited, socially-distant customers at the bar. RIHA has been advocating on behalf of our industry by engaging in constant, ongoing discussions with the Governor’s office, Lt. Governor McKee, the RI Department of Health and RI Commerce to safely reinstate this vital aspect of hospitality operations, and while the limitations are not perfect, these changes are a critical first step in moving forward. Thank you to the Governor, Lt. Governor, Rhode Island Commerce, and the Department of Health Director for their support and cooperation as RIHA continues to advocate for the best path to fully reopening our industry.” 

Earlier today, RIDOH reported an additional 416 new positive COVID-19 cases, 15 new fatalities, and 238 hospitalizations. 133,844 total doses of the vaccine have been administered in Rhode Island.

Further updates and information, will be posted on http://reopeningri.com/.

Ryan Belmore is the Owner and Publisher of What'sUpNewp. Although not the founder or original owner, Belmore has been with What'sUpNewp since its early beginnings in 2012.

Belmore was born in Providence, Rhode Island; grew up and graduated high school in Coventry, Rhode Island; and lived in Newport, Rhode Island for more than ten years. He currently serves as Vice President of the Board Of Directors for Fort Adams Trust and on the Board of Directors for Potter League For Animals.

He and his wife, Jen, as well as their two dogs (Aero and June), recently moved to Alexandria, Virginia. Belmore travels back and forth to Newport every couple of weeks to cover events, work on story ideas, to meet with What'sUpNewp's on-the-ground contributors, to visit friends, and to eat as much seafood as possible.

Belmore is a member of Local Independent Online News Publishers, Society of Professional Journalists, and the North American Snowsports Journalists Association.