Roughly 4,000 first dose appointments will be made available on vaccinateRI.org on Tuesday morning at 9 am for those eligible for the vaccine, according to Joseph Wendelken, Public Information Officer for Rhode Island Department of Health. These appointments will be for March 30, April 1, April 2, and April 3 (1,000 appointments per day) at […]
Coronavirus Disease
Posted inNews
Providence VA Medical Center vaccinating veterans in Middletown on Monday
The VA Providence Healthcare System will be providing COVID-19 vaccinations to all Veterans on Monday, March 22, 2021. The clinic will be located at the old Benny’s at 1400 W. Main Rd. in Middletown RI. The clinic will run from 9 am-2 pm. “We are using this opportunity to bring more vaccination clinics to our […]
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RIDOH provides update on Rhode Island’s COVID-19 vaccine effort
The Rhode Island Department of Health provided the following vaccination update via email today. What’s Up Newp is sharing the entire email to help get this important information out to as many people as possible. Rhode Island COVID-19 Vaccination Update The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is writing to provide an update on Rhode Island’s […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rhode Island plans to open up vaccination eligibility to all adults age 16 and older on April 19
During their weekly COVID-19 press briefing on Thursday, Governor Dan McKee and Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, announced that on April 19 the state plans to open up vaccination elgibility to all adults age 16 and over. This decision, they said, is because they received new information from the […]
Posted inCity & Government
Watch Live: Newport City Council COVID-19 Crisis Update (March 18 at 4:30 pm)
Newport City Council will host a workshop at 4:30 pm on Thursday, March 18 to receive a COVID-19 crisis update from City Manager Joe Nicholson.
Posted inCity & Government
Watch Live: Governor McKee, RIDOH host COVID-19 briefing (March 18 at 1 pm)
Governor McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health will host their weekly COVID-19 briefing at 1 pm on Thursday, March 18.
Posted inCOVID-19
COVID-19 vaccination appointments open on Friday for those 60 to 64 years of age, those 16 to 64 with specific underlying health condition
COVID-19 vaccination eligibility will open on Friday for Rhode Islanders who are 60 to 64 years of age and who are 16 to 64 with specific underlying health conditions, Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) are announcing today. “Our goal is to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as […]
Posted inCity & Government
Governor McKee, RIDOH to host COVID-19 briefing on Friday morning
Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) will hold a briefing at 11 am on Friday, March 12 to update the press on Rhode Island’s COVID-19 response. For those who have been following these closely, you will note that this is a change from previous weeks when press conferences were held […]
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Governor McKee announces COVID-19 vaccination plan for teachers, school staff, and child care workers
Joined by colleagues from across the government, Governor Dan McKee today announced that the state of Rhode Island is partnering with cities and towns on an ambitious plan to get the first doses of COVID-19 vaccine to all K-12 teachers, school staff, and child care workers by the end of the month. “Getting our teachers, […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council to meet for COVID-19 Crisis Update on Thursday
Newport City Council will host a workshop on Thursday, March 11 for the purpose of receiving a COVID-19 crisis update from City Manager Joe Nicholson. The meeting will be held virtually and is open to the public. To listen to the meeting by phone, call 1-877-853-5247. To watch the meeting via Zoom, visit https://zoom.us/j/95878452956. The […]
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Governor McKee will announce on Tuesday a statewide initiative to vaccinate teachers, school staff, and child care providers
Governor Dan McKee will announce a new statewide vaccination initiative for teachers, school staff and child care providers, according to a media advisory received today from the Governor’s office. The announcement will be made at 11:30 am on Tuesday, March 9 at St. Anthony’s Parish Center, which is Pawtucket’s municipal vaccination clinic. Expected to be […]
Posted inCOVID-19
Rhode Island Department Health provides an update on the state’s COVID-19 vaccine efforts
The Rhode Island Department of Health provided a lengthy update on their vaccination effort via email on Friday afternoon. What’s Up Newp is sharing the entire email below in an effort to help get this important information out to as many Rhode Islanders as possible. Rhode Island COVID-19 Vaccination Update The Rhode Island Department of Health […]
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Capacity restrictions on restaurants, gyms, and funeral homes eased
At the weekly COVID-19 press briefing today, Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor announced a lift on some business restrictions. Capacity at restaurants will increase from 50% to 66% beginning Friday, March 5. Capacity at gyms and fitness centers will increase from one person per 125 square feet to one person per 100 square feet. […]
Posted inCOVID-19
Be Kind RI: New website matches volunteers with neighbors in need
Family Service of Rhode Island, a comprehensive non-profit social service agency and an essential part of the Rhode Island community, today announced the launch of Be Kind RI, a new site that pairs volunteers with neighbors with those in need. Image provided by Family Service of Rhode Island The Full Announcement During this pandemic, Rhode […]
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Watch Live: Governor McKee, RIDOH host COVID-19 Press Briefing (March 4)
Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health will host a press briefing at 1 pm on Thursday, March 4 to provide an update on COVID-19 in Rhode Island. Watch the press briefing live as it happens, or anytime afterward, below.
Posted inFood & Drink
52 Rhode Island restaurants will receive $5,000 COVID-19 Restaurant Relief Grants from DoorDash
Today, DoorDash announced the winners of the COVID-19 Restaurant Relief Grant program provided through its Main Street Strong effort. 52 Rhode Island restaurants, including 6 here in Newport County, have been selected to receive $5,000 grants through the program. The grants are being administered by Hello Alice and can be used to cover operating costs during this challenging time, […]
Posted inCOVID-19
Governor McKee signs Executive Order to engage communities in the state’s vaccination efforts and reduce vaccine hesitancy
Governor Dan McKee today signed an executive order to engage communities in the state’s vaccination efforts and reduce vaccine hesitancy. The executive order directs the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) to engage cities and towns as full participants in administering and expanding Rhode Island’s vaccination efforts. The order further directs RIDOH to update its comprehensive state […]
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Rhode Island’s COVID-19 testing program for businesses opens a contact center
Rhode Island is expanding its COVID-19 Testing Program for Businesses by launching a new COVID-19 Business Testing Contact Center, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is announcing today. Through Rhode Island’s COVID-19 Testing Program for Businesses, organizations receive regular supplies of BinaxNOW rapid test kits. The new contact center will be staffed with people […]
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Rhode Island Foundation offering $10,000 grants for community projects
The Rhode Island Foundation is offering local libraries, schools, municipal agencies and nonprofit groups grants of up to $10,000 to fund proposals that bring people together as a community. March 12 is the deadline to apply. “We are looking for proposals that will enhance the quality of life, form relationships, and increase connections. Our goal […]
Posted inCity & Government
Treasurer Magaziner launches Frontline Heroes Fund
Today, General Treasurer Seth Magaziner was joined by 1199/NESEIU Union Executive Vice President Patrick Quinn, Rhode Island Director of Corrections Patricia A. Coyne-Fague, the Favino-Freeman family and community members to announce the launch of the Frontline Heroes Fund, Treasurer Magaziner’s new program to provide the children of frontline workers who have passed from COVID-19 with a $2,500 scholarship in a CollegeBound Saver account. […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council’s weekly COVID-19 update has been canceled
Update: At 3:56 pm on Wednesday, City Clerk Laura Swistak notified the media that this meeting has been canceled. Newport City Council will host a workshop at 4:30 pm on Thursday, March 4 in order to receive a COVID-19 crisis update from City Manager Joe Nicholson. The meeting will be held remotely and is open […]
Posted inBusiness
Restore Greater Newport calls on General Assembly, McKee to enact meaningful measures to aid region’s economy
Source: Restore Greater Newport  A well-organized coalition of business, tourism, hospitality, manufacturing, and marine entities is calling on the General Assembly and the incoming McKee Administration to immediately enact measures to minimize the economic impacts of the Covid-19  pandemic and restore economic prosperity to the greater Newport region. According to Erin Donovan- Boyle, executive director […]
Posted inCity & Government, COVID-19, News
Rhode Island Department of Health provides a COVID-19 vaccination update
The Rhode Island Department of Health provided the following Rhode Island COVID-19 vaccination update by email on Friday, February 26. Rhode Island COVID-19 Vaccination Update The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is writing to provide an update on Rhode Island’s COVID-19 vaccine efforts. As of this afternoon, 168,517 people have received one dose of vaccine. A total of 67,669 […]
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State-run vaccine site to open in Middletown
A new State-run vaccination site will be opening soon in Middletown ( at a former Benny’s) and in Woonsocket (at a former Sears) in the coming weeks. The announcement was made today by Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, during Rhode Island’s weekly COVID-19 Press Briefing. Watch Live: COVID-19 Weekly […]
Posted inCity & Government
Watch Live: Newport City Council to host COVID-19 Crisis Update (Feb. 25 at 4:30 pm)
Newport City Council will meet virtually on Thursday, February 25 at 4:30 pm to receive a COVID-19 crisis update from City Manager Joe Nicholson.