COVID-19 UPDATE: Governor Orders "Two Week Pause," Tougher Restrictions

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo has announced strict new guidelines pertaining COVID-19. At her Thursday press briefing the governor cited clear behavior patterns among people testing positive for coronavirus, including attending large social gatherings and social gatherings outside of household members, and visiting restaurants and bars.

For the first time since spring, all three of the most closely watched COVID-19 benchmark statistics are at an all-time high, according to the RI Department of Health. New cases per 100,000 population, Percent positive rate and New hospital admissions continue to rise.

Beginning Monday 11/30, Governor Raimondo has ordered the state to observe a "two week pause," through Sunday, 12/13, with the following restrictions in place:

  • Social gatherings limited to members of a household.
  • High schools allowed to switch to "limited" in-person learning through December.
  • Indoor dining: 33% capacity, early closures, 1 household per table
  • Retail: 1 person/ 100 sq. feet.
  • Big Box retail: 1 person/ 150 sq. feet
  • Houses of worship: 25% capacity (125 max.)
  • Colleges: No in-person learning
  • Offices: Urged to close and permit remote working as much as possible.
  • Bars and bar areas in restaurants: Closed
  • Recreational venues: closed
  • Indoor sports facilities/gyms: Closed
  • "Big box" stores required to develop plan to handle increase in traffic for Black Friday.
  • Current guidance extended through 11/29:
    • Bar and restaurants close at 10pm
    • capacity restrictions at areas of assembly and retail
    • masks required at any indoor assembly or shopping

data/graphics: RI Dept. of Health/ WJAR-TV video capture


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