Governor Gina Raimondo announced on Monday that there are 23 new cases of the coronavirus in Rhode Island, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 106. Raimondo also announced new travel restrictions. Beginning Tuesday at 7am, anyone returning to RI by plane must self quarantine for fourteen days, including domestic travel. The order expands a previous one by adding state-to-state travel to the previous order pertaining to international travel. All travelers will be asked for contact information when they get off a plane at TF Green Airport. The order does not apply to health care professionals.
The Governor reiterated her call to all businesses to make every effort to allow workers to work remotely. Earlier on Monday, Gov. Charlie Baker of Massachusetts ordered all non-essential businesses to close. Governor Raimondo says she is not considering enacting such an order in Rhode Island.
Raimondo assured Rhode Islanders that she is "scouring the world" to find health care supplies, including masks and ventilators. Among the other announcements on Monday: First responders who serve in the National Guard will not be called up to serve in the Guard, thus allowing them to stay in their jobs as police officers, firefighters and other first responder roles. Regarding testing for the COVID-19 virus, the Governor says that the state’s goal is to test 700-800 people per day beginning next week.
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