Governor Gina Raimondo has announced seven new regulations aimed at reducing the spread of coronavirus in Rhode Island. Raimondo also introduced new regulations for sports. The new guidelines and regulations take effect on Sunday 11/8 and will be in effect for two weeks. A full list of the guidelines is below.
Additionally, the governor announced on Wednesday that grants of $2,000 to $10,000 will be available to all RI restaurants and bars. Grant money will be distributed within 30 days after businesses self-certify their needs on a state website. Full details will be announced on Monday, 11/9 on the Department of Revenue website: http://www.tax.ri.gov/
Seven new guidelines:
- Stay at home advisory: Staying at home encouraged 10am-5am, weeknights. 10:30pm-5am on Friday and Saturday.
- Early Closures: Restaurants, bars, gyms, recreational facilities must end service by 10pm on weeknights, 10:30pm on weekends.
- Venues of assembly: Capacity for indoor venues (worship and entertainment) is 50%, with a max. of 150 people. Outdoor limit is 66% with max. of 150.
- Catered events: Limit for catered events is 25 people indoors, 75 outdoors. Exceptions for previously scheduled weddings and events, with consultation with RI Dept. of Business regulation. .
- Capacity at big box stores and malls: Limit change: 1 person per 150 square feet of space
- Business Travel: Businesses asked to cancel non-essential travel
- Masks: Masks required at all times when with people you don't live with.
Updated sports guidelines, beginning Monday 11/9:
- Indoor sports: Maximum of 2 spectators per athletes at all sports events. All participants and spectators must wear masks.
- Low risk sports (i.e. track& field, tennis)- competitive sports and inter-state travel allowed
- Moderate risk sports (i.e. basketball, hockey) - Competitive play allowed. No inter-state travel.
- High risk sports (i.e. football, wrestling, lacrosse) - Competitive play prohibited. No inter-state travel.
- Data for 11/05
- New cases= 566
- New fatalities: 8
- Tests on Wednesday: 15,785
- Positive test rate: 3.6%
graphic: RI Dept. of Health