PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Compliance with the state’s virus restrictions has improved since officials stepped up enforcement in recent weeks, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo said Wednesday.
Nearly all of the more than 1,000 businesses visited by inspectors last week were complying with the state’s facemask requirements and capacity limits, she said.
Bars and eateries, though, remain problematic. The Democratic governor said 15% of restaurants and bars weren’t ensuring proper social distancing for customers and staff.
Raimondo recently imposed an 11 p.m. closing time for bar areas. House parties, backyard barbecues and other social gatherings have also been limited to 15 people.
And neighboring Massachusetts has recently imposed a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine on travelers coming from Rhode Island. Connecticut, New York and New Jersey have recently dropped Rhode Island from their quarantine lists.
Raimondo said the Massachusetts order has been especially difficult on small business owners and restaurants, many of which rely on Rhode Island customers.
A look at other coronavirus developments in Rhode Island:
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VIRUS CASES
Rhode Island has had three new deaths from the coronavirus and more than 100 additional positive cases, state health officials said Wednesday.
Roughly 80 people were hospitalized with the virus as of Monday, according to the most recent data available, officials said.
More than 1,000 people have died and more than 20,000 have tested positive for COVID-19 in the state.
Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of the state’s health department, said social gatherings, travel, and dining out are among the factors driving new virus cases. Roughly 40% of new cases are also among people between the ages of 20 and 39, she said.
The state is running more than 2,000 COVID-19 tests per day, with an average turnaround time of roughly two days for results, officials said Wednesday.
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OUTDOORS CAMPAIGN
As the summer draws to a close, state officials are launching a new campaign to encourage people to get outdoors as much as possible.
Raimondo said Wednesday that the “Take It Outside” campaign will encourage business owners and government officials to conduct more activities outdoors, from dining al fresco to meetings and workout classes.
She said doing more outdoors helps slow the spread of the virus. Health officials suggest you’re as much as 19 times more likely to contract the virus indoors compared to outdoors, Raimondo said.
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REOPENING SCHOOL
School districts are stocking up with medical essentials as they prepare to reopen schools.
Raimondo said the state is distributing roughly 3,000 thermometers, 600,000 safety masks, and 10,000 medical gowns to districts across the state this week.
Angelica Infante-Green, the state’s education commissioner, said the administration is still hoping to bring students back for in-person classes in some form, but a final decision on reopening school hasn’t been made yet.
Infante-Green said whatever decision officials make, parents will have a choice in the matter. She also said guidance on air quality in school buildings will be released later this week.
Raimondo has pushed back the start of the school year by about two weeks to Sept. 14.
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