Everything You Need to Know About the Coronavirus in Rhode Island

The latest on COVID-19 in the Ocean State, including new capacity guidelines for restaurants, workplaces and gatherings. Plus, the latest case data and information on no-appointment vaccinations.
Casey Nilsson,

On Friday, May 7, the state reported two new COVID-19-related fatalities and 182 new cases of COVID-19.

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  • 113 people are currently hospitalized from COVID-19, with twenty-three people in the ICU and eighteen people on ventilators
  • Thursday’s testing saw a percent positive rate of 1.3 percent
  • 433,399 people have been fully vaccinated in Rhode Island; 584,379 have received the first dose
  • 2,687 people have died from COVID-19 in Rhode Island since the start of the pandemic
  • 149,577 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Rhode Island since the start of the pandemic

 

RHODE ISLAND’S REOPENING

  Visit reopeningri.com for more

Doh May

  • Houses of worship, restaurants, gyms, entertainment venues and retailers may all operate with reduced capacity
    • no capacity limitations for outdoor retail and outdoor fitness classes
    • Beginning May 7, Rhode Island restaurants can operate at 80 percent capacity
    • Beginning May 28, all capacity limitations indoors will be lifted but masks will still be required
  • Bars are now open with limited capacity
    • Standing bar service will resume May 28
  • Rhode Islanders should limit informal social interactions to up to twenty-fi e people indoors and up to seventy-five people outdoors
  • For professionally catered events, attendance is restricted to up to 200 people indoors, 500 people outdoors with recommended or required testing in advance
  • State beaches will open at full capacity Memorial Day weekend; masks will only be required at concession areas

THE VACCINE

The state has opened vaccinations to all Rhode Islanders age sixteen and older; visit VaccinateRI.org or call 844-930-1779 to schedule an appointment at a state-run site or walk in, no appointment necessary. Contact your city or town for local vaccination information.

  • State-run vaccination sites at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence (9 a.m.-6 p.m.); Sockanosset Crossings in Cranston (8 a.m.-9 p.m.); and the former Benny’s in Middletown (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) will take walk-ins for vaccinations, no appointment necessary
  •  CVS, Walgreens, Stop and Shop and Walmart are also administering vaccinations, no appointment necessary

FACE MASKS

 

TESTING

Visit portal.ri.gov to schedule a test at a state-run test site

SCHOOLS

 visit back2schoolri.com for info

  • Nearly all public elementary schools and middle schools in Rhode Island are learning either four or five days in person, says state education commissioner Angelica Infante-Green on April 29
  • ESL learners and students with special needs in high school may continue learning in person
  • Districts have some flexibility with high school learners; visit your school district website for the most up-to-date information
  • The state is hosting twelve dedicated testing sites for students and teachers
    • To schedule a test, call 844-857-1814
    • Testing sites are located in Woonsocket, Pawtucket, Smithfield, Lincoln, Providence, East Providence, Cranston, West Warwick, North Kingstown, Richmond, Westerly and Newport
    • The state has procured rapid testing machines for students and staff with symptoms
  • The school year is expected to last 177 days; the last day of school is June 25


SPORTS

  • Indoor and outdoor youth and adult sports — track and field, basketball, hockey, gymnastics, swimming, football, lacrosse and, new April 26, karate and wrestling — may resume
    • For indoor sports, spectators are subject to capacity limitations
  • Beginning May 28, out-of-state teams may complete in tournaments in Rhode Island
  • Read the full guidelines on youth and adult sports here

TRAVEL

  • If you’re visiting or returning to Rhode Island from a state with current travel restrictions, you must quarantine for ten days or provide proof of a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken after arrival or within seventy-two hours before arrival.
  • If you’re coming to Rhode Island from outside the United States, you must quarantine for ten days.
    • If you have a negative result from a test taken at least five days after you arrived, you may shorten quarantine to seven days.

HOUSING

Rent relief options for tenants

  • Renters in arrears and/or at risk of eviction should call United Way’s 211 hotline to see if they qualify for the Safe Harbor rent relief program or visit housinghelpri.com
    • Financial services will be available for renters
    • Both landlords and tenants must agree to participate

CORONAVIRUS FAST FACTS

  • To prevent infection, wear a face mask and wash your hands for twenty seconds with soap and warm water
  • Symptoms include cough, fever, shortness of breath and lost of taste and/or smell
    • Visit the Rhode Island COVID-19 self-checker at covidselfchecker.ri.gov for guidance on making coronavirus-related health care decisions based on CDC guidelines
  • If you’re showing symptoms, call your health care provider first; if you don’t have one, contact a nearby urgent care.
  • The Crush COVID RI app, a contact tracing, location tracking and symptom management application for smartphones, is available for download in the Apple App Store and Google Play.
  • Call 401-222-8022 with general questions about COVID-19 or visit the Rhode Island Department of Health website for the latest information
  • Call Rhode Island’s BH Link at 401-414-5465 if you need mental health help or are struggling with substance abuse; for children, call Kids’ Link at 1-855-543-5465

 

Editor’s note: This story is updated frequently.

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