Everything You Need to Know About the Coronavirus in Rhode Island

The latest on COVID-19 in the Ocean State, including the most up-to-date case and vaccine data.

March 5, 2021

Casey Nilsson,

DAILY COVID-19 DATA

On Friday, March 5, the state reported two COVID-19-associated fatalities and 394 new cases of COVID-19, with 333 cases from Thursday and sixty-one from previous days.

- 141 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19
- Thursday’s testing saw a percent positive rate of 1.9 percent
- 85,188 Rhode Islanders are fully vaccinated; 214,476 have received the first dose
- 2,541 Rhode Islanders have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic
- 128,121 Rhode Islanders have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic

THE VACCINE ROLLOUT

The state is currently vaccinating adults 65 and older; visit VaccinateRI.org or call 844-930-1779 to schedule an appointment

RHODE ISLAND’S REOPENING

Visit reopeningri.com for more

- - Houses of worship, restaurants, gyms, entertainment venues and retailers may all operate with reduced capacity
  - Bars are now open with limited capacity
    - Patrons must be seated and may stay for ninety minutes total
    - Four people maximum, from two households maximum, may sit together
  - Rhode Islanders should limit social interactions to two households while indoors and three households while outdoors
    - This includes celebrations and while dining at a restaurant
  - Professionally catered events may resume under phase three guidelines (non-residential setting with a licensed caterer on site)
    - Attendance is restricted to thirty or fewer guests indoors and fifty or fewer guests outdoors with testing in advance
  - Visitation may resume at long-term care facilities, if they have not had any COVID-19 cases in the last two weeks

WORKPLACE GUIDELINES

- - Offices may welcome up to 33 percent of staffers for in-person work, but remote work is preferred
    - the state has made $5 million available for employers to facilitate remote work; details at commerceri.com
  - Break rooms are closed
    - exceptions include contractually required break rooms and cafeterias

FACE MASKS

All Rhode Islanders must wear cloth face coverings in public places. Click here to read the executive order

- - Masks are required at all times when you are with people you don’t live with.
  - Exceptions include people with medical conditions, developmental disabilities and very young children.
  - When outside, Rhode Islanders should carry masks or face coverings with them in case they come within six feet of another person.
    - Click here for an easy DIY face mask tutorial
    - Click here for ways to buy face masks made by local artisans today
  - Beginning the week of February 15, the state will hand out free KN95 masks at testing sites to promote the use of higher-grade masking

TESTING

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

- - Major test sites include Dunkin’ Donuts Center and the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence
  - Click here to find a COVID-19 respiratory clinic testing site near you
  - The state is hosting pop-up rapid testing events (walk-up; no appointment necessary) in some community settings
    - Click here for a list of sites in Central Falls, Providence, Pawtucket, West Warwick, Woonsocket, North Providence, Newport and Johnston
  - Some CVS pharmacies in Rhode Island offer self-swab COVID-19 tests for adults eighteen and older. Click here to make an appointment.
  - Asymptomatic testing is encouraged for all Rhode Islanders; schedule a test at portal.ri.gov

SCHOOLS

visit back2schoolri.com for info

- - Most elementary schools and middle schools will continue learning in person
  - 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
  - Low and moderate-risk youth and adult sports — indoor track and field, basketball, hockey, gymnastics and swimming — may resume
  - Outdoor higher-risk sports, like football and lacrosse, may resume
  - Spectators are limited to family
  - 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.
    - VISITORS: Complete a certificate of compliance and travel screening form upon arrival in Rhode Island. Visitors may be asked to provide the completed certificate of compliance to lodging and accommodations upon check-in.
  - 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.
  - All quarantine guidelines still stand, even if you’ve gotten a COVID-19 vaccine

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

RIHavens.com offers significantly reduced hotel room options for first responders and front line workers

- - “If you are a front line health care worker, a first responder — whatever reason you don’t feel it’s safe to live in your house…. you can go to RIHavens.com,” said Governor Raimondo on April 15.

The WeR1 RI Fund provides direct cash assistance to Rhode Islanders unable to benefit from public programs

- - The goal is to raise $3 million to provide families in need with $400 debit cards
  - Text WeR1 to 27126 to donate

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