Bars Reopen, Capacity Increased Under New RI Coronavirus Rules

PROVIDENCE, RI — For the second week in a row, Rhode Island is loosening coronavirus-related restrictions on businesses. Starting Friday, restaurants can reopen their bar areas, and capacity has been increased in certain venues of assembly.

Thursday's other big news was a change in the state's social gathering limit, which will be raised to two households for indoor gatherings and three households for outdoor gatherings starting Friday.

Although bar areas can reopen, strict restrictions are in place.

"Bars in Rhode Island must operate akin to restaurants," Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor said.

That means that patrons must be seated, with a minimum of six feet of spacing between parties unless there are barriers, in which case the requirement is three feet. Patrons can only stay for up to 90 minutes each, and bars must close by 11 p.m. Only members of up to two households can sit together, with a maximum of four people per table.

Houses of worship and venues of assembly also have changed regulations, with capacity restrictions raised from 25 to 40 percent. The previous requirements of six-foot distancing between people and maximum of 125 people are still in effect.

These changes were made as a result of Rhode Island's improving coronavirus data, Alexander-Scott said. Although tighter restrictions may be required in the future as more contagious variants of the virus spread in the state, she said state leaders are grateful to have this opportunity to offer relief — even if temporary — to struggling businesses.

Last week, the rules were changed for restaurants, catered events, offices, gym facilities and other businesses to allow for more flexibility. These changes are summarized below.

Catered events

• Indoor: increased limit to 30 people from 15, with testing required for all attendees
• Outdoor: increased limit to 50 people outdoors, with testing required
• More flexibility case-by-case for weddings; up to 50 attendees allowed in some circumstances

Restaurants

• Indoor: Up to two households allowed per table, up to eight people per table
• Outdoor: Up to three households per table (was two), up to eight people per table
• Capacity still limited to 50 percent (no change)

Offices

• Up to 33 percent of workers allowed to return to work in-person
• Remote work still strongly encouraged

Gyms, sports facilities, Indoor recreation facilities

• One person per 125 square feet
• Six-foot spacing required (down from 14 feet)

Restrictions for the following categories of businesses remain unchanged.

• Salons, hairdressers, etc: open
• School and child care: open
• Manufacturing and construction: open
• Retail: one person per 100 square feet, or 150 square feet for big-box stores

Read more

• Rhode Island Raises Social Gathering Limit To 2 Households
• RI's Coronavirus Hospitalizations Near Safe Threshold
• Dunkin' Donuts Center Coronavirus Test Site Closing For Vaccines
• Salve Regina Implements Shelter-In-Place Amid Coronavirus Spike
• As Coronavirus Numbers Improve, RI Relaxes Some Restrictions