As Coronavirus Numbers Improve, RI Relaxes Some Restrictions

PROVIDENCE, RI — As Rhode Island's coronavirus data continues to improve, state leaders announced Thursday several restrictions on businesses will be loosened.

"We understand how hard this year has been for the business community," said Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of the Rhode Island Department of Health. "If the data indicate that it's ok to ease some restrictions ... it's something we believe in."

Alexander-Scott cautioned that some of these changes may only be temporary due to the expected arrival of new, more transmissible strains of COVID-19, but that she and other state leaders believe it's important to "seize on this window" to provide relief, at least temporarily, to businesses.

Dale Venturini, the president and CEO of the Rhode Island Hospitality Association, praised the decision.

"[The RIHA] would like to thank Lt. Governor McKee and RI Department of Health Director Nicole Alexander-Scott for their continued support," Venturini said. "We are pleased that these baby steps forward regarding easing restrictions on restaurants and catered events are moving ahead. We will continue our focus on eliminating bar-seating restrictions, an integral aspect of helping our industry recover."

The largest changes are to restaurants and athletic facilities, both of which are allowed more flexibility when the new policies go into effect Friday. 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
• Bar areas: closed
• Manufacturing and construction: open
• Churches, other venues of assembly: 25 percent capacity; 125 people maximum
• Retail: one person per 100 square feet, or 150 square feet for big-box stores