Rhode Island Business Curfews Lifts This Weekend

PROVIDENCE, RI — Many of Rhode Island's business curfews will end this weekend as coronavirus cases decrease, state officials announced Thursday. The policy, which has been in place since the start of the state's coronavirus "pause," has come under fire by some lawmakers and the business community.

"We hope this will provide business owners with some flexibility and relief," said Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, director of the state Department of Health.

The policy required restaurants to close by 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 p.m. Friday Saturday and Sunday. All other restrictions currently in place, including the closure of bar areas, will still be in effect.

Dale Venturini, president of the Rhode Island Hospitality Association, praised the decision to end the curfews.

"The RI Hospitality Association has been working hard over the last several weeks to lift the curfew on Rhode Island restaurants," Venturini said in a statement. "We’d like to thank our legislators, as well as the many cities and towns for their support to end this curfew period and look forward to normal operating hours beginning on Sunday. While we continue to work on eliminating bar-seating restrictions, this is an important step forward in helping our industry recover."

Neighboring Massachusetts, which has paralleled Rhode Island in coronavirus regulations throughout the pandemic, had a similar curfew policy until it was lifted last week.

Rep. William O'Brien, who has been a vocal opponent of the curfew, commended the Rhode Island Department of Health for changing the policy, saying it "placed incredible stress on our state’s restaurants and small businesses."

"We are beginning to see the light at the end of this dark tunnel and as our state’s virus metrics continue to trend downward, this was the appropriate decision for the health and betterment of our storied restaurant scene," O'Brien said.

The North Providence Democrat went on to say that bar areas should be allowed to open as well.

"There is no evidence that the virus behaves differently at a bar compared to a restaurant table and in addition to the thousands of dollars these establishments invested in COVID-19 safety procedures and [personal protective equipment], I urge that the Department of Health also lifts the restrictions on bar areas in restaurants," he continued.

Although coronavirus cases have decreased in recent weeks, Alexander-Scott cautioned residents not to become complacent.

"This is the exact direction where we need to go," Alexander-Scott said Thursday. "[But] we are not out of the woods yet."

These are the restrictions that will remain in effect:

• Restaurants: Limited to 50 percent capacity; one household per table; bar areas must be closed.
• Gyms/indoor recreation facilities: One person allowed per 150 square feet.
• Schools: In-person learning allowed for preschool through eighth grade; high schools are allowed to have in-person learning at their discretion; remote learning only for colleges and universities.
• Assembly venues: Limited to 25 percent capacity, with a maximum of 125 people.

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