RI Lifts Mask, Social Distancing Mandates For Vaccinated​ People

PROVIDENCE, RI — In a "once in a lifetime reset," Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee on Friday announced the state will lift its facial covering and social distancing requirements for vaccinated people, marking the state's largest step toward pre-pandemic activities since the mask mandate first went into effect on May 8, 2020.

The mask and social distancing requirements will be lifted on Tuesday, May 18.

Under the new guidance, the state's indoor capacity limitations, along with restrictions on social gatherings, will also be lifted starting May 21.

"Rhode Island has gone through challenging times in the last year waiting for the light at the end of tunnel," McKee said in a Friday news conference. "Today, we’re definitely moving in the right direction."

The change was originally set to take effect on May 28, McKee said, but a surplus of vaccines allowed officials to move the reopening up by one week.

"We know we can do this safely, and the idea I’ve always had is whatever we can do safely, we need to do," the governor said.

McKee said the state's reopening paves the way for unvaccinated residents to join the hundreds of thousands of Rhode Islanders who have already received the vaccine.

"This is an opportunity for everybody to get fully vaccinated, and we know there is an advantage to all of us — not only individually but collectively as the state of Rhode Island — to get vaccinated," he said.

Earlier in the week, as the state's coronavirus positivity rate dropped to 1 percent, Rhode Island joined other states in offering the Pfizer vaccine to children between the ages of 12 and 15.

"COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective," McKee said on Tuesday. "I'm urging all parents to get their 12- to 15-year-olds vaccinated. This vaccine will help keep kids, families, and our community safe."

By Thursday, the state announced it had enough doses of the vaccine to offer them to visitors coming from outside the state.

With things well on the way back to normal, McKee offered a simple instruction to vaccinated residents.

Vaccinated Rhode Islanders," he said. "I hope you hug a vaccinated friend, have dinner at your favorite restaurant and support our local businesses."