Stay-At-Home Order 'Likely' For Thanksgiving In Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, RI — Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to climb in Rhode Island. Gov. Gina Raimondo urged all Rhode Islanders to celebrate the holiday only with those in their immediate household.

State guidelines for the holiday are still being finalized and will be announced next week. While specifics have not been announced, they will be strict, the governor said.

"I am asking you to stay home," Raimondo said. "Keep it low-key this year."

Thanksgiving comes as Rhode Island sees day after day of record-setting coronavirus cases and climbing hospitalizations. According to the latest trends, the state is on track to exceed hospital capacity in just three weeks, necessitating the opening of a field hospital in Cranston. The greatest source of spread continues to be small, unstructured gatherings where people let their guard down and often don't wear masks or practice social distancing, according to Raimondo.

"People (are) willfully disregarding what we're asking," she said.

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