Businesses Respond To The Extension Of Rhode Island's Pause

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI—At Thursday's coronavirus press conference, Governor Gina Raimondo announced a one-week extension of Rhode Island's two-week coronavirus pause, keeping many restrictions and forced closures in place for businesses statewide, including restaurants and gyms.

The guidelines of the pause, which is now scheduled to expire on December 20, state that restaurant capacity is limited to 33 percent, with only one household per table. There is also a curfew of 10 p.m. on weekdays and 10:30 p.m. on weekends.

“The two-week "PAUSE" has been just one more difficult period for the restaurant industry on the heels of an incredibly difficult year," said Dale J. Venturini, President & CEO of the Rhode Island Hospitality Association, in a statement. "It has made an already financially-devastating situation worse for business owners and staff, and erased any potential profit from what would typically be a very busy holiday season."

The Rhode Island Hospitality Association has remained in close contact with state leaders during the pandemic, serving as an advocate for keeping restaurants and other businesses open in a way that ensures both the safety of customers and employees and economical growth.

"Restaurants remain the most heavily regulated sector during the pandemic, despite a lack of any meaningful data showing that they have contributed to Rhode Island’s steep positivity rate," said Venturini. "As we move into another week of “PAUSE,” the RI Hospitality Association is continuing our conversations with the governor’s office to advocate for the reinstatement of bar seating in restaurants and to significantly increase the percentage of indoor dining, as well as continue our plea for additional financial relief for the industry and its employees beyond current economic-relief programs."

The pause also mandates that gyms remain closed to the public for the entirety of the pause. Therefore, fitness centers statewide will keep their doors shut for another 10 days. Planet Fitness, which has 16 locations statewide, released a statement Thursday expressing frustration with the Governor Raimondo's decision to extend the pause.

"Despite zero data-driven evidence of significant COVID-19 spread at fitness facilities, today Governor Gina Raimondo announced that Rhode Island fitness centers will remain closed for 10 more days, through Dec. 20," said Mary Zanor, a spokesperson for Planet Fitness, in a statement. "State leaders said today they made their announcement based on data on how cases spread, yet there is zero evidence that fitness centers are a significant source of COVID-19 spread."

"Access to fitness centers is also more critical now than ever as physical activity plays an important role in maintaining a healthy immune system and reducing COVID-19 risk factors such as obesity, heart disease, lung disease and diabetes," she continued. "People need affordable access to fitness – and with colder weather in RI and early sunsets, people can’t easily and safely work out outside"