RI Lifts Some Coronavirus Restrictions On Gyms, Restaurants

PROVIDENCE, RI — As Rhode Island's coronavirus data continues to hold steady, state officials are again lifting restrictions on business capacity. Starting Friday, both gyms and restaurants will be allowed to have more patrons, and funeral homes can increase the number of people at memorial services.

More changes are expected to follow in the coming weeks, Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor said during Thursday's news conference. The Commerce Department is committed to making "incremental changes" to help struggling businesses survive the pandemic.

This week's changes apply to three major industries, with good news on the horizon for a fourth in the coming weeks. These changes are outlined below. All changes go into effect Friday.

• Restaurants: Capacity increased from 50 percent to 66 percent (The limit in place ahead of Rhode Island's "pause" at the end of 2020).
• Gyms and workout facilities: Capacity rules raised from one person per 125 square feet to one person per 100 square feet; no capacity restrictions on outdoor group workouts as long as masks are worn and 6 foot distancing is implemented.
• Funeral homes: Capacity limit raised from 15 people indoors or 25 outside to 30 and 50, respectively.

Pryor said these changes were made because gyms and restaurants have repeatedly voiced their concerns that current safety regulations are too onerous. He reminded the smallest workout facilities that an appeal process is available to be exempted from distancing rules if they can prove robust safety procedures are in place.

Dale Venturini, the head of the Rhode Island Hospitality Association, thanked the governor and the commerce department for supporting small businesses.

"The RI Hospitality Association is grateful for Governor McKee’s continued commitment to small businesses, particularly the hospitality industry," he said. "Our industry is pleased to know that Governor McKee, Commerce RI and the RI Department of Health listened to our concerns and increased restaurant capacity to 66 percent and is developing a plan to adjust the restrictions on events."

With wedding season fast approaching, Pryor said that the department still anticipates allowing attendee limits to increase to 100 people inside or 150 outside starting in April. New guidance for dancing at these types of events is expected mid-March.

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