Coronavirus In RI: In-Person Service Limited At Public Offices

PROVIDENCE, RI — In an effort to reduce face-to-face contact and curb the spread of the new coronavirus in RI, Governor Gina Raimondo announced Monday across-the-board changes to state offices, effective Tuesday. The changes come following reports of long lines and a lack of social distancing at several offices, particularly the Department of Motor Vehicles. Following a suspension of the open meetings law, officials are encouraged to hold meetings over the phone or via video conference.

The State House will be closed to all visitors until further notice. At the Department of Human Services, there will be no more in-person business. All customer service will be conducted online or over the phone, including applications renewals and changes. Any applications that need to be submitted by hard copy can be placed in a dropbox outside of the offices. HealthSource Rhode Island also has webchat abilities, the governor said.

There will be no more in-person job counseling at the Department of Labor and Training, instead sessions will be held over the phone. Professional licenses can be renewed online, and there will be a 30-day grace period for all licenses set to expire this month.

As for the DMV, most business can be conducted online, Raimondo said.

"Do not go to the DMV, stand in line and endanger yourself and the rest of Rhode Island," she said.

As is the case with the DLT, there will be a 30-day grace period of licesnes that will expire this month. The policy will be revisited in April, she said. Driving tests have been suspended until further notice, while license and ID services will not be offered in the office until the end of the week. Effective immediately, all satellite offices will be closed, leaving just the Cranston headquarters open. A reservation service is expected to be in place starting next week to schedule necessary in-person appointments. Starting next week, services will only be offered by appointment only.

Raimondo also announced that she would be suspending the open meetings law via executive order, giving local and state leaders the opportunity to hold meetings over the phone or via video conference, with the provision that the public must be allowed to take part.

"We have to try to conduct business as usual as much as possible," Raimondo said.

Both the governor and Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of health at the Rhode Island Department of Health, underscored the need for Rhode Islanders to avoid crowds with 25 people or more. Addressing concerns over crowding at grocery stores, Raimondo asked residents to use their best judgement, and consider returning at a later time if a store is crowded.

Community spread is still in its first stages at this time, making it all the more important for residents to follow the department's guidelines and stay home as much as possible.

"Relatively speaking, Rhode Island is in better shape than many places. We are a step ahead. We want to stay that way," Raimondo said.

With so many schools and organizations closing down for the time being, there has been a drop in blood donations in the state. The Rhode Island Blood Center has issued an urgent call for blood to maintain a healthy supply, and is taking steps to ensure donors are kept apart and facilities are sanitized. Dr. Alexander-Scott called for all those who are able to make an appointment to donate online at one of the organization's centers, since "there is no substitute for human blood."

As soon as within a week, healthcare providers could have the ability to order COVID-19 tests at a hospital or commercial lab. At this time, testing at the state health lab is being prioritized to those considered most at risk: healthcare workers, including EMTS, the elderly and those in hospitals or nursing homes. Whether a patient is tested right away or their test result will not change the outcome of treatment, Alexander-Scott said, as anyone with symptoms, whether it's the flu, coronavirus or something else, will be asked to recover at home and stay home until they are well.

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• RI Restaurants Closed Amid Community Spread Of Coronavirus
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