Coronavirus In RI: Raimondo Hopes To End Stay-At-Home Order May 8

PROVIDENCE, RI — With the end of Rhode Island's current stay-at-home order just two weeks away, Gov. Gina Raimondo outlined the state's phased plan to reopen the economy, saying she hopes to begin to implement it starting May 9. That can only happen if all Rhode Islanders continue to social distancing until then, she said, to prevent a surge in cases.

"My goal is to stand here two weeks from today and tell you that I am lifting the stay-at-home order," Raimondo said. "That's not guaranteed ... If you hang in there for the next two weeks, work from home, hunker down from home, do all things you are supposed to be doing, I will be standing here on May 8 saying that we're going to reopen the economy."

If all goes well over the next two weeks, the state will enter Phase One after the stay-at-home order expires on May 8, Raimondo said. Because the reopening process will be gradual, the first few days "will not seem very different from May 7 and 8," she said.

Phase One: Testing the Water

Social distancing requirements will still be in place as the state begins the first steps of reopening the economy. While businesses and workplaces will begin to reopen, most people will continue to work from home, and restaurants will remain closed to dining in for the near future. Highlights of this phase include:

• Raising group limits from five to 10 people.
• Allowing some employees to return to the workplace, although everyone who can work from home will be required to do so.
• Reopening some state parks and public ares, with strong social distancing requirements.
• Limited child care services will be available to parents who need it.
• Restaurants will remain open for takeout only, with pilot in-person dining beginning at the end of this phase.
• Retailers will be allowed to reopen for in-store pickup or orders. At some point, limited browsing could be an option.
• At the end of Phase One, pilots openings will begin at hair salons and barbershops with strict regulations in place.
• Hospitals will again offer elective and non-emergency procedures.
• Dental offices will begin to reopen with strict regulations in place.

The governor reminded all Rhode Islanders that they will need to "be sensible throughout the first phase, particularly when it comes to group gatherings. Even though the limit will be raised, Rhode Islanders are asked to avoid seeing a different group of 10 people per day.

"This is a tiny increase in flexibility," Raimondo said.

Phase Two: Navigating Out Way

In the second phase, restrictions will again be relaxed and more businesses will reopen. At this time, crowd limits will be raised to 15. As with the first phase, strict cleaning, handwashing and masks requirements will still be in place, as well as requirements to keep 6 feet of distance between people in public areas.

"It will be different," Raimondo said. "When you go to a restaurant there may not be any menus. And there will be no reusable menus. There may be half the number of tables ... You will still have to use face coverings."

During this phase, more restaurants, stores and close-contact businesses like salons will reopen, along with fewer regulations in public areas such as state parks and beaches.

Phase Three: Picking Up Speed

The third phase will " build on our learning from the first two phases," the outline explains. By this point, schools will be allowed to reopen, and group limits will be raised to 50 people. More people will return to the workplace, though working from home will still be encouraged. Mask, handwashing, cleaning and 6-foot social distancing requirements will still be in place.

While only three phases are outlined on the site, Raimondo said there "will be a Phase Four," adding that the state will continue to adapt its plans and regulations as time goes on. The full plan is outlined online at ReopeningRI.com.

The state is still working to develop plans for specifics such as gyms, churches, colleges and more. Individual guidelines will come in the coming days and weeks, Raimondo said.

"I cannot foresee a scenario where churches will be allowed to open in Phase One," Raimondo said.

Regardless of when the reopening process begins, industries that rely on large crowds — sporting events, concerts and more — will be the last to reopen. This includes casinos, one of the largest sources of income for the state.

At this time, state officials are still working to determine when out-of-state travel will be allowed, Raimondo said, adding that she is working closely with neighboring states to create a unified plan.

In order to begin to implement the plan, Raimondo said, the state must have at least 14 days with a downward or stable trend in cases and hospitalizations. In addition, the following must be in place to mitigate community spread:

• The ability to test anyone with symptoms within 72 hours
• The ability to trace nearly all contacts of positive cases within 24 hours
• Most testing availability in at-risk populations
• Sufficient personal protective equipment for health care workers
• Support for people in quarantine, such as food delivery
• Established workplace guidelines
• The ability to closely monitor data to determine any possible spikes in infection

"I am trusting you. I am doing it because I want to get you prepared," Raimondo said. "If in the next two weeks you start to violate the stay-at-home order, we will see an uptick in hospitalizations and I will not be able to lift the stay-at-home order. That would be a shame."

Patch Editor Scott Souza contributed to this report.