RI Coronavirus: Stay-At-Home Order Issued By Gov. Raimondo

RHODE ISLAND — Gov. Gina Raimondo on Saturday ordered all Rhode Islanders to stay home until April 13 to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. The order comes on the heels of the state's first coronavirus deaths.

Raimondo said she issued the stay-at-home order after "too many instances of people not following social distancing guidances." She said it's estimated that 50 percent of Rhode Islanders are complying with social distancing guidelines.

"For those that are not in compliance, I need you to do better," Raimondo said.

Two Rhode Islanders died of the coronavirus, the state Department of Health announced Saturday. They had underlying medical conditions, officials said. Raimondo also announced 36 new cases of the virus, bringing the total to 239. Twenty-nine people are hospitalized.

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Under the stay-at-home order, residents should only leave their homes for essential needs, including grocery shopping and picking up medication. Walking and exercising outside is allowed in small groups as long as people practice social distancing.

Raimondo also banned groups larger than five people from congregating and urged residents to keep the group of people they have contact with the same. She ordered nonessential retail stores to close starting Monday and transition online if possible.

The mandatory 14-day quarantine for people traveling into Rhode Island from New York was extended to all states. Raimondo clarified that Rhode Islanders who work in other states like Massachusetts and Connecticut should work from home when possible but if not, they can travel to and from their jobs, as long as they self-quarantine when they come home to Rhode Island.

State and local police departments have already started cracking down on social distancing enforcement, issuing fines to people who are not in compliance, Raimondo said.

"Right now we are not ready for a surge," Raimondo said about the state's healthcare system, "I need every single Rhode Islander cooperating with the orders that I'm giving to keep us safe, and to keep us healthy."