RI Leaders To Review New CDC Mask Guidance, No Change For Now

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Islanders shouldn't expect any major changes with the new mask guidance expected from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tuesday afternoon. Gov. Dan McKee said that he and state leaders will review the policy closely, but that the state remains in a relatively safe place.

"Safety is the number one priority," McKee said during his weekly news conference.

Once the new guidance is released, McKee said he and the Rhode Island Department of Health will review it and determine the best next steps for the state.

"Our data does not show a reason to pull an alarm without a fire," McKee said, adding that Rhode Island is not seeing a dangerous surge like those in other areas of the country and world.

Despite an uptick in coronavirus cases in the past weeks, now is not the time to panic, McKee said. To date, nearly 78 percent of adults have had at least one vaccine, and 75 percent are fully vaccinated, he said.

While that's among the best vaccination rates in the country, that leaves about 250,000 eligible Rhode Islanders who chose not to get vaccinated, McKee said. Of the new cases in the state, the "overwhelming majority" are among the unvaccinated, the governor continued, and 18 of the 22 new COVID-19 hospitalizations over the past week were people who had not gotten a vaccine.

"Now is the time to double down on vaccination efforts across all age groups," the governor said, saying that getting vaccinated is the best way to keep fellow Rhode Islanders and the economy safe. "[The vaccine] is a miracle we have, let's take advantage of it."

Ahead of the school year, the state will redouble its efforts to get middle and high school students vaccinated, McKee said. Recommendations for masking in schools will come at a later date, based on the CDC guidance, he said.

At this time, there is no plan to mandate vaccinations for state employees or any other group, the governor said, adding that he did not think there was a legal way to do so. Instead, he and the Department of Health will continue to strongly encourage vaccinations and work to make them as accessible as possible to all eligible residents.

"I think we've been very successful without a mandate," McKee said.

New mask mandate?

If, based on the CDC guidance, state leaders decide that masking is the best choice, don't expect a "mask mandate" in the state. According to McKee, his executive power as governor only allows him to issue a "strong recommendation" at this time.

Regardless of official policy from the state, McKee encouraged Rhode Islanders to wear a mask while in crowded indoors settings or around larger groups if it makes them more comfortable. That's been the approach all along, he said, saying that it comes down to an individual choice.

Under the current state recommendations, fully vaccinated people are okay to go without a mask in all settings. People who have not gotten vaccinated are urged to wear a mask in indoor settings.

Related: Coronavirus Transmission 'Substantial' In RI As Cases Climb