What Happens After Rhode Island's Coronavirus Pause Ends?

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island's two-week coronavirus pause was extended for a third week Thursday, making the new end date Dec. 20. Starting the next day, new, slightly loosened restrictions will be in place through the start of the new year.

"Protect your household" is the Gov. Gina Raimondo's new mantra, underscoring that social gatherings continue to be limited to just members of single households. If one member of a household gets COVID-19, it's extremely difficult to keep other members safe, she said, meaning everyone has to do everything they can to keep the virus out of their homes entirely. This means wearing a mask whenever around someone not in the household, avoiding social gatherings and getting tested frequently, especially if someone in close contact develops symptoms.

"Stop thinking about what you can't do, and start thinking about what you can do to protect your household," she said.

After the pause ends Dec. 20, Rhode Island won't see too many changes when it comes to reopening. With hospitalizations continuing to rise sharply, there was no way to safely begin to "dial up" reopening, Raimondo said. In fact, many of the changes put in place for the pause will remain the same until the end of the year. The new regulations are outlined below.

Reopened after pause

• Indoor dining: Capacity raised from 33 percent to 50 percent; only one household per table
• Venues of assembly: Allowed to reopen at 25 percent capacity, with a maximum of 125 people
• Gyms: Allowed to reopen with one person per 150 square foot
• Indoor recreation facilities: Allowed to reopen with one person per 150 square foot

Same regulations as pause

• In-person school: Preschool through Eighth grade open, high school limited at districts' discretion. Higher education remote only.
• Child care: Open
• Manufacturing and construction: open
• Personal services (salons, barbers, etc): open

The governor's first news conference after the New Year will be Jan. 7. At that time, Raimondo said she hopes to start gradually reopening more of the economy.

Coronavirus in Rhode Island: Read more

• Rhode Island's Coronavirus Pause Extended 1 Week To Dec. 20
• Rhode Island's Coronavirus Hospitalizations Reach New Peak
• RI Emergency Doctor Explains Possible Causes of Coronavirus Surge
• Rhode Island's Coronavirus Vaccine Timeline: Who's Getting It
• RI's Weekly Coronavirus Rate Hits 8.9%; Cases Climb
• Rhode Island Has The Most Coronavirus Cases Per Capita In U.S.