McKee: Mask Mandate Still Not Needed In Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island's mask guidance won't change, for now.

"At this moment, I don't see the need [for a renewed mask mandate]," McKee said, explaining that he and state leaders are closely monitoring the state's COVID-19 data indicators.

McKee said that 'everything is under consideration" should circumstances change, but that key indicators including hospitalizations, infection rates and deaths, along with the high rate of vaccination, means that a mandate isn't necessary at this time.

Last week, the governor issued an executive order requiring mask-wearing in all Rhode Island schools this fall, strengthening previous "strong recommendation" issued in late July.

Meanwhile, Rhode Island's coronavirus numbers are still on the rise. According to the latest weekly data from the Department of Health, the number of cases per 100,000 people rose to 195 over the past week, up from 178 the week prior.

Hospitalizations and the overall positivity rate generally held steady. Following a jump from 73 to 111 from the weeks of Aug. 7 to 14, just three new hospitalizations were reported in the last week. The percent positivity rate actually declined slightly, falling from 3.6 percent to 3.4 percent.

Rhode Island still remains in a "high" rate of community transmission, the highest rate in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's indicator. The CDC recommended that residents living in areas with "substantial" or "high" rates of transmission wear a mask while indoors, regardless of vaccination status.