State Of Emergency In Newport: Coronavirus In Rhode Island

NEWPORT, RI — The city of Newport is under a state of emergency amid concerns about the spread of the new coronavirus in Rhode Island. The declaration was signed by the city manager, Joseph Nicholson, Jr, on Sunday and will remain in place until further notice.

The emergency declaration offers the city more freedom to manage the crisis and adapt to the ever-changing situation. Effectively immediately, all public meetings, including the City Council, zoning and planning boards and historic district commission are canceled, as well as the city courts.

While City Hall will remain open during regular business hours, visitors are asked to follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Rhode Island Department of Health, keeping six feet away from others when possible and practicing good coughing and sneezing etiquette. City Hall staff will be adjusted as needed to follow the department's and governor's guidelines.

Newport residents are asked to use online and mail-in services as much as possible and to stay home and away from municipal buildings if feeling unwell.

So far, there have been no presumptive cases or positives tests in Newport. The emergency declaration is merely a preventive step, city officials said in a release.

"The declaration recognizes the importance of taking appropriate mitigation actions in order to prevent the spread of the virus not only in Newport but across the region and leaves open the possibility that further actions may be taken as the situation develops," the release said in part.

All Newport residents are encouraged to sign up for the city's emergency alert system to stay up-to-date. The city has also launched a dedicated COVID-19 website. Anyone with questions can email COVIDQuestions@CityofNewport.com.

The city's Daffodil Days Festival, scheduled for April 23 to May 4, has been canceled.

"We’d like to thank all our sponsors and volunteers who were preparing for and anticipating the Festival," said John Hirschboeck, the director of the Daffodillion Project. "Just like the daffodils, we’ll be back next year, bigger and daffier than ever. And due to the ongoing support and enthusiasm of the community, the free daffodil bulb giveaways this October will continue."

In addition, the Newport Visitor's Center will close for two weeks, starting Monday.

Also effective Monday, the Newport Mansions will close to the public until further notice. The scheduled lecture, East Egg Hunt and Brunch and Rosecliff, schedule for March 19 and April 11, respectively, are canceled, while the opening of the "Becoming Vanderbilt" exhibition will be postponed until further notice, along with the opening reception. The Newport Symposium has been postponed until next year.