Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) provided an update on Rhode Island's response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
Today the Governor announced that Rhode Island will officially move into Phase 2 on Monday, June 1st. This decision was guided by the four key metrics the Governor had previously said would guide decisions about further reopening: hospital capacity, new hospitalizations, rate of spread, and doubling rate of hospitalizations (see attached).
Businesses that are prepared to reopen Monday should:
• Visit ReopeningRI.com and review both the Phase 2 general business guidelines and the guidance documents specific to their individual sector. • Complete their Covid-19 control plan. Templates are available on the ReopeningRI.com website.
The Governor also announced that in-person nursing home and assisted living visitation will continue to be suspended in Phase 2.
COVID-19 Data Update RIDOH announced 122 new cases of COVID-19 today. This brings Rhode Island's case count to 14,635. RIDOH also announced 16 additional COVID-19 associated fatalities. Rhode Island's number of COVID-19 associated fatalities is now 693. A full data summary for Rhode Island is posted online.
Key messages for the public • Anyone who is sick should stay home and self-isolate (unless going out for testing or healthcare). • The people who live with that person and who have been in direct close contact with that person should self-quarantine for 14 days after the last day that that person was in isolation. Direct close contact means being within approximately 6 feet of a person for a prolonged period. • Help is available for people living in quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19. Visit www.RIDelivers.com [ridelivers.com] for connections to groceries, home supplies, restaurants, and mutual aid groups. People can also call 2-1-1. • When people are in public, they should wear a cloth face covering. A cloth face covering is a material that covers the nose and mouth. It could be sewn by hand or improvised from household items such as scarves, T-shirts, or bandanas. • Groups of more than five people should not be gathering. Always avoid close personal contact with other people in public. • People who think they have COVID-19 should call their healthcare provider. Do not go directly to a healthcare facility without first calling a healthcare provider (unless you are experiencing a medical emergency). • People with general, non-medical questions about COVID-19 can visit www.health.ri.gov/covid, write to RIDOH.COVID19Questions@health.ri.gov, or call 401-222-8022. This is the COVID-19 Hotline that RIDOH has available to the public. • Everyone can help stop the spread of viruses in Rhode Island. o Wash your hands often throughout the day. Use warm water and soap. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. o Cough or sneeze into your elbow. o Stay home and do not leave your house if you are sick, unless it is for emergency medical care. o Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
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