RI Reopening: Gov. Raimondo To Take Weekend To Consider Phase 3
PROVIDENCE, RI — Despite continued declines in new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in RI, Gov. Gina Raimondo said Friday she is taking the weekend to determine whether the state can move into phase 3 of its reopening plan, and what that will mean for eased restrictions on gathering limits.
Raimondo was expected to give the go-ahead on Friday for phase 3 to begin as of Tuesday, but alarming surges in cases in other parts of the country caused her to take at least another couple of days before giving the next phase the green light.
"I am not yet ready to make that announcement today," Raimondo said on Friday. "We are going to take the weekend, assesses where we are, consult with experts, look at where these other states are, and on Monday, I will be back with an official announcement on when phase 3 will begin, and what phase 3 is going to look like."
Raimondo allowed the extra couple of days were a "pause" in the decision-making process, though she did say it is "likely, possible" that on Monday she'll announced that phase 3 will proceed as early as Tuesday, with some alterations.
"It's my job to pause, reflect, dig into the facts and make sure we're ready," she said. "So that's what I'm doing."
Raimondo had previously said that phase 3 will include the opening of most businesses in the state, and allow up to 50 to 75 people for indoor gatherings, and up to 150 people for outdoor gatherings. But she expressed concern that similar eased restrictions have led to an increase in positive cases in states such as Arizona, Florida and Texas.
"What is happening in Rhode Island is different than many other states," Raimondo said. "If you follow the rules here, and stay informed here, you should be confident that we are in a good place as it relates to the coronavirus.
"Having said that, I will say this: This could change very quickly and we are foolish to deny that," she added. "I don't want people to think we're out of the woods, the crisis is over and we can go back to life as normal. Because if we do that ... we're going to be in trouble — just like that."
RI reported a 25 new positive tests on Friday. There were 97 people hospitalized and 16 people in intensive care — all lows since the height of the coronavirus surge in April. The relative good news comes at the same that other states are experience record outbreaks.
"Look at what's happening in Texas and Arizona," she said. "They have closed their hospitals to elective surgeries, and non-critical surgeries, and non-critical procedures because their hospitals are full will coronavirus patients. The governors are telling them to stay at home.
"I don't want that to be Rhode Island's story. That shouldn't be Rhode Island's story. That's not our story now."
She admonished those who doubted the importance of continuing to follow protocols such as social distancing and mask-wearing.
"We have the power to prevent ourselves from going back to where we were in March and April," she said. "But each and every one of us has to acknowledge we have a shared responsibility to one another if we're going to stay safe."
She added that her announcement on Monday will likely include travel restrictions for those entering RI from other states, although the highway "checkpoints" State Police conducted in April is not part of what she is considering.
"The bottom line — I'm going to be very honest about this — is that things are changing," she said. "We're not Texas. We're not Arizona. We're doing fine. But, that said, something is going on."
Nursing home visits and youth and adult no-contact and low-contact sports competitions are also expected to be allowed in phase 3.
"A few more days matters," she concluded. "It may not seem like a few days matters, but it does."
Patch Staff Reporter Colleen Miller contributed to this report.
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This article originally appeared on the East Providence Patch
