COVID-19 CRISIS

THE LATEST: Scarborough, East Matunuck beaches to reopen on Memorial Day

Resumption of in-person worship services eyed for weekend of May 30

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Rhode Islanders will be able to visit a pair of state beaches starting on Memorial Day, Gov. Gina Raimondo announced Monday, while the weekend of May 30 has been targeted for a resumption of in-person faith gatherings.

The announcements came as the latest COVID-19 data update showed new cases and hospitalizations falling to the lowest levels seen in at least a month – developments the governor described as “good news” even as she continued to stress that social distancing restrictions will remain in place during the state’s phased reopening.

“All things considered … I look at that data with confidence that we’re doing the right things, with gratitude that the people of Rhode Island are following the rules,” Raimondo said during the briefing, held again at The Vets in Providence with members of the media in attendance.

She added: “We’re going to be living with the virus for, who knows how long … This is it. This is life. And the quicker we just follow the rules and live life this way, the better we’ll all be.”

The governor on Monday also said state officials observed widespread compliance with social distancing and mask-wearing requirements at businesses and state parks over the weekend, which brought warm temperatures and sunshine across Rhode Island.

“I was heartened by the weekend numbers,” she said.

Two beaches to open on Memorial Day

Two state beaches – East Matunuck in South Kingstown and Scarborough in Narragansett – will be open on Memorial Day, Raimondo said, in a nod to the unofficial arrival of summer and the fact that making journeys to the Ocean State’s shoreline is “kind of a part of who we are.”

But as with virtually all aspects of the reopening process, the opening of the beaches will be limited and comes with a number of caveats.

“When I say opening, it is not opening in a way that you would typically think of opening,” the governor said.

Parking spots at the two beaches will be “significantly limited,” although there will be no charge. Bathrooms, showers, changing rooms and concessions stands will be closed, and no lifeguards will be on duty.

Raimondo said the decision to open just two state beaches, rather than all seven on a limited basis, stems from the operational constraints and considerations involved. She praised the Department of Environmental Management for its work on the limited beach openings – and for its efforts to reopen all of the state’s parks, including Goddard State Park, as of Monday.

“We want people to go outside, get some fresh air, enjoy nature, enjoy our beaches and parks. But all the rules will apply … stay away from other folks, don’t stay too long,” she said.

Raimondo said the hope is for all state beaches to open, with restrictions, during the second phase of the state’s reopening plan. Additional regulations for the Memorial Day beach openings will be posted at reopeningri.com later this week, she said.

Return of in-person worship

During the COVID-19 crisis, Raimondo has spoken frequently of her own faith and the role church attendance plays in her family’s lives. On Monday, said the current limitations on in-person worship ceremonies have weighed heavily on her.

“We’ve really tried to balance people’s needs and rights to worship with the realities of this public health crisis,” she said.

Raimondo said through consultation with an advisory group consisting of faith leaders from across the state, officials are now targeting the May 30 weekend for the resumption of traditional, in-person services. As with the beach opening regulations, additional specifics are set to be made available at reopeningri.com later this week.

The governor said it will be the responsibility of faith leaders to comply with social distancing and safety guidelines to help ensure the health of worshippers.

“I feel relieved and grateful that we were able to come up with this … I’ve come to this decision because I have confidence in faith leaders,” she said.

By the numbers

Rhode Island marked one grim milestone with Monday’s data update, as seven additional reported deaths brought the state’s overall toll to 506 – the first time it has topped 500.

At Monday’s briefing, Department of Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott said the new deaths include one person in their 50s, one person in their 60s, four people in their 90s and one person in their 90s.

Other aspects of the update provided hopeful signs, however. Of the 2,834 new COVID-19 tests included in the update, 121 were positive – the fewest single-day increase since early April – for a positive rate of slightly less than 4.3 percent. The state’s overall case count now stands at 12,795, while 102,589 of the 115,384 people tested to date have been negative for the disease.

The number of Rhode Islanders hospitalized due to COVID-19 stood at 236 as of Monday’s update, the fewest since mid-April. Sixty-two of the hospitalized patients were being treated in ICUs, and 46 were intubated and breathing through a ventilator.

To date, 1,012 people have been discharged from the state’s hospitals following treatment for COVID-19.

New city and town case counts were not immediately provided with Monday’s update.

Raimondo on Monday touted the state’s COVID-19 testing as among the best nationally, and she said a new invitation-only sampling initiative being conducted at several Stop & Shop locations across Rhode Island has seen “very good success.” Through that initiative, randomly selected Rhode Islanders can respond for an appointment at one of the supermarket sites to receive both diagnostic and antibody testing.

Alexander-Scott noted that the state recently surpassed 100,000 total tests – a figure that represents more than 10 percent of Rhode Island’s overall population.

She and the governor also noted that more work remains, however – particularly given that positive test rates in some communities, particularly those in urban settings, continue to be as high as 20 percent, even as the state’s overall positive rate has fallen.

Raimondo said the state’s testing plan is focused on three primary objectives – providing quick testing for symptomatic people, quickly responding to outbreaks, and expanding access to all communities.
“We call it SOS – symptoms, outbreaks, surveillance,” she said.

Elsewhere during Monday’s briefing:

* Raimondo urged hairdressers, barbers and salon workers to participate in a Facebook town hall on Monday afternoon to receive further information and provide feedback as the state works to allow that sector to reopen.

“I hate the fact that we’ve had to shut you down … Having said that, this is a complex one like all close-contact businesses,” she said.

She added: “We want to get there as soon as we can, but we need to get there safely, and frankly, we need to hear from you … It’s not helpful for us to put out rules that you know are impossible to follow.”

Raimondo also said her administration has been in “very close contact” with Connecticut and other neighboring states regarding their plans for hairdressers, barbershops and salons.

* Asked about “mixed messages” in terms of mask-wearing requirements for class of 2020 high school and college graduates taking part in virtual or non-traditional ceremonies this spring, the governor said it will be up to local superintendents and educational leaders to follow the “clear guidelines” issued from the Department of Health and Department of Education.

“I cannot be in the business of telling everybody exactly, is this OK, is that OK … The fact is, common sense does have to prevail,” she said.
Avoiding the “rabbit hole of every single hypothetical,” she added: “I think there’s ways to be safe and creative and follow the rules.”

* Raimondo said the state continues to expand its outreach to Rhode Island’s communities of color with the assistance of working and advisory groups. She said a full list of participating members of those groups will be available at reopeningri.com, and she asked an communities not yet represented to reach out to state officials.

* The governor provided a reminder that Tuesday marks the deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot for the June 2 presidential preference primary.

Comments

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  • Drew

    Oh good! My buddies Shaun and Mark are eager to show off their new bathing suits and their fluctuating waistlines

    Monday, May 18, 2020 Report this

  • Finster

    So she will open the beaches but not have the bathrooms or concessions open BUT there will be port-a-johns to use!! So the DEM staff cannot clean the state restrooms but it is better to have an outside company clean the port-a-john a few times a week to not spread the virus...Well I hope Gina lines up with her family to use the port-a-johns!!

    Monday, May 18, 2020 Report this

  • KimLorene

    Opening the beaches with these restrictions is nuts. And only two of them!! Yeah, that's a good idea...let's cram everyone into two beaches instead of spreading out among all the beaches. She wants control over everything and it is killing her that the people are finally revolting!

    Tuesday, May 19, 2020 Report this

  • bendover

    Block Island Sound gets turned into a toilet...Get ready for an invasion from CT where the beaches are still closed. RI planning, Fire, Aim, Ready...Downside consequences, WHAT, the Queen of Raimondi worry? Gotta love Statewide central planning.....

    Tuesday, May 19, 2020 Report this