PROVIDENCE – Gov. Gina M. Raimondo on Monday morning announced that the state will shut down dine-in services at all restaurants, bars and cafes for two weeks and restrict gatherings to 25 people.
The shutdown of restaurant service begins Tuesday and extends through March 30. Takeout and drive-thru will still be available, Raimondo said. The governor said she will enact the rules with an executive order that will be signed later Monday, noting that the order will be enforced by the R.I. Department of Health.
Her decision follows a similar announcement made by Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker on Sunday.
“This is a serious step because we are facing a serious crisis,” Raimondo said at a news conference Monday morning.
The governor said the order will be revisited in two weeks. She also said it is possible that delivery and take-out services could be halted at that time, if necessary.
Raimondo acknowledged that the move was a massive business sacrifice on the part of the hospitality industry – particularly shutting down on St. Patrick’s Day. “We will figure out a way to make it up to you,” said Raimondo. “Know you are doing the right thing and we appreciate you.”
R.I. Department of Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott said in a news conference Monday morning that the state now has community spread.
The state has seen one additional case over the weekend – bringing the state’s total COVID-19 case count to 21 people. The source of the spread to that additional case – a 40-year-old woman who has been hospitalized – has not yet been found.
Raimondo announced Monday afternoon that multiple government offices will close or shift operations until further notice. All R.I. Department of Motor Vehicles’ satellite offices will be closed and all driving tests are suspended.
The Cranston DMV location, Raimondo said, will be suspending personal driver’s license identification and registration services through the end of this week. It will remain open for commercial licenses, adjudication and dealer services.
The R.I. Department of Labor and Training, R.I. Department of Human Services and HealthSource RI won’t conduct in-person business, and all customer service will take place via telephone or online, Raimondo said.
Individuals who need to renew a professional license with DLT will need to do so online. At DHS, boxes will be set up outside the offices for individuals to drop off paper applications, Raimondo said. The state is also providing a 30-day grace period for professional licenses and driver’s licenses that are scheduled to expire next month.
The R.I. Statehouse will also be closed to visitors starting Tuesday.
The state has applied for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, the governor said, which would make the state eligible to receive low-interest loans for small business to pay fixed operating costs until the state returns to normalcy.
Raimondo asked for those needing to file for unemployment to do so online on the R.I. Department of Labor and Training website.
“Our unemployment insurance claims are starting to skyrocket, as well as our TDI applications,” said Raimondo. “It is what we expected and its happening.”
Raimondo also noted that she had seen crowds around the state over the weekend, and she called for people to take the crisis more seriously and to disband large gatherings.
“This is important folks and we are going to start enforcing this,” she said.
Raimondo is also asking teachers and school superintendents to “hang on for a day or two” regarding whether school will be held after this week – public schools across Rhode Island are currently closed. She said an announcement on what the state thinks will be the “best and safest” measure to take with school will come out “very soon.”
Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza said at Monday morning’s news conference that starting Tuesday, the Providence Place mall will close until further notice.
“Do not leave your house, unless it’s for an essential reason,” said Elorza.
Speaking to young people, Elorza said, “It’s not about you; you have a responsibility to the community,” noting that the young can spread the virus to the more vulnerable.
Woonsocket and North Providence on Monday have joined multiple municipalities in declaring a state of emergency.
(Updated at 5 p.m. to include information about the status of state offices and state services.)
