US: Rhode Island amends COVID-19 travel restrictions list as of Jan. 26 /update 26

Event

Authorities in Rhode Island have made slight amendments to their travel advisory list as of Jan. 26 as part of ongoing efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Under the existing advisory, travelers entering Rhode Island from states or territories with a COVID-19 test positivity rate of 5 percent or greater must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival; persons who produce proof of having tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours before arriving in Rhode Island are exempt from the quarantine requirement. All travelers must also complete a Certificate of Compliance and a Travel Screening Form. As of Jan. 26, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Oregon have been removed from the list, and Northern Mariana Islands has been added. The full list of affected states is:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming

Authorities update the list every week. International travelers arriving in Rhode Island are required to self-quarantine for 14 days; there is no exemption for those who produce proof of having tested negative for COVID-19.

Other business and gathering restrictions remain unchanged:

Restaurants may offer indoor dining at 50-percent capacity, but bar areas must remain closed. No more than eight people from a single household may be seated per table indoors; up to eight people from two households may be seated together at outdoor tables. Restaurants must also continue ending on-premises services nightly by 2200 Sunday through Thursday and by 2230 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Entertainment venues, such as performing arts theaters, sports arenas, cinemas, and convention centers, may operate at 25-percent capacity or a maximum of 125 people, whichever is less.
Gyms and fitness centers, as well as indoor recreation centers such as bowling alleys and casinos, may operate with the capacity restricted to one person per 14 square meters (150 square feet) of floor space. Such establishments must close nightly by 2200 Sunday through Thursday, and by 2230 on Fridays and Saturdays. Gyms and fitness centers must ensure customers are separated by at least 4.2 meters (14 feet) indoors and 1.8 meters (six feet) outdoors.
Catered events can resume in nonresidential settings with up to 15 people indoors and 50 people outdoors.
Social gatherings are only allowed with members of the same household. Persons who live alone may socialize with members of one other household, with such gatherings being capped at five people.
In-person lessons at colleges and universities are suspended.
The operating capacity for retail stores smaller than 2,788 square meters (30,000 square feet) is one customer per 9.2 square meters (100 square feet); for retail stores larger than 2,788 square meters (30,000 square feet), the capacity limit is one customer per 14 square meters (150 square feet).
All employees who can work from home in any office-based business are required to do so.
Places of worship may open at 25-percent capacity or a maximum of 125 people.
Personal care businesses, childcare centers, in-person lessons in elementary schools, manufacturing, and construction operations may continue operating with social distancing and health measures in place. Personal care businesses must close nightly by 2200 Sunday through Thursday and by 2230 on Fridays and Saturdays.

Authorities also maintain in place a stay-at-home advisory, urging residents to be at their homes between 2200-0500 Sunday through Thursdays and 2230-0500 Fridays and Saturdays.

The use of protective facemasks is mandatory in indoor and outdoor public spaces where social distancing of at least 1.8 meters (6 feet) is not possible. Retailers must remind customers to wear facemasks upon entering the business.

Officials could amend the orders on short notice, depending on local disease activity in the coming weeks.

Advice

Heed the directives of the local authorities. Emphasize basic health precautions, especially frequent handwashing with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. Practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue, maintaining distance from others, and washing hands). There is no evidence that the influenza vaccine, antibiotics, or antiviral medications will prevent this disease, highlighting the importance of diligent basic health precautions.