COVID-19 pandemic in Rhode Island
From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
| COVID-19 pandemic in Rhode Island | |
|---|---|
 Preparation for testing at the Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick | |
| Disease | COVID-19 |
| Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Location | Rhode Island, U.S. |
| First outbreak | Wuhan, Hubei, China |
| Index case | Pawtucket, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Arrival date | March 1, 2020 |
| Confirmed cases | 414,931 |
| Hospitalized cases | 89 |
| Critical cases | 5 |
| Ventilator cases | 0 |
Deaths | 3,636 |
| Fatality rate | 0.88% |
| Vaccinations |
|
| Government website | |
| https://ri-department-of-health-covid-19-data-rihealth.hub.arcgis.com/ | |
The COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. state of Rhode Island is part of an ongoing worldwide viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As of August 18, 2022, there has been 414,931 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Rhode Island, 89 of which are currently hospitalized, and 3,636 reported deaths. Rhode Island's COVID-19 case rate and death rate per capita are the highest and twentieth highest, respectively, of the fifty states since the start of the pandemic.[1][2]
As of August 3, 2022, 1,072,027 Rhode Islanders have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose (equivalent to over 99% of the state's population) with 901,041 Rhode Islanders completing the primary vaccine series (equivalent to 85.28% of the state's population), and 447,252 Rhode Islanders receiving at least one booster dose (equivalent to 42.33% of the state's population).[3][4]
As of August 18, 2022, there have been 151,089 breakthrough COVID-19 cases (49.02% of new cases since the beginning of vaccine rollout and 15.25% of vaccinated Rhode Islanders), 3,339 breakthrough hospitalizations (32.92% of new hospitalizations since the beginning of vaccine rollout and 0.34% of vaccinated Rhode Islanders), and 486 breakthrough deaths (33.40% of new deaths since the beginning of vaccine rollout and 0.05% of vaccinated Rhode Islanders).[5]
| Municipality[a] | Cases[b] | Hosp. | Deaths[c][d] | Pop. | Cases / 100k | Hosp / 100k[e] | CFR[f] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 / 39 | 412,179 | 17,699 | 3,636 | 1,056,611 | 39,009.5 | 1,675.1 | 0.88% |
| Barrington | 5,218 | 115 | 25 | 16,178 | 32,253.7 | 710.8 | 0.48% |
| Bristol | 7,075 | 231 | 86 | 22,234 | 31,820.6 | 1,038.9 | 1.22% |
| Burrillville | 5,632 | 189 | 85 | 16,453 | 34,230.8 | 1,148.7 | 1.51% |
| Central Falls | 10,198 | 327 | 36 | 19,382 | 52,615.8 | 1,687.1 | 0.35% |
| Charlestown | 2,349 | 73 | 6 | 7,780 | 30,192.8 | 938.3 | 0.26% |
| Coventry | 12,459 | 491 | 140 | 34,575 | 36,034.7 | 1,420.1 | 1.12% |
| Cranston | 33,003 | 1,231 | 222 | 81,196 | 40,646.1 | 1,516.1 | 0.67% |
| Cumberland | 12,369 | 430 | 110 | 34,652 | 35,694.9 | 1,240.9 | 0.89% |
| East Greenwich | 5,658 | 187 | 39 | 13,073 | 43,280.0 | 1,430.4 | 0.69% |
| East Providence | 17,395 | 861 | 251 | 47,449 | 36,660.4 | 1,814.6 | 1.44% |
| Exeter | 2,086 | 66 | 11 | 6,782 | 30,757.9 | 973.2 | 0.53% |
| Foster | 1,513 | 58 | 11 | 4,689 | 32,267.0 | 1,236.9 | 0.73% |
| Glocester | 2,595 | 72 | 10 | 10,062 | 25,790.1 | 715.6 | 0.39% |
| Hopkinton | 2,437 | 83 | <5 | 8,111 | 30,045.6 | 1,023.3 | 0.00% |
| Jamestown | 1,281 | 29 | <5 | 5,496 | 23,307.9 | 527.7 | 0.00% |
| Johnston | 11,887 | 597 | 205 | 29,235 | 40,660.2 | 2,042.1 | 1.72% |
| Lincoln | 8,000 | 319 | 95 | 21,644 | 36,961.7 | 1,473.8 | 1.19% |
| Little Compton | 666 | 5 | <5 | 3,505 | 19,001.4 | 0.0 | 0.00% |
| Middletown | 5,208 | 137 | 27 | 16,078 | 32,392.1 | 852.1 | 0.52% |
| Narragansett | 4,505 | 118 | 14 | 15,550 | 28,971.1 | 758.8 | 0.31% |
| New Shoreham | 239 | <5 | 0 | 827 | 28,899.6 | 0.0 | 0.00% |
| Newport | 7,507 | 206 | 33 | 24,762 | 30,316.6 | 831.9 | 0.44% |
| North Kingstown | 9,068 | 274 | 99 | 26,207 | 34,601.4 | 1,045.5 | 1.09% |
| North Providence | 12,963 | 603 | 164 | 32,459 | 39,936.5 | 1,857.7 | 1.27% |
| North Smithfield | 4,173 | 157 | 77 | 12,349 | 33,792.2 | 1,271.4 | 1.85% |
| Pawtucket | 29,883 | 1,170 | 184 | 71,756 | 41,645.3 | 1,630.5 | 0.62% |
| Portsmouth | 4,760 | 98 | 19 | 17,418 | 27,328.1 | 562.6 | 0.40% |
| Providence | 73,620 | 3,371 | 683 | 179,435 | 41,028.8 | 1,878.7 | 0.93% |
| Richmond | 2,145 | 57 | 6 | 7,626 | 28,127.5 | 747.4 | 0.28% |
| Scituate | 3,380 | 94 | 13 | 10,603 | 31,877.8 | 886.5 | 0.38% |
| Smithfield | 8,459 | 372 | 176 | 21,630 | 39,107.7 | 1,719.8 | 2.08% |
| South Kingstown | 8,598 | 225 | 53 | 30,735 | 27,974.6 | 732.1 | 0.62% |
| Tiverton | 4,358 | 44 | 17 | 15,816 | 27,554.4 | 278.2 | 0.39% |
| Warren | 3,746 | 144 | 68 | 10,488 | 35,717.0 | 1,373.0 | 1.82% |
| Warwick | 26,890 | 1,093 | 259 | 81,079 | 33,165.2 | 1,348.1 | 0.96% |
| West Greenwich | 2,037 | 53 | 5 | 6,179 | 32,966.5 | 857.7 | 0.25% |
| West Warwick | 10,135 | 446 | 80 | 28,955 | 35,002.6 | 1,540.3 | 0.79% |
| Westerly | 7,312 | 294 | 53 | 22,624 | 32,319.7 | 1,299.5 | 0.72% |
| Woonsocket | 15,573 | 746 | 268 | 41,539 | 37,490.1 | 1,795.9 | 1.72% |
| Updated August 22, 2022 Data is publicly reported by Rhode Island Department of Health[6] | |||||||
| |||||||
Timeline[edit]
2020[edit]
March[edit]
- March 1: The first two confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Rhode Island are identified. Both patients were connected to a St. Raphael Academy February school trip to Italy.[7]
- March 9: Then-Governor Gina Raimondo declares a state of emergency.[8]
- March 11: The University of Rhode Island cancels all in-person classes through April 3, with classes resuming online on March 23.[9]
- March 12: Providence mayor Jorge Elorza postpones all public city meetings and pulls all entertainment licenses in the city, effectively closing all clubs, music venues, and movie theaters.[10]
- March 13:
- Students at Springbrook Elementary School in Westerly self-quarantine after a student tests positive.[11] The child had received an autograph from Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert, who had also tested positive, at a Boston Celtics game earlier in the month.[12]
- Students at Cranston High School West self-quarantine for two weeks after a student tests positive.[13]
- Twin River Casino in Lincoln and Tiverton Casino in Tiverton close for one week, which is later extended indefinitely.[14][15]
- The St. Patrick's Day parade in Newport is canceled for the first time in its 64-year history due to COVID-19 concerns.[16]
- WSBE-TV, the PBS member station for Rhode Island, cancels the production of all local programming until further notice.[17]
- March 16:
- Public schools are closed.[18]
- The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence cancels all public mass services until further notice.[19]
- The Preservation Society of Newport County closes all of its mansion properties to public tours.[20]
- March 17:
- Bars and dine-in restaurants closed, crowds of 25 or more people banned.[21]
- The Providence Place shopping mall is closed until further notice.[22]
- The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority closes its facilities at Kennedy Plaza in Providence.[23]
- All state public libraries are closed through March 22, later extended to April 3.[24][25]
- As of this date, there are 23 confirmed cases.[26]
- March 18: The Trinity Repertory Company in Providence cancels the remainder of its 2019–20 theater season.[27]
- March 20:
- The Rhode Island National Guard is activated to assist the state with the crisis by delivering food and staffing testing centers.[28]
- Restaurants are allowed by the state to sell beer and wine for take-out orders to supplement their income while dine-in services are suspended.[29]
- March 22:
- March 23:
- All state public schools resume classes through distance education.[31]
- The 2020 Rhode Island Democratic primary is postponed from April 28 to June 2.[32]
- March 24:
- New Shoreham issues a shelter-in-place order for Block Island effective through April 15.[33]
- The three towns located on Aquidneck Island – Newport, Middletown, and Portsmouth – all implement shelter-in-place orders and require all out-of-state or seasonal residents to quarantine for 14 days upon their arrival.[34]
- The University of Rhode Island cancels its graduation commencement ceremony scheduled for May 16 and 17.[35]
- Brown University in Providence postpones its graduation commencement ceremony, which was scheduled for May, until the fall.[36]
- Travelers entering Rhode Island from T. F. Green Airport are required to self-quarantine for 14 days.[37]
- March 25: The Rhode Island Air National Guard cancels its annual air show, which was scheduled to take place at the Quonset State Airport in North Kingstown in June.[38]
- March 26:
- Raimondo announces that any individual coming to the state from New York by land or air that plans to stay in Rhode Island must self-quarantine for 14 days.[39] The Rhode Island State Police establish a checkpoint on Interstate 95 at the Rhode Island Welcome Center in Richmond, near the Connecticut border, at which motorists with New York license plates and who plan to stay in the state are required to give their contact information.[40]
- Raimondo orders grocery stores to limit the number of customers in their building at once to 25% of stated fire capacity.[41]
- March 27:
- Raimondo extends several gathering bans through April and May, including a ban on dine-in service at restaurants through April 13. Entertainment, recreational and "close-contact" businesses (such as barber shops) are also ordered closed through April 13.[42]
- As of this date, there are 203 total confirmed cases of COVID-19, 28 of whom are hospitalized.[42]
- March 28:
- Rhode Island reports its first two deaths from COVID-19: one individual in their 80s who died on March 27, and another individual in their 70s who died on March 28, both of whom had underlying medical conditions.[43]
- Raimondo enacts a stay-at-home order for all Rhode Islanders who are not travelling to purchase food, household supplies, medicine, or gasoline, or are going for a recreational walk alone.[44]
- Raimondo announces that any individual travelling to Rhode Island from anywhere outside of the state for non-work purposes are required to quarantine at home for 14 days.[44] Individuals who live in Rhode Island but work outside of the state are also required to quarantine when they are not at work.[44] This legislation replaces the executive order that affected only travelers to New York, which was repealed by then-Governor Raimondo.[45]
- Gatherings in the state are further restricted, with any gathering of over five people banned.[44]
- Raimondo orders all "non essential" retail to close until April 13.[46] The Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation issues a list of stores that will be allowed to remain open, including supermarkets, convenience stores, farmers' markets, food banks and pantries, specialty food stores, pharmacies, liquor stores, medical cannabis dispensaries, mail delivery operations, printing shops and operations, pet supply stores, laundromats, gas stations, electronics stores, hardware stores, automobile supply stores, gun shops, funeral homes, banks, healthcare uniform stores, and restaurants offering take-out or delivery.[47] Non-essential retailers, such as book stores and clothing stores, are allowed to continue to receive and send orders made online or by telephone.[48]
- Police and national guard members knock on doors of homes where cars had New York license plates to remind them of a requirement to self-quarantine.[49]
- March 29:
- The state suspends all child care licenses through April 3.[50]
- Following public comments by New York governor Andrew Cuomo, Raimondo and Rhode Island State Police colonel James Manni clarify the wording of the March 28 order, reiterating that all out-of-state passenger vehicles that are planning to stay in Rhode Island are required to visit information centers on the Rhode Island-Connecticut border to collect quarantine information before quarantining in their homes for 14 days.[51] The order does not affect passenger vehicles who are passing through Rhode Island to another state, commuters, or individuals who cross the border to purchase groceries.[51]
- March 30: Raimondo announces that all Rhode Island school buildings will be closed through the end of April, with classes continuing through distance learning.[52]
April[edit]
- April 3:
- As of this date, state beaches and parks remain closed, with Raimondo citing a lack of social distancing as the reason for the decision.[53]
- The first COVID-19 case is reported on Block Island.[54]
- Raimondo announces that three field hospitals will be set up in the state to add 1,000 hospital beds in case of hospital overflow.[55]
- April 5: The annual Gaspee Days Parade and Festival, due to take place in Pawtuxet Village in June, is canceled for 2020.[56]
- April 6:
- CVS Pharmacy, which is headquartered in Woonsocket, begins a free rapid COVID-19 testing program for Rhode Islanders at Twin River Casino in Lincoln.[57]
- The 2020 U.S. Senior Open, scheduled to be held at the Newport Country Club in Newport in June, is canceled.[58]
- Rhode Island surpasses 1,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 1,082 confirmed cases, 109 hospitalized individuals, and 27 deaths in the state as of this date.[59]
- April 7:
- Providence closes all golf courses and city parks.[60]
- Raimondo extends the bans on dine-in service at restaurants and social gatherings of more than five people until May 7. The closure of public recreation, entertainment, and close contact business establishments is also extended to that date.[61]
- April 8: Raimondo signs an executive order authorizing the Rhode Island Department of Health to fine individuals who deliberately or repeatedly violate quarantine orders after testing positive for COVID-19, coming into close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19, or travelling to Rhode Island for a non-work purpose with intent to stay.[62][63]
- April 9: Providence College moves its graduation commencement ceremony from May 17 to October 31.[64]
- April 10: Rhode Island surpasses 2,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. As of this date, there are 2,015 confirmed cases (including 288 new cases), 169 hospitalized individuals, and 49 deaths.[65]
- April 11: The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority closes the eastbound toll collection lanes on the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge overnight; westbound tolling had been suspended on March 26. During nighttime hours, bridge traffic is rerouted through open road tolling lanes.[66]
- April 13: Rhode Island has its first daily decrease in COVID-19 hospitalizations, with 197 hospitalizations compared to 201 on April 12.[67]
- April 14: Rhode Island joins New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut to form a multi-state council to co-ordinate plans to reopen the economy across the Northeast region once it is safe to do so.[68]
- April 15:
- Rhode Island Department of Health launches a new statistics website for state COVID-19 data.[69] For the first time, the new website includes cumulative hospital discharges of recovered COVID-19 patients.[70] As of this date, there have been 168 total discharges since the start of the pandemic.[1]
- Raimondo announces that residents of border communities, such as Tiverton, can shop for groceries out of state without having to quarantine for 14 days when they return to Rhode Island.[71]
- As of this date, 66 of the 87 reported deaths in Rhode Island are residents of nursing homes, with 23 deaths recorded at one facility in North Providence.[72]
- April 18:
- As of this date, Rhode Island workers at customer-facing businesses, manufacturing facilities, and offices will be required to wear masks while working.[73] Customers at essential retail will also be strongly encouraged to wear masks.[74] Workers who cannot do their job while wearing masks, such as call center operators and news reporters, are exempt from this rule.[74] Businesses will not be allowed to turn away customers solely because they are not wearing a mask, except for stores in East Providence and Barrington, where town laws have made them mandatory.[75][76]
- Special Olympics Rhode Island announces they will hold their summer games virtually in late May; the games had previously been canceled in March.[77]
- Harvard University reports that Rhode Island is the only state in the country completing enough COVID-19 tests per population – 185 tests per 100,000 residents, above their recommended 152 per 100,000 residents – to reopen its economy.[78]
- In a conference call with local reporters, then-Governor Raimondo states she does not plan to extend Rhode Island's stay-at-home order after it expires on May 8.[79]
- Raimondo announces a relief fund for Rhode Island artists, arts and culture workers, and gallery operators.[80]
- April 19: Big box stores are required to close their gardening sections to browsing; sales of gardening items and seeds will continue to be allowed via pick-up, delivery, and appointment.[81]
- April 20:
- Rhode Island surpasses 5,000 COVID-19 cases; as of this date, there are 5,090 confirmed cases and 155 deaths in the state.[82]
- Raimondo announces six key indicators that will determine when Rhode Island will reopen its economy: whether the spread has continued to decrease in the state, whether the state has supports in place for vulnerable populations and those in quarantine, whether the state healthcare system has the capacity and the personal protective equipment to handle another surge, whether large gathering spaces (such as schools and houses of worship) have plans for long-term social distancing, and whether the state is prepare to reimpose measure or close the economy again it is necessary.[82]
- April 21: The state's first walk-up testing facility opens in Providence.[83]
- April 22:
- Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket, which was closed in 2018, is reopened as a testing site for the Blackstone Valley area.[84]
- Then-Governor Raimondo announces that she is working with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management on a staggered plan to re-open state parks and beaches as part of the first phase of the state's reopening; the plan would not go into effect until after the state stay-at-home order ends on May 8.[85]
- 100 workers at the Taylor Farms New England food processing facility in North Kingstown test positive for COVID-19.[86]
- April 23: Then-Governor Raimondo announces that Rhode Island schools will utilize distance learning for the remainder of the school year.[87]
- Raimondo announces proms and graduation ceremonies scheduled for the spring would be canceled, with the state and Rhode Island PBS would air a special commencement broadcast for graduating high school seniors in June.[88]
- April 24:
- The Rhode Island Interscholastic League cancels all school sports activities for the spring.[89]
- 80 workers at Daniele, Inc., a cured meat production facility in Burrillville, test positive for COVID-19.[90]
- April 25: Around 100 protesters participate in a "Reopen Rhode Island" protest at the Rhode Island State House in response to Raimondo's stay-at-home order.[91] The protest is countered by one in support of Raimondo and the restrictions, in which emergency room and health care workers stood on the steps of the State House.[92]
- April 26:
- New positive cases of COVID-19 in Rhode Island decrease to their lowest daily numbers since April 18, with 310 new cases on this date.[93]
- Then-Governor Raimondo affirms that the state stay-at-home order would not likely be extended and could be lifted when it expires on May 8, which would begin the gradual reopening plan for Rhode Island's economy.[93]
- April 27:
- Twelve residents at the Rhode Island Veterans Home in Bristol test positive for COVID-19.[94]
- Garden centers and gardening supply stores are allowed to reopen.[95]
- Then-Governor Raimondo announces a phased plan to re-open Rhode Island's economy once the stay-at-home order is lifted.[96] In the first re-opening phase, gathering sizes would be increased from five people to ten, elective surgeries at hospitals could resume, and non-essential stores would be allowed to offer in-store pickup of pre-ordered items.[97] Parks, dentistry offices, hair salons, and barber shops would also be allowed to re-open with social distancing guidelines.[97] Additional restrictions on retail, restaurants, and large gatherings would be lifted in subsequent phases.[97] In order for the stay-at-home order to be lifted, or for the plan to move from one phase to the next, there would have to be a two-week downward trend in new COVID-19 cases or a trend in declining hospitalizations.[97] A dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases or deaths at any time would result in the state restricting gatherings again.[97]
- April 28: The Rhode Island Department of Health confirms that state hospital COVID-19 patient discharge numbers also includes patients who died in the hospital.[98] Of the 466 discharges recorded as of this date, 86 are hospital deaths.[98]
- April 29:
- The discharge numbers announced the day prior are revised to exclude the 86 hospital deaths which are already counted in death statistics, and instead only list the 391 hospital patients who recovered.[99]
- Then-Governor Raimondo announces that large events, concerts, and parades scheduled for the summer would not be allowed to occur.[100] Gatherings of over 100 people, such as large weddings, may be allowed by August if case numbers decline.[101]
- The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra cancels the remainder of its 2019–20 season, with the exception of its 75th anniversary gala, which was rescheduled to October 11.[102]
- The Newport Folk and Newport Jazz festivals cancel their 2020 editions, which were due to take place in July and August.[103]
- The Washington County Fair, which was to be held in August, is canceled for 2020.[104]
- April 30:
- As of this date, there are 266 deaths in Rhode Island attributed to COVID-19.[105] Between 175 and 179 of these deaths are connected to nursing homes.[106]
- Bryant University announces plans to hold its fall semester at its Smithfield campus.[107]
- The Rhode Island Department of Health revises its hospitalization numbers to include patients due to a new computerized system that also includes patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 but were initially admitted to the hospital for reasons other than the illness; those cases were included in state positive case numbers but not hospital data before April 30.[108]
May[edit]
- May 2:
- Providence reopens nine of its city parks, including Roger Williams Park, for running, walking, and bicycling.[109] 23 city streets are closed to through traffic, except for emergency vehicles and residents of those streets, to allow for socially distanced exercise.[110]
- As of this date, there are no active cases of COVID-19 on Block Island; The only case confirmed on the island was a seasonal resident who was evacuated from the island and did not return upon recovery.[111]
- May 4:
- The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management lifts emergency restrictions on trout fishing that had been put in place when the season opened on April 6.[112]
- Providence reopens three streets that had been closed to through traffic on May 2.[113]
- The Wickford Art Festival cancels its 2020 edition, which was scheduled to be held in Wickford in July.[114]
- May 5: Raimondo issues an executive order, to be effective May 8, requiring all Rhode Island residents to wear a face covering in public places.[115]
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- May 6: Rhode Island surpasses 10,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19; As of this date, there are 10,205 cases and 370 deaths in the state attributed to COVID-19.[116]
- May 8:
- Raimondo lifts the current state stay-at-home order, to be effective the next day, but urges individuals to not visit mothers in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or hospitals for Mother's Day.[117]
- Rhode Island Department of Health director Nicole Alexander-Scott reports that of the 7,129 COVID-19 cases reported as of April 25, 6,800 had recovered, bringing the state recovery rate to 95.39%.[118]
- May 9:
- The state stay-at-home order is lifted after expiring the previous day.[119] On May 7, then-Governor Raimondo stated she decided not to renew the order because of increased state-wide testing, declining hospitalizations, and a sufficient supply of personal protective equipment.[119]
- The first phase of the state re-opening plan is enacted after the stay-at-home order expires.[120] Following the expiration of the stay at home order, non-essential retailers will be allowed to open with restrictions and hospitals will be allowed to resume required non-emergency medical procedures.[119]
- Fifteen state parks are reopened but face COVID-19-related restrictions, such as maintaining social distancing, reducing hours of operation, and limiting parking spaces.[121]
- May 11:
- Then-Governor Raimondo's daily media briefings are moved from the Rhode Island State House to the Veterans Memorial Auditorium to allow news reporters to attend in person for the first time since March.[122]
- A second protest against the state's current COVID-19 restrictions, hosted by local radio personality John DePetro and attended by about 40 protesters, is held outside the Rhode Island State House.[123]
- May 13:
- The Rhode Island Supreme Court resumes hearing cases remotely.[124]
- Yawgoog Scout Reservation in Rockville cancels all summer Boy Scout camps.[125]
- May 14: Raimondo announces libraries will be allowed to reopen their buildings for limited browsing in the second phase of the state plan.[126]
- May 15:
- The International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport cancels its 2020 induction ceremony, which was due to take place in July; 2020 inductees will instead be recognized during the 2021 ceremony.[127]
- The Rustic Drive-In in North Smithfield and Misquamicut Drive-in in Westerly are the first movie theaters in the state to re-open for regular film screenings, with social distancing in place.[128][129]
- Then-Governor Raimondo announces that the second phase of the state reopening plan would be enacted in June; it had been previously indicated that the phases would be in two-week increments.[130] Raimondo also unveils the four metrics that will be taken into consideration by the state to move between phases: hospital capacity, new hospitalizations, the rate of spread, and the double rate of hospitalizations.[130]
- May 16: Rhode Island National Guard ends its checkpoint operations at T.F. Green International Airport and the Rhode Island border, which had begun in March and notified out-of-state visitors to Rhode Island of the 14-day quarantine rule.[131]
- May 17: The University of Rhode Island holds a virtual recognition ceremony for the undergraduate class of 2020, featuring an address from then-Governor Raimondo. An event for graduate students was held the day prior.[132][133]
- May 18:
- Restaurants are allowed to resume outdoor dining as of this date.[134][135]
- Rhode Island surpasses 500 recorded deaths related to COVID-19. As of this date, there have been 506 deaths and 12,795 positive cases recorded in the state.[136]
- Then-Governor Raimondo announces tentative plans to restart Sunday services at houses of worship beginning the weekend of May 30.[137]
- May 19:
- 26 new COVID-19-related deaths are recorded in Rhode Island, the highest one day toll to date.[138]
- The state releases a contact tracing app called "Crush COVID RI", in which users can keep track of 20 days worth of their travel history on their mobile phone in case they are diagnosed with COVID-19.[138]
- May 23: Third Beach, located in Middletown, opens for the season, but only for Middletown residents.[139]
- May 25: East Matunuck State Beach in South Kingstown and Scarborough State Beach in Narragansett reopen with limited parking.[140]
- May 29: CVS opens ten drive-through COVID-19 testing sites around the state.[141]
- May 30: Houses of worship resume service with a 25 percent capacity limit being enforced.[142] The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence resumes public mass.[143]
- May 31: At the end of May, there are 718 deaths in Rhode Island attributed to COVID-19.[144]
June[edit]
- June 1:
- Rhode Island moves into the second phase of its reopening plan.[145] In this phase, the social gathering limit is increased to 15 people, barbershops, salons, gyms, and fitness studios re-open with a reduced capacity, and offices are allowed to bring one-third of their employees back to work in-person.[146]
- Childcare facilities re-open.[147]
- Amtrak resumes service of its Acela Express high-speed train, which stops in Providence, on a modified schedule and with reduced capacity.[148]
- Indoor dining at restaurants resumes at 50 percent capacity, with no standing service allowed. Live music performances are allowed, provided there is at least 14 feet of distance between the performer and guests.[149]
- All state beaches reopen, but with some restrictions like reduced parking.[150]
- Providence Place and Warwick malls reopen to customers.[151]
- June 2:
- Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence reopens.[146]
- Most travel restrictions to Rhode Island are lifted, and out-of-state travelers who intend to stay in the state will no longer be required to quarantine for 14 days unless they are traveling from a region or state that is still under a stay-at-home order.[146]
- Youth and adult sports are allowed to resume with 15 or fewer regular participants, although tournaments and league play are still not allowed.[152]
- June 5: Some city-owned buildings in Providence reopen, with most of the Providence Place mall remaining closed.[153]
- June 8: Twin River Casino in Lincoln and Tiverton Casino in Tiverton are reopened by invitation only.[154]
- June 15:
- Rhode Island records less than a 2% positivity rate from tests over the weekend, the lowest rate since the beginning of the pandemic. In addition, hospitalizations, ventilator cases, and intensive care cases see declining numbers.[155]
- A television special for graduating Rhode Island high school seniors airs on Rhode Island PBS featuring a keynote speech by actress and Central Falls native Viola Davis, appearances by Seth MacFarlane, Julian Edelman, Meredith Vieira, and Elizabeth Beisel, and performances by singers Billy Gilman and Erika Van Pelt.[156]
- June 19: The Rhode Island Department of Health reports that no cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Rhode Island over the previous two weeks were connected to participation in the George Floyd protest in Providence on June 5.[157]
- June 21: The International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport reopens to the public.[158]
- June 25: Rhode Island reports 25 positive tests, the lowest number of positive cases since March 25, with hospitalizations falling under 100 patients for the first time since late March.[159]
- June 28: CNN reports that in the past week, Rhode Island and Connecticut have been the only two states in which COVID-19 cases have decreased. The remaining 48 states either have increased case rates or were tracking steady.[160]
- June 29:
- Summer camps for children open for the season, with new protocols for group gatherings and cleaning.[161]
- New quarantine orders are ordered by Governor Raimondo: any visitor who arrives in Rhode Island from a state that is still undergoing a COVID-19 surge will be required to quarantine for 14 days, excepting those who can prove they had recently tested negative. Rhode Islanders who return to the state from a state where at least 5% of the tests are positive are required to take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their return to Rhode Island; otherwise, they will have to quarantine for 14 days.[162]
- June 30:
- Rhode Island enters phase three of the state's reopening plan.[163] In the third phase, social gatherings of up to 25 people and public events of up to 125 people are allowed and museums, arcades, bowling alleys, and movie theaters will be allowed to reopen with social distancing measures in place.[163]
- At the end of June, there are a total 950 deaths in Rhode Island attributed to COVID-19.[164]
July[edit]
- July 4: The Bristol Fourth of July Parade, the oldest Independence Day celebration in the United States, is held as a "drive-by" parade, with participants driving the route in their cars instead of marching the streets of Bristol.[165]
- July 8: Visitations at Rhode Island nursing homes are permitted to resume.[166]
- July 13: Rhode Island's seven-day average of new cases reaches 55, its highest point in three weeks.[167]
- July 23: The number of deaths resulting from COVID-19 in Rhode Island exceeds 1,000.[168] Then-Governor Raimondo orders all state flags lowered to half-mast until July 26 in memory of Rhode Islanders who have died from COVID-19.[169]
- July 29: Following a rise in COVID-19 cases connected to outdoor gatherings, then-Governor Raimondo announces Rhode Island would not move to the fourth phase of its reopening plan, instead reducing social gathering limits from 25 to 15 people.[170]
August[edit]
- August 11: The number of COVID-19 cases in Rhode Island surpasses 20,000.[171]
September[edit]
- September 3: Rhode Island's positivity rate for COVID-19 drops below 1 percent, with then-Governor Raimondo stating it was a "banner day" for the state, as 8,500 tests were conducted in a single day.[172]
- September 14: Rhode Island public schools open for the academic year. While most students attend in-person learning, around 25% of students choose to start the year with distance learning.[173]
- September 18: Providence College reports 120 positive COVID-19 cases over the last three days and switches to remote learning for at least the next week while the college goes into lockdown. As of this date, over 200 COVID-19 cases in the state are affiliated with Rhode Island colleges.[174]
- September 25: Rhode Island removes 249 COVID-19 cases from its cumulative case count due to duplicate positive cases.[175]
- September 30: Rhode Island reports 192 positive cases of COVID-19, with 173 of the tests coming from September 29. This is the highest single-day case count since May 29. At her weekly news conference, then-Governor Raimondo claims that the "spike" in cases is coming from those aged 19–24, but decides to allow trick-or-treating on Halloween.[176]
October[edit]
- October 15: Rhode Island reports 274 COVID-19 cases, both from the prior day and cases added on to earlier dates. Consequently, Raimondo enforces new measures to help limit the spread of COVID-19: businesses' break rooms will be closed for 90 days, police presence will be tripled on Halloween, people will be fined $500 if they attend gatherings of more than 15 people.[177]
- October 23: Rhode Island hits a new one-day record for the most recorded COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic: 524 cases. The number of total positive cases surpasses 30,000.[178]
November[edit]
- November 5: Rhode Island hits another new one-day record for the most recorded COVID-19 cases: 566 cases. Raimondo issues some new restrictions: a voluntary stay-at-home advisory during night hours, the closing of facilities 10 PM on weeknights and 10:30 PM on weekends, and public gathering restrictions: 50% capacity for indoor gatherings and 66% for outdoor gatherings.[179]
- November 13: As record-breaking cases continue to increase, Rhode Island records 1,091 total new positive cases, a record for a single day. It is also the first time that the state has recorded over 1,000 cases in a single day; the day before, there were a record 988 new cases.[180]
- November 19: Then-Governor Raimondo announces a two-week "pause" due to increasing cases, from November 30 (two days after Thanksgiving) to December 13. Gyms, bars, and casinos are ordered to close, restaurant capacity is reduced to 33%, houses of worship are reduced to 25% capacity, companies are ordered to maximize work from home, and social gatherings with multiple households are prohibited.[181] High schools are reduced to 25% capacity, with special-needs, English language learners, and at-risk students prioritized for in-person learning.[182]
- November 30: Then-Governor Raimondo issues statewide Wireless Emergency Alerts, warning that hospitals had reached capacity and urging residents to stay at home, work remotely, avoid social gatherings, and get tested for COVID-19. The first patients are admitted to dedicated COVID-19 non-ICU facilities at a field hospital in Cranston and another at the Rhode Island Convention Center.[183]
December[edit]
- December 3: As hospitalizations continue to grow, Rhode Island records 1,717 additional cases in a single day, another new record. The number of total positive cases surpasses 60,000.[184]
- December 6: MSNBC reports that Rhode Island leads the nation in cases per capita over the last seven days.[185]
- December 14: The first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are distributed among Rhode Island hospitals to high-risk health care workers.[186]
- December 17: As more health care workers receive their initial doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, then-Governor Raimondo announces at her weekly news briefing that the number of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be "unexpectedly reduced" through next week with no clear explanation being provided by Operation Warp Speed.[187]
- December 21: Rhode Island surpasses 80,000 total COVID-19 cases. Through updates of earlier data released on this day, Rhode Island records a single-day fatality high (consisting of 25 deaths) occurring eight days prior; furthermore, hospitalizations decrease from 459 to 429 over the weekend.[188]
- December 22: The first doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in the state are received by Lifespan. These first doses were distributed among Rhode Island Hospital, Newport Hospital, and Miriam Hospital.[189]
2021[edit]
January[edit]
- January 4:
- As hospitalizations continue to slightly decline and Rhode Island surpasses 90,000 COVID-19 cases, the first people start to receive their second doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.[190]
- Allan Fung, former mayor of Cranston, tests positive for COVID-19. He was expected to swear in Kenneth Hopkins, his successor as mayor, that same day.[191]
- January 11: Rhode Island surpasses a "significant milestone": 100,000 total COVID-19 cases.[192]
February[edit]
- February 22: The Rhode Island Department of Health adds additional 81 deaths to the state's COVID-19 death count due to recent confirmation of these deaths being affiliated with COVID-19.[193]
March[edit]
- March 1: Rhode Island marks one year since its first COVID-19 case.[194]
- March 2: Daniel McKee ascends to the governorship upon the resignation of Gina Raimondo upon her joining the cabinet of the Biden administration.[195]
- March 8: The Newport St. Patrick's Day parade is canceled for the second consecutive year. The parade committee plans to hold a postponed parade in September, pending city council approval.[196] In May, Newport mayor Jeanne-Marie Napolitano said the parade would likely not be held in the fall, not because of COVID-19 related restrictions, but due to lack of preparation time and because other events, such as weddings, may conflict with a September parade date.[197]
- March 18: Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee and the Newport Folk and Jazz festivals announce that the festivals will be held in the summer as planned, in a scaled-down form with modified capacity.[198]
April[edit]
- April 12: Rhode Island opens COVID-19 vaccines to anybody at least 40 years old and to individuals at least 16 years old in certain zip codes, with the majority from Providence County.[199]
- April 13: Rhode Island temporarily halts the distribution of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine "out of an abundance of caution", as six recipients develop a severe blood clot after getting the vaccine.[200]
- April 19: Rhode Island opens COVID-19 vaccines to anybody at least 16 years old. At this time, individuals 16 or 17 years old can only get the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.[201]
- April 26: Rhode Island resumes use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.[202]
- April 29: Governor McKee announces that Rhode Island beaches will open to "full capacity" in the summer, with masks being mandatory in crowded areas.[203]
May[edit]
- May 7:
- The seven-day rolling average of new COVID-19 cases in Rhode Island drops below 200 cases for the first time since mid-October 2020.[204]
- Rhode Island eases numerous COVID-19 restrictions; for example, businesses and venues can operate at 80% capacity, larger social gatherings are allowed (25 people indoors, 75 outdoors), and bars can stay open past midnight.[205]
- May 9: Rhode Island surpasses 1 million COVID-19 vaccinations.[206]
- May 10: The number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 at any given time drops to under 100 for the first time since early October 2020.[207]
- May 11: Rhode Island authorizes the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 12 to 15 years old.[208]
- May 17: As of this date, at least 500,000 Rhode Islanders have been fully vaccinated.[20