NEW: Raimondo Clamps Down on Thousands of Businesses - 17 New Coronavirus Cases in RI, Total Now 83
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo announced 17 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours on Sunday, bringing the total to 83 -- and that the Army Corps of Engineers will be in the state starting Monday readying buildings in anticipation of needing more healthcare capacity.
At a press conference at the Rhode Island State House, Raimondo urged Rhode Islanders to “get more serious” about the current directive to not gather in groups more than 10, and announced new restrictions on businesses.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTRaimondo also announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be in Rhode Island starting Monday to identify and ready buildings in the event of a surge in coronavirus cases.
“If we keep seeing what we’re seeing, we’re going to have to move to a statewide lockdown,” said Raimondo about reports of Rhode Islanders not obeying the mandate. “There are [first responders] killing themselves to make sure people are safe.”
“We don’t want to become New York City or Seattle, Washington,” said Raimondo. “The only way we can prevent this is to get more serious about social distancing. State police are out and about and local police are out and about. People will die — loved ones will die — if we don’t get more serious about heeding these directions."
Clamping Down on Businesses
Raimondo announced further business restrictions that will be in effect starting 5 p.m. Monday.
Currently, restaurants are shut-down for in-person dining and are allowed to deliver or provide takeout only. On Sunday, Raimondo put restrictions on more businesses.
“I’m signing an Executive Order for all recreation and entertainment facilities to close in-person operations,” said Raimondo, noting that includes theaters, cinemas, spas, hair and nails salons, barbershops, and tattoo shops.”
“You shouldn’t be open tomorrow, but we’re giving you 5 o’clock,” said Raimondo. “That is a tough decision for me to make coming out of the business world. These are extreme measures to drive the infection rate to zero.”
Raimondo is also signing an executive order that dictates that any business service personnel who can work from home to work from home.
According to Raimondo, this includes lawyers, accountants, and business professionals.
Army Corps of Engineers in RI
Raimondo said Sunday that the U.S. Army will be in Rhode Island starting Monday.
“The Army Corps of Engineers will [be here to] ready buildings for surge capacity for our hospitals,” said Raimondo.
“It will give us more manpower for work to set up these buildings and surge capacity for quarantines, beds, and healthcare workers,” she said.
Domestic Travel
Raimondo is expected to make an announcement Monday about new domestic travel restrictions for Rhode Islanders traveling back to the state.
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