NEW: Raimondo Says She’ll Have Plan by Next Week for Reopening RI Parks and Beaches
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo said Wednesday that reopening parks and beaches will be part of the "first phase" of lifting coronavirus restrictions in the state.
"I’m announcing an effort to reopen parks and beaches as part of the first phase of lifting restrictions," said Raimondo, who said she asked Janet Coit at the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for a "phased" approach. Raimondo said she intends to unveil the plan next week.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe approach will be "slow and incremental" leading up to complete reopening -- with new restrictions, said Raimondo.
"This gives me hope. We're not there yet but hope is on the horizon," she said.
Raimondo made the announcement during the daily coronavirus briefing at the Rhode Island State House, where she also announced the latest COVID-19 cases, fatalities, and hospitalizations.
READ: Ten Additional COVID-19 Deaths in RI, 365 New Cases
"This is a good news day," said Raimondo. "If you look at hospitalizations and ICU [numbers] — everything is very stable. Even though we haven’t started to decline…this is good news. We’re in a stable place."
Warning Rhode Islanders Over 60 of Life in "New Normal"
"If you fall into the category of folks who are 60 and above — we are going to have to pay special attention to people who are 60 and older," said Raimondo. "I want people in that age group to come to terms now — it will be different, slower, with a different set of regulations…to keep you safe, healthy, and well."
New Web Tool
"As of today we launched a new web tool that will help Rhode Islanders make decisions around care and testing," said Raimondo, who said Diagnostic Robotics helped to roll out the application at covidselfcheck.ri.gov.
"You’ll be asked a series of questions — it will help you make decisions around when to seek care and contact a doctor. The guidance is based on CDC guidelines," said Raimondo. "It provides comfort that it’s a place you can go — it’s not a substitute for seeking medical help."
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