RI Lifts Some Coronavirus Restrictions as Contagious Variants Come to U.S.

RI Lifts Some Coronavirus Restrictions as Contagious Variants Come to U.S.

The State of Rhode Island has announced it is lifting the coronavirus restrictions that have until now required restaurants close at a certain time.

Until now, restaurants had to close at 10 PM on weekdays and 10:30 PM on weekends. As of this weekend, that is no longer the case. 

The news comes on the heels of the highly contagious South African variant being found in South Carolina — and former Rhode Island Director of Health Dr. Michael Fine is warning that the state has to more vigilant than ever — not less. 

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“The impact of these variants is that they appear to be more transmissible which means they will infect more people faster. It also means that the level of disease we have at our degree of masking and contact tracing won’t be enough,” said Fine.

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“So unless we change our behaviors, we’re going to see rapid spread, and rapid spread has its own dangers,” he added. “The dangers are over taxing of the healthcare system to the extent there is one…and having deaths that are caused by people’s inability to get the care they need. That’s the danger.”

New Variants and Vaccines

On Thursday, it was reported that COVID-19 vaccine from Novavax proved nearly 90% effective in preliminary results from a key clinical trial in the United Kingdom, the company said, but in a separate trial appeared far less effective against a new variant of the coronavirus that was first identified in South Africa, according to Stat News. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that as of Friday, Rhode Island has received 153,625 doses of vaccine and administered 80,138 doses, good for 52%.

While the Rhode Island Department of Health this week finally announced vaccine priority for residents 75 and over, it also said that for those 65 and over, appointment scheduling won’t begin until at least mid-February. 

Fine said with the addition of new variants in the country — the UK variant has been now been confirmed in 24 states, and the first appearance of the Brazilian variant this week — that people have to be more cautious than ever.  

Businesses, Elected Officials Applaud Move -- Fine Issues Caution

For the restaurant industry, which has struggled in light of the state’s mandates, the announcement of the lifting of earlier closing times came as good news.

Now, many want to see more restrictions lifted. 

“I commend the Department of Health for finally lifting the curfews that have placed incredible stress on our state’s restaurants and small businesses.  I also commend our small businesses for weathering this brutal storm and for their advocacy in supporting their small businesses and employees,” Representative William O’Brien, who represents North Providence in District 54. 

 “But, I believe we should also be opening the bar areas in these restaurants as well,” O’Brien added. “There is no evidence that the virus behaves differently at a bar compared to a restaurant table and in addition to the thousands of dollars these establishments invested in COVID-19 safety procedures and PPE, I urge that the Department of Health also lifts the restrictions on bar areas in restaurants,” said O’Brien.

Health officials have repeatedly pointed to alcohol use and people gathering in large groups in close proximity at bars for extended periods, leading to the spread of disease, as the reason for their being shuttered. 

Fine is warning the restaurant industry that the respite might not last. 

“I mean, just at the moment when people are really tired of this, we have to go back and say not only do you need to keep masking, whether you’re immunized or not, but you need to mask more intensely,” said Fine. 

“It means doubling down on social distancing — I think it will mean more heartache for bars and restaurants because I don’t see how they’re going to be able to function,” he said. “We’re tired and we don’t want to do this anymore, and these variants are going to say not only do you have to do it, but you have to continue to do it, and we have to do it more intensely.”