Rhode Island is the latest state to postpone their presidential primary election.
Gov. Gina Raimondo wrote, Thank you to everyone heeding our warnings and following the rules. Please remind everyone you know to do the same. Call your family and friends. Remind them: We can’t protect you if you don’t follow the rules. This isn’t a joke. These aren’t suggestions. This is serious.
By 5 pm today, all recreational and entertainment facilities as well as any close-contact business – gyms, fitness centers, hair salons, nail salons – must close. That’s in addition to dine-in restaurants.
The impact this virus is having on our economy is devastating. I want you all to know that I start every meeting by asking what we’ll need to do to reopen our economy. I don’t want things to be like this a moment longer than necessary.
Thank you to everyone who is changing the way you do business to make this work. Restaurants are setting up take out tables outside. Local businesses are making sure you can shop online. Your creativity and strong spirits are what will get us through this.
Please shop local whenever you can. Check out your favorite store’s website. Order take out. Do whatever you can to support our local businesses.
We’ve already directed anyone returning from international travel to self-quarantine for 14 days. Beginning at midnight tonight, with the exception of law enforcement and health care professionals, anyone returning to RI by plane must immediately self-quarantine for 14 days.
We’re mindful that in this region, there are many people who commute across state boarders for work. If you live in Rhode Island, work in another state, & able to work from home, we need you to do so.
If you’re a Rhode Island business and have employees who live out of state, we need you to make every attempt to let them work from home.
These are not decisions I’ve made lightly. I understand these kinds of restrictions on travel are unprecedented and that this is a big sacrifice, but we are facing extraordinary circumstances. As soon as we’re able to lift these restrictions, we will.
These new restrictions limit out-of-state travel, but don’t limit travel within Rhode Island, and we are not closing the state’s borders. If you need to drive to the grocery store, you can. If you need to get your medication from a pharmacy, you can. But we need you to stay local.
Last week, the Board of Elections requested that the presidential primary election be postponed from April 28 to June 2 and that the election take place primarily by mail ballot. I am following the advice of the Board of Elections, and will sign an executive order to do this.
