Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Resources

We created this webpage to provide you the latest information and resources on coronavirus (COVID-19). We will update it frequently as new information and resources come forward. If you think something needs to be updated or added to this website, please email us at: RIGOPCaucus@rilegislature.gov​
COVID-19 Information Hotline
Phone: (401) 222-8022
Hours: Every day (weekend included) 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM​​
Email: RIDOH.COVID19Questions

After hours: Call 211
​
Translation En Espanol:
haga clic en el icono en la parte superior derecha de la página

HELPFUL RESOURCES

face coverings

Click on poster to expend
CDC COVID-19 Face Covering Reminder Poster (Click on photo to expend)

​⚠️​ Effective Friday May 8 everyone, except children under 2 and people whose health would be damaged by wearing a face covering, must wear face coverings when in a public place, both indoors and outdoors
Latest GUIDANCE 
Department of Health, Rhode Island:

​When people are in public, they should wear a cloth face covering. A cloth face covering is a material that covers the nose and mouth. It could be sewn by hand or improvised from household items such as scarves, T-shirts, or bandanas. The only exceptions from these rules are for anyone whose health would be in jeopardy because of wearing a face covering or any children under 2 years old.
Executive orders
  • Executive Order 20-30 - Twenty-seventh Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Requiring Cloth Face Coverings in Public (5/5/20)
  • ​Executive Order 20-24 - Twenty-first Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Requiring Cloth Face Masks at Work (4/14/20)​
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: guidelines and how to video
Rhode Island Commerce: 
​
The CDC’s guidelines and patterns for making face coverings are available here.

The Center for Disease Control recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.
​
🎥Video: Surgeon General,  Dr. Jerome Adams, shares ways to create your own face covering in a few easy steps.
Face coverings in public places
Rhode Island Commerce: 

Effective Friday May 8 everyone, except children under 2 and people whose health would be damaged by wearing a face covering, must wear face coverings when in a public place, both indoors and outdoors.

All employees of customer-facing businesses, office-based businesses and nonprofits, construction businesses, and manufacturers must  wear cloth face coverings while at work. All of these businesses must provide face coverings for their employees. Face coverings can include scarves, bandanas and other homemade and non-factory-made masks.

For more information on the new face coverings rules see guidance from the Department of Business Regulation here (or in Spanish here).

Additionally, all customer-facing businesses must take steps to remind customers to wear face coverings. That means you should be putting up signs at the door reminding customers to wear a face covering inside.

​The only exceptions from these rules are children under two years old and people whose health would be in jeopardy because of wearing a face covering. The latter are advised not to visit stores.
​​The only exceptions from these rules are children under two years old and people whose health would be in jeopardy because of wearing a face covering. The latter are advised not to visit stores.
​Face coverings for businesses
Rhode Island Commerce: 
​
Polaris MEP, DesignxRI and Commerce worked to form Masks RI, an online platform to connect Rhode Island designers, makers and manufacturers of non-medical masks and cloth face covers with potential buyers.

If you would like to purchase face coverings, register here as a buyer

If you would like to be listed as a supplier, submit your information here.

TESTING

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, RHODE ISLAND

☎️ Hotline: (401) 222-8022|📧 Email:RIDOH.COVID19Questions@health.ri.gov|🌐 Website:  https://health.ri.gov/covid/
Hotline Hours| Monday – Saturday | 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM | Sunday and After Hours Call 211
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) recommends that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms should be tested. The symptoms of COVID-19 include: fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches (myalgias), chills, runny nose or stuffy nose, sore throat, headache, or diarrhea. As we learn more about the virus, we know that some people with COVID-19 have only experienced one or two mild symptoms

HOW TO GET TESTED

Call your Primary Care Provider
Call your primary care provider to discuss your symptoms and get scheduled for a test. Many primary care providers are set up to test their established patients on site. Others are referring patients for testing by appointment at other locations such as Respiratory Clinics and drive-up testing sites. Your primary care provider will talk with you about the best place for you to get tested. They will also let you know how you can get your test results.
Call a Respiratory Clinic
  • If you don’t have a primary care provider, you can call a Respiratory Clinic.
  • Respiratory Clinics are urgent care centers, primary care providers, Community Health Centers, and community-based clinics across the state that are set up to evaluate patients who may have COVID-19. Most Respiratory Clinics are set up to swab patients for testing on-site.
  • You must call a Respiratory Clinic first. Unless you are experiencing a medical emergency, you should not go to any healthcare facility without calling first.
  • The Respiratory Clinic will let you know how to get your test results.

self-checker

Rhode island covid-19 self-checker
On April 22, 2020, the Rhode Island Department of Health announced a partnership with Diagnostic Robotics to launch the Rhode Island COVID-10 Self-Checker. 
​
The purpose of the RI COVID-19 Self-Checker is help you make decisions about seeking appropriate medical care. 

Ways to get tested for COVID-19

Respiratory Clinics
  • A number of urgent care centers and primary care providers in Rhode Island have set up separate areas that serve as Respiratory Clinics, meaning they are specifically evaluating patients suspected of having COVID-19. While these Respiratory Clinics are located in specific areas just for those patients, urgent care centers are still open to see patients who need other services in their usual locations.
  • You must call a Respiratory Clinic first. Unless someone is experiencing a medical emergency, no one should go directly to any healthcare facility.
  • Most Respiratory Clinics can obtain specimens and order tests.
Drive-Up Testing Sites
Drive-up testing sites are located at URI in South Kingstown, CCRI in Warwick, and Rhode Island College in Providence.
  • Your doctor must order you a test and you must have an appointment to be tested at one of these sites. Please do not show up without an appointment.
  • These drive-up testing sites are open seven days a week.
  • These sites are available for drive-through only. Currently, sites are not able to accommodate individuals who arrive on foot or via public transportation.
  • Staff at the drive-up sites will not swab children younger than 12. Parents and caregivers can swab their own children at the testing sites with coaching from staff at the site. If parents are uncomfortable with obtaining a sample from their child, they can call a respiratory clinic that accepts pediatric patients.
Drive-up Site at Clínica Esperanza/Hope Clinic
You can make an appointment and get tested at Clínica Esperanza/Hope Clinic in Providence. Drive-up testing is available three days a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Please call 401-408-0238 and visit their website to find more detailed information. Services are multilingual, including in Spanish.
Drive-up and Walk-up Site by Providence Community Health Centers (PCHC)
Starting on Tuesday, April 21, drive-up and walk-up COVID-19 testing will be provided by PCHC in tents in the parking lot of Robert L. Bailey IV Elementary School, at 65 Gordon Avenue. The walk-up testing option does not require a car. This option is located across the street from PCHC’s Prairie Avenue clinic. Bilingual personnel, materials, and signage will be available at the site. Testing is available to symptomatic PCHC patients with a referral from their primary care provider and an appointment. PCHC encourages its existing patients to call their health center for an appointment. New patients can call 401-444-0404 for assistance and can find more information here.​
CVS RAPID RESULTS TESTS
​As of April 6, CVS Health will begin operating drive-through Rapid COVID-19 Testing for eligible individuals at Twin River Casino in Lincoln.
  • Go online to be pre-screened for testing and to get an appointment. The Rapid Testing Site will not test people who do not have an appointment.
    • You may learn that you do not meet the criteria for a RAPID COVID-19 test. You can still be tested through the other methods mentioned above (calling your provider, an urgent care clinic, or a respiratory clinic for a test appointment).
  • The Rapid Testing Site is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Saturday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; and Sunday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
  • When you arrive at the testing site, you must stay in your car. Staff will check your registration and tell you what to do. You will be asked to show proof of identity and in-state residence (utility bill, cell phone bill, bank statement, etc). Government issued ID is not required.
  • The entire process, including getting your results, takes about 30 minutes.
  • If you share your healthcare provider’s name and office contact information, CVS will notify your healthcare provider of your COVID-19 test results.
healthcare provider or EMS professional
​Call your primary care provider to be referred for testing. Your primary care provider can call the Rhode Island Department of Health to place an order for you to be tested at a hospital-based drive-up specimen collection site. These hospital-based drive-up sites are primarily for healthcare workers and EMS professionals. RIDOH will call your primary care provider with your test results.

Healthcare providers can also make an appointment to get tested at the CVS Rapid Testing Site, call a Respiratory Clinic, or ask their primary care provider to order a test at a drive-up testing site.

HEALTH INSURANCE 

Patients with health insurance
  • If you are tested at an urgent care, physician office, health center, emergency room, or hospital, there is no cost to the patient for lab tests.
  • You should not be charged for a visit with a physical exam or a tele-health evaluation for a COVID-like illness.
  • If you are charged for either of these services, talk to your provider at the time of service. If you still have questions, contact your health insurer’s customer service phone number on the back of your health insurance card.

Transportation options

Information for People with Transportation and Mobility Issues
MTM has procedures/policies in place to transport Medicaid and ETP (Elderly Transportation Program: individuals 60 years of age and older) individuals to COVID-19 testing sites. MTM will confirm individuals are eligible for transport, have an authorization for testing and have no other transportation options prior to scheduling a trip. MORE ​

Eligible individuals can call: 1-855-330-9131 (TTY: 711) 

This service is only available if no other transportation options are available.

frequently asked questions

How do I get my COVID-19 test results?
How you get your test results depends on how you got your COVID-19 test.

  • If you get your test at the Rhode Island Hospital, Kent Hospital, or Newport Hospital testing site, someone from the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) will call you with your results.
  • If you got a test order from your healthcare provider and you went to a drive-up testing site at URI, CCRI, or Rhode Island College, the healthcare provider who ordered the test will call you with your test results.
  • Anyone who is tested at the CVS Rapid Testing Site at Twin River Casino will get test results before they leave the site.

It might take three or four days to get your test results. While you are waiting for your test results, stay at home and isolate yourself from others to try not to spread your symptoms to others.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I TEST POSITIVE?
  • ​Your name and contact information will be shared with public health staff at the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) to help with case investigation.
  • Someone from the Department of Health will call you and ask you for a list of people you have had close contact with during your infectious period. If you were tested at the CVS Rapid Testing Site at Twin River Casino, a nurse practitioner from CVS will also contact you to review how you can prevent spreading COVID-19 to other people and how you can take care of yourself.
  • Stay at home, wash your hands frequently, wear a face mask (or a cloth face covering if a mask is not available), stay away from other people in your home, and clean “high-touch” surfaces” (doorknobs, railings, phones, counters, faucet handles) every day. You can leave your home if these three things have happened:
    • You have had no fever for at least 72 hours (three days) without using medicine that reduces fevers.
    • Your other symptoms have completely resolved (stopped).
    • It has been at least seven days since you started having symptoms.
  • If any of your symptoms get worse, call your healthcare provider.
What Happens If I Test Negative?
  • Your name and contact information will be shared with public health staff at RIDOH to help with case investigation.
  • If you start having any symptoms of COVID-19 after the test, call your healthcare provider and ask if you should be tested again.
  • Wash your hands often and practice social distancing (six feet between you and other people).
  • Wear a cloth face covering when you leave your house.
  • If you are sick, stay home from work.
  • Clean “high-touch” surfaces” (doorknobs, railings, phones, counters, faucet handles) every day.
​
If you test negative for COVID-19, you most likely were not infected at the time your specimen was collected. However, that does not mean you will not get sick. It is possible that you were very early in your infection at the time of your specimen collection and that you could test positive later, or you could be exposed later and then develop illness. In other words, a negative test result does not rule out getting sick later.  Even with a negative test, it is important for health care workers and others who have direct patient contact not to go to work sick.
What Happens If I Have Been Told To Quarantine?
  • ​Your name and contact information will be shared with RIDOH to help you monitor for symptoms.
  • You will receive an email with a letter explaining how to monitor your health while in quarantine. This email will also contain a COVID-19 Daily Symptom and Temperature Log where you can record your temperature each day.
  • If you opted to receive daily text messages to help monitor your symptoms, you will receive these messages from a phone number that has an 844 area code. These messages will ask you if you developed symptoms each day.
  • If you are not using the text messages and you develop a fever of 100.4°F or higher or you have any symptoms other than those listed on your Symptom and Temperature Log, please call RIDOH immediately.
  • If you have been told to quarantine, please stay at home during this 14-day period.

HEALTH CARE

Behavioral Health

Department of health, rhode island
  • Adults seeking mental or behavioral health support should call BH Link at ☎️ 414-LINK(5465). MORE
  • For services for children, call Kids Link ☎️ 855-543-5465. MORE
  • People with moderate to severe opioid use disorder (OUD) can access telehealth service for initiation of buprenorphine treatment 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call Rhode Island’s Buprenorphine Hotline ☎️ 401-606-5456.
  • Mental and Behavioral Health Resources MORE
  • Quitting Smoking and Vaping: People who use tobacco are at higher risk of more severe illness from COVID-19 because the virus that causes COVID-19 attacks the lungs.
    • The state’s FREE Rhode Island Nicotine Helpline is ready to help tobacco users quit and manage stress to stay quit. Certified tobacco treatment specialists (TTS) provide motivational interviewing counseling by phone. Adults 18+ may also receive FREE Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) gum, patches, or lozenges mailed direct to their home. Call ☎️ 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669)
    • Teens ages 13+ can also get FREE, safe, and confidential vaping and smoking quit support by visiting www.mylifemyquit.com or texting START MY QUIT to ☎️​ 855-891-9989.
  • The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts team is working to provide information and resources for artists as well as working to spread the word about experiences for audiences to enjoy from home. MORE

health insurance 

HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES
HEALTHSOURCE RHODE ISLAND
​☎️ 1-855-840-4774  (Mon. – Fri., 8 am – 6 pm) | 💬​ Live chat (Mon. – Fri., 8 am – 6 pm) |💻​ HealthSourceRI.com
​
​Enrollment Period Extension: The Governor announced that HealthSource RI is extending their special open enrollment period through April 30. Rhode Islanders looking to purchase coverage should visit www.healthsourceri.com.

HealthSource RI is ready to help Rhode Islanders during this challenging time. Although our Walk-In Center at 401 Wampanoag Trail in East Providence is closed for in-person appointments and our staff is working remotely, there are other ways to reach us. See below for a variety of ways to get the help you need:
  • Use the chat function on our website. Live chat is available Monday – Friday, 8 am – 6 pm.
  • If you are currently a customer, you can log-in to your secure account to report a change, upload a document or make a payment
  • If you need to sign up for coverage as a new customer, click here to enroll.
  • Call us at 1-855-840-4774. Our hours are Monday – Friday, 8 am – 6 pm.

If you need to drop off a document or payment, put them in the secure lock box inside the entryway of the HealthSource RI Walk-In Center at 401 Wampanoag Trail in East Providence, RI.

Protections for Medicaid Customers 
In most cases, if you had no cost health coverage through Medicaid on March 18, 2020, your coverage will not change, even if your income has increased, or your Medicaid was up for renewal.

The only cases where your Medicaid might end are if you ask to stop receiving Medicaid or you leave the state. Medicaid members will not lose coverage or have a decrease in benefits for any other reason.

You will keep your coverage even if you saw a message in your account or received paper notices that your coverage is ending after March 18, 2020. At this time, you do not have to send in any paperwork to keep your coverage.

COVID-19 Special Enrollment Period Until April 30th, 2020 
If you are uninsured, you can sign up for health insurance coverage until April 30th, 2020 through HealthSource RI’s new, limited-time COVID-19 Special Enrollment Period.  Once you apply, your coverage will begin on the first of the following month.

Here’s how to get started:
  • Compare plans and get a quick quote in less than 5 minutes using our Savings Tool
  • Visithealthsourceri.com to enroll online (On the Special Enrollment screen, choose “other” and type COVID-19 as your explanation)
  • Call us Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm at 1-855-840-4774

Click here to learn more!

Special Enrollment Period for Job Loss/Loss of Health Coverage
Did you know that HealthSource RI lets you sign up for coverage any time you have a life changing event that affects your health insurance?

If you recently lost your job and your health coverage, you can sign up for insurance through HealthSource RI. We’re your only source for tax credits to reduce the cost of your health insurance. Depending on your current income, you might even qualify for coverage at no cost to you through Medicaid.

Here’s how to get started:
  • Compare plans and get a quick quote in less than 5 minutes using our Savings Tool
  • Visithealthsourceri.com and enroll online
  • Call us Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm at 1-855-840-4774

Check out our job loss fact sheet to learn more.

You might also qualify to sign up for coverage through HealthSource RI if you recently moved to the state, got married, had a baby, or experienced other life changing events. Click here to learn more.

Delay in HealthSource RI Appeals
HealthSource RI will temporarily delay scheduling non-expedited appeal hearings and issuing hearing decisions during the COVID-19 declaration of emergency for 60 days or until the termination of the COVID 19 declaration of emergency, whichever is longer. All expedited hearings will be scheduled and heard telephonically.

Stay Informed
During these uncertain times, it’s important to have the most accurate, up-to-date information. Here are some frequently updated sources with the latest information on COVID-19 and Rhode Island’s response:
If you need information about how your health insurance plan is responding to the Coronavirus, please use the following links or contact your insurance company directly:
Medicaid
​☎️ 1-855-840-4774  (Mon. – Fri., 8 am – 6 pm) | 💬​ Live chat (Mon. – Fri., 8 am – 6 pm) |💻​ HealthSourceRI.com

​Rhode Island Medicaid will be suspending all terminations and quarterly income verifications for the duration of this emergency. Uninsured individuals who are Medicaid eligible  can enroll at any time. Visit HealthSourceRI.com to enroll or call customer support or use the web chat function between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday at 1-855-840-4774.

healthCARE PROVIDERS

dEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, RHODE ISLAND
Healthcare providers should be aware of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) which was initially identified causing a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Infection has since spread to other parts of China and other countries, including the United States. For the latest information on Rhode Island specific COVID-19 numbers, see RIDOH's COVID-19 Disease Data webpage. Please consult the latest provider advisories from CDC and RIDOH, as well as the UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR PROVIDERS from CDC found below.
​
Ordering Tests and Test Results
It is NOT necessary to call the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) for permission to order a test.

How to Order a COVID-19 Test for your Patients
How to Obtain a COVID-19 Test Result for your Patients

Conserving PPE
Personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirators (like N95s), facemasks (such as surgical masks), face shields and other eye protection, gowns, and gloves, are in short supply in Rhode Island and across the United States. At this time, we are exploring every opportunity available to obtain additional PPE. However, until the time that appropriate PPE is available, we provide guidance on the prioritization and conservation of PPE.

Educational videos on PPE produced by the Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team (RI-DMAT):
Guidance for Conserving PPE

Off-Label Prescribing
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) finds that the state is facing a pandemic. On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization declared COVID-19, a novel virus also known as SARS-CoV-2, a pandemic. Two days earlier, March 9, 2020, the State of Rhode Island was declared to be in a state of emergency. COVID-19 can be fatal in humans and has a greater transmissiblity and higher mortality rate than seasonal flu.

Off-Label Emergency Regulation

Reporting
Any suspected cases of COVID-19 should be reported to RIDOH immediately. For any questions and to report cases, please call the Rhode Island Department of Health Center for Acute Infectious Disease Epidemiology at 401-222-2577 during business hours (Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) or 401-276-8046 after hours.

PERSON UNDER INVESTIGATION (PUI) FOR COVID-19 – REPORTING FORM

TeleMedicine
Effective March 18, 2020, the Governor signed an executive order directing health insurers to follow previously announced instructions to cover visits conducted over the phone and online during this crisis. This order for an expansion of Telemedicine coverage will apply to primary and specialty care, as well as mental and behavioral health care. Insurance plans are updating policies to coincide with the Executive Order and this Telemedicine Insurer Grid reflects compliance with the current order. RIDOH is grateful to the volunteers who compiled it.

This grid is not an official RIDOH document, but a compilation by volunteers designed to be a helpful reference. For official payer policy contact the specific payer.
Telemedicine Insurer Grid
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Ri hAVENS
​RI Havens, Rhode Islanders’ connection to local establishments offering discounted lodging rates to frontline workers and others who may need a place to stay during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal is to ensure you have what you need to practice social distancing to help slow the spread of this virus. To view an interactive map of participating hotels, click here. If you have a question or need further assistance, call 2-1-1 or the Point at 401-462-4444. Multilingual representatives are available.

patient care

Healthcare Facilities, Nursing Homes, Assisted Living
Department of Health, Rhode Island:
  • Nursing home administrators have been directed to not allow any visitors (unless they are essential to the care of a resident). Additionally, nursing home administrators have been directed to continue actively screening staff, vendors, and all other people who enter facilities for illness and COVID-19 risks (for example, travel history or exposure to someone under investigation for COVID-19).
  • Oak Hill Center in Pawtucket has signed a contract with the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) to serve as a COVID-19 Specialty Nursing Home. As of April 15, Oak Hill Center will only be accepting new patients who are known or suspected of being COVID-19 positive or who have COVID-19 symptoms.Oakland Grove Health Care Center in Woonsocket has also signed a contract with RIDOH to be a COVID-19 Specialty Nursing Home, and as of May 3 will only be accepting new patients who are known or suspected of being COVID-19 positive or who have COVID-19 symptoms.
    • Current residents who do not have COVID-19 symptoms will be relocated to a separate unit within Oak Hill Center with other symptom-free patients. All residents will continue to be very closely monitored for any COVID-19 symptoms and very aggressive infection control measures will remain the standard. In addition, staff who are caring for COVID-19 negative patients will not be working on units with COVID-19 positive patients.
    • Serving as a COVID-19 Specialty Nursing Home is a critical public health need right now. It assures all patients receive the level of care they need, and Oak Hill Center can be supported as a skilled nursing facility that will specialize in care of patients with COVID-19.
  • Check hospital websites for visitation restrictions.
​TeleMedicine
Effective March 18, 2020, the Governor signed an executive order directing health insurers to follow previously announced instructions to cover visits conducted over the phone and online during this crisis. This order for an expansion of Telemedicine coverage will apply to primary and specialty care, as well as mental and behavioral health care. Insurance plans are updating policies to coincide with the Executive Order and this Telemedicine Insurer Grid reflects compliance with the current order. RIDOH is grateful to the volunteers who compiled it.

EMPLOYMENT AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Department of health, rhode island

☎️ Hotline: (401) 222-8022|📧 Email:RIDOH.COVID19Questions@health.ri.gov|🌐 Website:  https://health.ri.gov/covid/
Hotline Hours| Monday – Saturday | 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM | Sunday and After Hours Call 211
Financial Support for Employees/Workers
EmployRI
​The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Skills for Rhode Island's Future and Commerce have re-launched a state job-seeking platform to help connect Rhode Islanders with nearly 2,000 open jobs. Many of the jobs posted are frontline positions in the fight against COVID-19. Jobseekers can visit www.EmployRI.org to find jobs as well as other important resources including information on unemployment insurance, resume tips and other COVID-19 updates. Employers looking to hire quickly can post jobs on EmployRI for free and dedicated specialists at SkillsRI will facilitate matches with qualified candidates.

Department of Labor and Training, Rhode Island

☎️ Phone: (401) 234-4280|📧 Email:dlt.covid19@dlt.ri.gov|🌐 Website:  http://www.dlt.ri.gov/
Phone Hours | Monday - Friday | 8 AM - 4 PM
⚠️ ​Please email dlt.investigations@dlt.ri.gov, if you think you've been a victim of unemployment insurance fraud.

apply for benefits 

additional resources

COVID-19 UI FAQ
Unemployment Insurance Fact Sheet
"How To File UI Claims" videos in ASL
Memorandum
Learn more about your benefit card
RETURNING TO WORK
UI Imposter Fraud
COVID Fraud Memorandum

Department of Revenue, Rhode Island

☎️ Contact Information: http://www.tax.ri.gov/contact/ |🌐 Website: http://www.tax.ri.gov/COVID/ 
Office Hours | Monday - Friday | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
USE OF FACE MASKS
In order to control the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), and in accordance with Governor Gina M. Raimondo’s Executive Order 20-24, the Rhode Island Division of Taxation encourages any member of the public entering the Powers Building (where the Division of Taxation is located) to have a face mask/covering while in the building.

The Division continues to encourage taxpayers, tax preparers, and others to use the Division's website, phone system, email system, and portal, instead of visiting the Division's office, in order to help control transmission of the coronavirus. Virtually all services the Division provides are available online or by phone. To learn more, click here. posted 04/17/2020​
LATEST FEDERAL GUIDANCE
The Rhode Island Division of Taxation is reviewing guidance that was issued today by the United States Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service and will be posting updates soon. To view today's federal announcement, click here. To view today's federal notice, click here. posted 04/09/2020
ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS
In light of the ongoing state of emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic, many administrative hearings scheduled to take place in the coming weeks must be postponed and rescheduled.
  • If you have a matter scheduled for preliminary review with the RI Division of Taxation on or before June 1, 2020, please contact the Tax Division at the number listed in the notice scheduling the review to either reschedule or arrange for a phone conference.
  • All formal administrative hearings shall be postponed until a date after May 25, 2020. You will receive correspondence with a rescheduled hearing date.
  • All prehearing conferences and status conferences are not postponed, but arrangements may be made to reschedule or for the conferences to take place via telephone. The individual attorney assigned to the conference will contact you directly regarding either rescheduling or coordinating a telephone conference.​
  • Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the RI Division of Taxation at (401) 574-8829. posted 03/30/2020
APRIL FILING DEADLINE
In conjunction with announcements made by United States Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin and Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo on March 20, 2020, involving the April 15, 2020, deadline for certain tax filings and tax payments, the Division of Taxation has postponed the filing-and-payment deadline for individuals and certain entities to July 15, 2020. Click here for details. posted 03/27/20
SALES TAX
  • The Rhode Island Division of Taxation understands the difficulty that many businesses, including small businesses and retailers, are facing during this unprecedented crisis.
  • To that end, the Division would like to remind businesses that the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation has information about low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to Rhode Island small businesses that are suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the coronavirus. For details, including links to applications, hotlines, and other resources, please see: https://commerceri.com/covid-19/.
  • The Division also would like to remind businesses that the deadline is Friday, March 20, 2020, for remitting sales tax, meals and beverage tax, and certain other levies. These amounts represent taxes that the businesses’ customers paid during February 2020 and that the businesses held in trust, by law, for remitting to the State of Rhode Island. For more information about the penalties for misappropriating these amounts, please see Rhode Island General Laws Sections 44-19-35 through 37.
  • The Division also would like to remind businesses and other taxpayers that under Regulation 280-RICR-20-00-4 (“Taxpayer Rights and Responsibilities “), they have the express right to request that penalties be abated where there was no negligence or intentional disregard of the law. -- posted 03/19/20
CORONAVIRUS Information and Updates
  • (Advisory)  Reminder about employer withholding tax 04/30/2020 View
  • (Advisory) Update on personal income tax refunds amid the pandemic 04/28/2020 View
  • (Advisory) More information about economic impact payments 04/17/2020 View
  • (Advisory) Deadlines unchanged for remitting sales and use tax 04/15/2020 View
  • (Advisory) Unemployment insurance tax - information for employers 04/15/2020 View
  • (Advisory) Preparers urged to review data security practices amid coronavirus 04/09/2020 View
  • (Advisory) Division warns about stimulus payment scams, offers FAQs on the payments 04/02/2020 View
  • (Advisory) Notice to hotels, vacation properties, & others about guests arriving in Rhode Island 03/30/2020 View
  • (Advisory) Division postpones filing and payment deadline to July 15 (ADV revised April 6) 03/27/2020 View
  • (Advisory) Division establishes webpage to address issues related to coronavirus outbreak 03/18/2020 View
  • (Advisory) Division encourages taxpayers to reduce in-person visits as part of effort to slow transmission of coronavirus. Agency recommends use of its website, portal, and email and telephone systems 03/14/2020 View
  • (Notice) Notice to hotels, realtors, and others involved in hospitality and real estate transactions 03/28/2020 View
  • (Notice) Notice to hotel guests, short-term occupants, residential renters, and homebuyers 03/28/2020 View
  • (Notice) Addendum for Renter/Tenant/Lessee/Purchaser 03/28/2020 View
  • (Notice) Hearings and other matters amid coronavirus 03/30/2020 View
  • (Website) Rhode Island Free File program still available for free tax-prep and free e-file 04/01/2020 View

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

☎️ Contact Information: https://home.treasury.gov/utility/contact |🌐 Website: https://home.treasury.gov/
The CARES Act 
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress with overwhelming, bipartisan support and signed into law by President Trump on March 27th, 2020.  This over $2 trillion economic relief package delivers on the Trump Administration’s commitment to protecting the American people from the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19.

Assistance to Workers and their Families

The CARES Act provides for Economic Impact Payments to American households of up to $1,200 per adult for individuals whose income was less than $99,000 ( or $198,000 for joint filers) and $500 per child under 17 years old – or up to $3,400 for a family of four.

Additionally, the IRS will use the information on the Form SSA-1099 and Form RRB-1099 to generate $1,200 Economic Impact Payments to Social Security recipients who did not file tax returns in 2018 or 2019. Recipients will receive these payments as a direct deposit or by paper check, just as they would normally receive their benefits.

Treasury launched a web-based portal for individuals to provide their banking information to the IRS online, so that individuals can receive payments immediately as opposed to checks in the mail.

Check your payment status

Additional updates can be found at irs.gov/coronavirus

SMALL BUSINESS 

commerce, rhode island

☎️ Small Business Hotline: (401) 521-4357 |📧 Email: info@commerce.ri.com​ | 🌐 Website:  https://commerceri.com/covid-19/
​CLOTH FACE COVERINGS
​Effective Friday May 8 everyone, except children under 2 and people whose health would be damaged by wearing a face covering, must wear face coverings when in a public place, both indoors and outdoors.

All employees of customer-facing businesses, office-based businesses and nonprofits, construction businesses, and manufacturers must  wear cloth face coverings while at work. All of these businesses must provide face coverings for their employees. Face coverings can include scarves, bandanas and other homemade and non-factory-made masks.
For more information on the new face coverings rules see guidance from the Department of Business Regulation here (or in Spanish here).

Additionally, all customer-facing businesses must take steps to remind customers to wear face coverings. That means you should be putting up signs at the door reminding customers to wear a face covering inside.
reopening rhode island
Business Guidelines: 
  • Employer guidance 05.04.20 ENG | ESP
  • Employee rules to stay safe at work 05.04.20 ENG | ESP
sba loans and other funding
For non-SBA funding opportunities, grants and loans click here. 

We understand that there is much misinformation about loans and other programs created by the CARES Act. We are working closely with the Rhode Island SBA and will provide confirmed information from them as it is available. Please check back here frequently for updates. 

SBA Stimulus Update Webinar
Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor took questions and went over the Paycheck Protection Program the Rhode Island Small Business Administration (SBA) and Rhode Island Small Business Development Center. Watch the webinar here.

Paycheck Protection Program
The program provides forgivable loans at 1% interest, up to $10 million, through SBA approved lenders to help small
businesses bring their employees back on the payroll & cover qualified business expenses for 8 weeks during the
COVID19 pandemic. View a list of Rhode Island lenders here. 

Download a printable version of the following FAQ here. Translated text of this content is available in Chinese, French, Portuguese and Spanish.

Is my business eligible?
  • All businesses — including nonprofits, veterans’ organizations, sole proprietorships, self-employed individuals, and independent contractors – with 500 or fewer employees
  • Business must have been impacted as a result of COVID 19 pandemic
  • Business and employees must be based in the United States of America

What expenses will the loan cover?

Payroll costs
  • Salary, wages, commissions and tips (capped at $100k/year/employee)
    • Note: Payroll for employees who earn tips can be based on employee records of past tips or in the absence of such records, a reasonable, good-faith employer estimate of such tips
    • Note: Payroll for independent contractors or sole proprietors can include wage, commissions, income, net earnings or similar compensation
  • Most benefits including costs for vacation, parental, family, medical or sick leave; payments required for the provisions of group health care benefits including insurance premiums; payment of any retirement benefit; payment of state and local taxes assessed on compensation of employees

Business costs
  • Mortgage interest payments (NOT mortgage prepayments or principal payments), rent payments and utility payments
    • Note: All service contracts and/or lease/debt agreements must have been in place prior to February 15, 2020

Refinancing an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
  • If you received an EIDL loan from January 31, 2020- April 3, 2020, you can refinance it using a PPP loan
    • Note: If your EIDL loan was used for payroll costs, your PPP loan must be used to refinance your EIDL loan
  • Proceeds from any advance up to $10,000 on the EIDL loan will be deducted from the loan forgiveness amount on the PPP loan

Will this loan be forgiven?
Borrowers will be eligible for loan forgiveness equal to the amount that the borrower spent on qualified expenses during the 8-week period which begins the day the funds are deposited into the business’s account, assuming adequate records are kept. At least 75% of the total loan amount must be spent on payroll costs for employees. Employee count must match or exceed the number of employees used when submitting your application.

The amount of the loan that will be forgiven will be reduced proportionally if the following are not met:
  • A business fails to spend at least 75% of the loan amount on payroll
  • A business fails to pay at least the same number of employees used on the application
  • A business cuts wages in excess of 25% for any employees

How to calculate your maximum loan amount:
  • Step 1: Calculate your total payroll costs using information from 2019 for employees whose principal place of residence is the United States.
    • Note: Time frames may differ for seasonal businesses.
  • Step 2: Any employee making $100,000 or more a year is capped at $100,000 Subtract any compensation paid to an employee in excess of annual salary of $100,000.
  • Step 3: Calculate average monthly payroll costs (divide the amount from Step 2 by 12).
  • Step 4: Multiply the average monthly payroll costs from Step 3 by 2.5.
  • Step 5: Add the outstanding amount of an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) made between January 31, 2020 and April 3, 2020, and subtract the amount of any “advance” under an EIDL COVID-19 loan (because it does not have to be repaid).The result of Steps 1-5 is the maximum loan amount for which you will be eligible.

How do I apply?
PPP loans are secured through a local bank, credit union or other lender. Gather the documentation listed below and contact a participating local lender to submit your application. You will improve your chances for receiving a loan under this program if you have a complete application before contacting the lender. For a complete application, you will need:
  • A completed Paycheck Protection Program Borrower Application Form, found on the US Department of the Treasury’s website: treasury.gov/cares.
  • Your business launch date, amount of annual sales/revenue and mailing address
    • Documentation may include your company’s articles of incorporation, EIN/TIN, copies of your tax returns, etc.
  • 2019 IRS Quarterly 940, 941 or 944 payroll tax reports
  • Payroll reports for a 12-month period (ending on the most recent payroll date)
    • Documentation may include receipts/reports from your payroll company, W3 from a previous tax year, bank account statements.
    • Note: Independent contractors can submit 1099s for 2019.
  • Total health insurance premiums paid by the company owner(s) under a group health plan (including all employees and the company owners)
  • Documentation may include copies of invoices and/or payments made to insurance companies.
  • Sum of all retirement plan funding that was paid by the company owner(s), including 401K plans, Simple IRAs and SEP IRAs for all employees and owners
    • Documentation may include copies of invoices and/or payments made to retirement plan facilitators.

What about the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)?
The COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan is another way to get funding for your business during this crisis. This loan provides up to $2 million at 3.75%, for up to 30-year terms. An advance grant of up to $10,000 may also be available through this program.

To apply, please visit the SBA website and be prepared to provide:
  • SSN/EIN Number
  • Gross revenue for 2018 or 2019 (from tax returns)
  • Cost of goods sold for 2018 or 2019 (from tax returns)
  • Date business was established or owned
  • Number of employees (1099 contractors excluded from employee count)
  • Bank name
  • Account number
  • Routing number

Where else can I get help?
The Rhode Island Small Business Development Center is available to answer additional questions you may have about SBA loans at no cost. You can register for free, confidential business advice here. ​
Business guidelines during crisis 
​While the State of Rhode Island is working to keep as many businesses open as possible, we are asking businesses operate within strict paramters to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and for non-critical retail, entertainment and other close-contact businesses to close. For ideas how to minimize in-person interactions in order to continue operating safely, see our COVID-19 business checklist.

Please read the guidelines below. If you still have questions about your business, please call the Department of Business Regulation at 401-889-5550 or submit your questions online on the Department of Business Regulation’s website.
If you have questions or concerns about working or operating businesses during this time, submit them to the Department of Business Regulation using this form.

Guidelines
Governor Raimondo has ordered:
  • All business service personnel that can work from home to do so. Business service personnel include accountants, lawyers, human resources and procurement professionals.
  • Gatherings of more than 5 people are prohibited in any public or private space, including conference rooms.
  • All public and private enterprises remaining open shall post appropriate notices requiring compliance with recommendations by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Director of Rhode Island Department of Health.
  • The Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation has released guidelines for grocers and large retailers, which you can view online here, or here in Spanish.
  • Hotels and rental companies should inform their out-of-state guests, except for those here on business, that they must self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival.
  • All employees of customer-facing businesses, office-based businesses and nonprofits, and manufacturers must wear cloth face coverings while at work.

For additional Guidelines please click here. 
Relief for tenants and employees
Housing Help RI
Housing Help RI is a statewide homelessness prevention initiative to assist Rhode Islanders who are experiencing housing insecurity. The program provides emergency housing assistance to very low-income renters who have been impacted by the COVID-19 emergency and are at immediate risk of homelessness. Learn more here.

Financial Institution Pledge
More than 20 financial institutions, from our state’s largest banks to our valued credit unions, have pledged to offer significant and much-needed relief to Rhode Island homeowners. You can learn more about this here.

Unemployment and disability insurance
The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) has waived the waiting period for COVID-related unemployment insurance claims. If employees are laid off from their position due to COVID-19, they may be eligible to apply for unemployment insurance. This includes temporary business closure or other circumstances where they are not self-quarantined, but are out of work. Employers and employees should refer to the DLT’s COVID-19 Workplace Fact Sheet.

COVID-related unemployment insurance claims are processed faster and can be more generous than temporary disability insurance (TDI) or temporary caregiver insurance (TCI) if you are out of work due to COVID-19. File a TDI/TCI claim online.

You may also contact the Rhode Island DLT with questions via email at dlt.covid19@dlt.ri.gov or phone at (401) 462-2020.Companies must abide by the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act with respect to family and medical leave. Businesses with fewer than 50 employees may be exempted. The U.S. Department of Labor provides guidelines here.

Contract (1099) workers
Gig economy workers, contract workers, small business owners, workers for hire, self-employed, or others ineligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits can apply for emergency covid unemplomyent insurance with DLT here.

Contract workers may also qualify as sole proprietors for SBA economic injury disaster loans. For details and application information, see our COVID-19 Disaster Loan FAQ. If you have registered in Rhode Island to file as a S corporation, LLP or as an LLC, you should have an EIN associated with the office/studio/home that you registered, and can apply for an economic injury disaster loans through the Small Business Administration like any other business.

Employment opportunities
Rhode Island companies are hiring by the thousands to meet the workforce demands of COVID-10. EmployRI has been established to help if you’ve lost your job due to COVID-19. See job openings and more resources here.

Low-cost health insurance
If you lost your health coverage through your job and need to sign up for insurance, you can through HealthSourceRI. To enroll visit healthsourceri.com. Call 1-855-840-4774 to learn more or view their fact sheet here or here in Spanish.
Tech resources and free help
Many businesses are struggling to transform their technology to continue operating during the suppression phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have partnered with Rhode Island tech leaders to offer free coaching sessions to make this transformation easier. If you’d like help, just give us your contact information here.

Are you tech-savvy enough to DIY? Scroll down for free resources and other info to help you ramp up your digital transformation.

How we can help
Not sure if we can help you? Here are examples of how we’ve helped other businesses:
  • Home office setup: internet and home office software, hardware and networks
  • Running business remotely: document sharing, Zoom meetings, other business functions in the cloud
  • E-commerce: selling, booking, ordering, payments, fulfillment and logistics
  • Marketing: online presence, email marketing, social media marketing, SEO
  • Food & beverage industry: online presence, delivery services, marketing

​Department of Business Regulation, Rhode Island

📝 Use this form to submit a question or concern | ​☎️ Phone: (401) 889-5550 | 🌐 ​www.dbr.ri.gov
Guidance Documents issued by DBR
​2020 Golf Season
Private Seasonal Campgrounds, RV Parks, Seasonal Trailer Parks, Tourist Cabins or Cottages, Beach Clubs, and Drive-In Theaters
Financial Institutions' COVID-19 Relief Pledge
Wearing of Cloth Face Coverings at Work
Commercial Licensing

Grocer and Large Retail Guidelines
  • Guidelines for Large Retailers and Grocery Stores.
  • Directrices para Tiendas Minorsistas y Supermercados.
  • DBR has created a worksheet that businesses can use to track this information, which is available here.
  • El Departamento de Regulación Comercial ha creado una hoja de cálculo que negocios pueden usar para mantener la información.
List of Critical Businesses
Real Estate and Tenant Transaction Guidelines
The State of Rhode Island is instructing hotels, realtors, and others involved in hospitality and real estate transactions to:
  • Include this addendum (y en español) with any lease, rental agreement, or deed (as an attachment). This addendum requires potential tenants, renters, lessees, or purchasers of real estate in Rhode Island to acknowledge (at time of signing) receipt of this communication (letter to renters/guests) (y en español) informing them that persons coming to the state of Rhode Island from another state, territory, or a location outside the United States must immediately self-quarantine for 14 days.
  • We also ask for your cooperation in ensuring that such persons report any applicable self-quarantines to the Rhode Island Department of Health via its website and as described in this document.
​Bulletins and Notices from all Divisions at DBR
​Banking
Building, Design & Fire Professionals
Constables
Insurance
Medical Marijuana Program
Liquor Enforcement Section
DBR Liquor Section Information for COVID-19 — Last Updated 4-10-2020

Department of Labor and Training, Rhode Island

☎️ Phone: (401) 234-4280|📧 Email:dlt.covid19@dlt.ri.gov|🌐 Website:  http://www.dlt.ri.gov/
Phone Hours | Monday - Friday | 8 AM - 4 PM
⚠️ ​Please email dlt.investigations@dlt.ri.gov, if you think you've been a victim of unemployment insurance fraud.
Workplace fact sheet

dEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, RHODE ISLAND

☎️ Hotline: (401) 222-8022|📧 Email:RIDOH.COVID19Questions@health.ri.gov|🌐 Website:  https://health.ri.gov/covid/
Hotline Hours| Monday – Saturday | 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM | Sunday and After Hours Call 211
Business owner information
  • ​Small business support: Help is available for businesses. Visit the RI Commerce website for information on programs and resources that are currently available or call ☎️ 521-HELP (521-4357) to get started.
  • Business Recovery Plan: The Rhode Island Superior Court is rolling out a new program to assist businesses that have been significantly disrupted by this virus. This program will give qualifying businesses vital protection so that they can get back on their feet after this crisis is over. MORE
  • Tech Support During COVID-19: MORE

Reporting Positive Cases to RIDOH
To help RIDOH better assist you in preventing rapid spread of disease and illness in your business and in the community, please complete this RIDOH COVID-10 Business Report Form daily. Providing us with timely and accurate information is essential to preventing continued spread of this virus.

Returning to Work Information
  • Workers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 can return to work after the following criteria have been met:
    • They have had no symptoms at all, including no fever, for at least 72 hours (that is three full days of no fever without the use of medicine that reduces fevers)
​AND
​
  • At least 7 days have passed since their symptoms first appeared.

Financial Support for Employees
Providing information to your employees will help.
Additional Resources offered by the RI Department of Health can be found here. 
Retail Businesses
All non-critical retail businesses were to close as of March 30, 2020 and the Department of Business Regulation is providing a list of critical and non-critical retail businesses. All recreation and entertainment facilities as well as close-contact businesses are closed. This includes theaters, cinemas, sporting events, bowling alleys, gyms, fitness centers, hair salons and barbershops, nail salons, spas and tattoo parlors.
​​Food Establishments
​Through May 8th, there will be no on-site food consumption for restaurants, bars, coffee shops, or other food establishments in Rhode Island. (Establishments with a food license can continue to conduct pick-up, drive-thru and delivery only.)
Cloth Face Coverings
Effective Friday May 8 everyone, except children under 2 and people whose health would be damaged by wearing a face covering, must wear face coverings when in a public place, both indoors and outdoors.

All employees of customer-facing businesses, office-based businesses and nonprofits, construction businesses, and manufacturers must  wear cloth face coverings while at work. All of these businesses must provide face coverings for their employees. Face coverings can include scarves, bandanas and other homemade and non-factory-made masks.
For more information on the new face coverings rules see guidance from the Department of Business Regulation here (or in Spanish here).

Additionally, all customer-facing businesses must take steps to remind customers to wear face coverings. That means you should be putting up signs at the door reminding customers to wear a face covering inside.

Judiciary, RHODE ISLAND

☎️ Contact Information: https://www.courts.ri.gov/PDF/TelephoneDirectory.pdf |🌐 Website:  https://www.courts.ri.gov/
Business Recovery Plan
​Providing Temporary Relief for Businesses Affected by COVID-19

Presiding Justice Alice B. Gibney has announced the start of a business protection program, the Business Recovery Plan, in response to disruptions caused by COVID-19. The court will provide supervised protections for Rhode Island businesses so they can remain operational, access new working capital, and pay debts.

The court will use a non-liquidating receivership model, which will keep the business and its assets intact. The court will appoint a receiver to oversee the preparation of an operating plan for businesses in the program. Once new working capital, such as disaster relief or small business assistance, is accessed by the business, it will be able to maintain operations, address its debts, and begin to generate revenues again.

The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting, and in some cases, forcing businesses to close which negatively impacts the state’s economy. Businesses that were not in default on its debts prior to the pandemic are eligible to file a petition with the Superior Court and will be assigned to the business calendar.

• Administrative Order 2020-04, COVID-19 Business Recovery Plan
• Order, COVID-19 Business Recovery Plan – Program Coordinator
• COVID-19 Motion/Conference Request Form
• For more information and to determine your eligibility, please read our Frequently Asked Questions in English or Spanish or contact your attorney.
• Press release announcing the Business Recovery Plan.
Business Recovery Plan - Frequently Asked Questions

 Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Rhode Island

☎️ Phone: (401) 331-0131 |📧 Email:rilisc@lisc.org|🌐 Website: http://rilisc.org/
grants and Resources 
About LISC RI:
Together with residents, partners, and local leaders, LISC Rhode Island forges resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity. We work to create great places to live, work, visit, do business, and raise families.

COVID-19 Response

Skills for Rhode Island's Future 

☎️ Phone: (401) 680-5960|📧 Email:clientservices@skillsforri.com|🌐 Website:  https://skillsforri.com/

U.S. Small Business Administration

☎️ Contact Information: https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/organization/contact-sba|🌐 Website: https://www.sba.gov/

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☎️ Contact Information: https://www.cdc.gov/cdc-info/|🌐 Website: https://www.cdc.gov/
Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers
This interim guidance is based on what is currently known about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The outbreak first started in China, but the virus continues to spread internationally and in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will update this interim guidance as additional information becomes available.

The following interim guidance may help prevent workplace exposures to COVID-19, in non-healthcare settings. (CDC has provided separate guidance for healthcare settings.) This guidance also provides planning considerations for community spread of COVID-19.

To prevent stigma and discrimination in the workplace, use only the guidance described below to determine risk of COVID-19 infection. Do not make determinations of risk based on race or country of origin and be sure to maintain confidentiality of people with confirmed coronavirus infection. There is much more to learn about the transmissibility, severity, and other features of COVID-19 and investigations are ongoing. Updates are available on CDC’s web page.

The complete Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers can be found here.

​RI AGRICULTURE

Department of Environmental Management: dIVISION OF AGRICULTURE

☎️ General Contact Information: http://www.dem.ri.gov/contact/ |🌐 Website: http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/agriculture/
COVID-19 Resources for RI Farmers
​The Rhode Island Division of Agriculture is following guidance issued by the Governor's office, Department of Administration; White House and other federal partners including: freeze on non-essential employee business travel outside of the state; staff is utilizing teleworking where possible; utilizing teleconference and online collaboration with out-of-state colleagues when possible; and postponing and/or cancelling events.

We are actively speaking with producers and various agricultural organizations across the state in order to minimize the negative impact on growers and address your concerns and issues. Please continue to communicate your questions and concerns to us. We will do our best to respond and share as much information as we can during this time.

In addition, DEM has implemented a Department plan which complies with all applicable internal agency policies and state regulations. Staff are aware and are ready to follow procedures to ensure functions critical to the division and industry needs are met and carried out in the interest of public safety and public health. Critical functions include:
​
  • Investigation of animal welfare complaints, responding to animal health events, enforcement of state animal importation regulations that are in place to protect both animal and public health, and support of our sister agencies such as the Department of Health, RIEMA, and DEM/Divisions of Fish and Wildlife and Law Enforcement as they carry out their critical missions;

  • Conducting certification of agricultural commodities in order to facilitate their movement and sales. This includes inspection and phytosanitary certification of plant material for domestic and international shipment, and organic certification of agricultural crops and livestock;

  • Providing critical Produce Safety education, outreach, technical assistance. Investigating any complaints or for-cause produce inspections. Providing support for produce farms to allow for market access.
Reopening RI
All guidance for re-opening a non-critical retail business on May 11th can be found here: www.reopeningri.com/ under business guidelines. The following points are referenced from the Phase I Non Critical Retail Guidance.
  • In order to open, or continue to operate, all non-critical retail businesses must check-off, sign and visibly post the Non-critical Retail Compliance Attestation Poster by May 11th and review all associated business guidance found on the Reopening RI webpage. The Phase I: General Business Guidelines are particularly helpful.
  • Additionally, these non-critical retail businesses must complete a COVID-19 Control Plan by May 18th. A template for this is found here: COVID-19 Control Plan: Template. This plan does not need to be submitted, but must be on-site and available for review.
  • Access to interior areas: If a store permits in-person shopping, capacity is limited to 1 customer per 300 square feet of floor area. Very small stores, under 300 square feet of floor area, may only allow one customer at a time in the store. Browsing is encouraged to be brief and limited.
  • Partitions: It is recommended that check-out areas have see-through barriers between employees and customers.
Retail Garden Centers, Nurseries & Greenhouses
Production of Agriculture and Aquaculture 
Food Safety 
Food Industry 

Online market platforms for farmers  
Nationally Based Platforms
 
More
Labor & Employer Resources 
USDA H2A Labor and COVID-19
Employer Action Steps: Your farm workforce is not immune to coronavirus, please begin taking steps to protect yourself and your employees.

Talk with your employees about coronavirus, how it spreads, and how to prevent getting infected.

Print the CDC factsheets and posters, post in your workplace and employee housing facilities.

Provide guidance to help employees clean and disinfect employer-provided housing. Follow up with employees and manage the process to be sure that this happens. Set up a regular weekly and daily schedule for cleaning and view the CDC guidance for cleaning homes.

Clean and disinfect your workplace. The employee break room and bathroom are great places for viruses to be transmitted. Clean and disinfect any areas where employees congregate or routinely touch items such as doorknobs and computer keyboards. Set up daily and weekly cleaning schedules.

Provide cleaning supplies such as cleaning solutions, buckets, mops, brushes, etc for cleaning at work and for those living in employer-provided housing. (CDC list of approved antimicrobial cleaning products)

Review your sick leave policy. The first advice for people who are sick is to stay home except to get medical care. Do you provide paid sick leave for your employees? If you do not, will employees feel financially obligated to come to work even if they are sick?

Communicate with employees that they should stay home if they are sick. Employees sometimes come to work believing they will face punishment or firing if they miss work. Be sure your employees understand that their health and that of their co-workers’ comes first. Communicate and make a plan to cover for sick employees. CDC provides posters in English and Spanish covering symptoms of novel coronavirus.

Prepare your disaster contingency plan. What will you do if 50% of your employees become sick and unable to work? Are there neighboring farms who might be able to share resources in an emergency? Who will manage for a few weeks if you or another key manager are unable to leave your house or are hospitalized?

Cornell provides the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) to provide community education resources across the entire disaster cycle of preparedness, response, and recovery. Penn State also provides farm disaster preparedness resources.
  
Healthy Workplace Posters: English and Spanish
Business Services 
Pets 
COVID-19 Resources: General Information

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

☎️ Contact Information: https://www.dhs.gov/contact-us|🌐 Website: https://www.dhs.gov/coronavirus/
Critical Infrastructure
Functioning critical infrastructure is particularly important during the COVID-19 response for both public health and safety as well as community well-being. Certain critical infrastructure industries have a special responsibility to continue operations during these unprecedented times.

This guidance and accompanying list are intended to support state, local, and industry partners in identifying the critical infrastructure sectors, and the essential workers needed to maintain the services and functions Americans depend on daily, as well as the ability to operate resiliently during the COVID-19 pandemic response.
recent updates

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

☎️ Phone: (202) 720-2791|📧 Email: askusda@usda.gov|🌐 Website: https://www.usda.gov/coronavirus
Phone Hours | Monday - Friday | 8 AM - 5:30 PM EST
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) | Frequently Asked Questions
  • Food Safety.
  • Access to Food.
  • Pet Safety.
  • Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.

Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Program Guidance on Human Pandemic Response
  • Automatic State Flexibilities.
  • Additional USDA Authorities.
  • Partnering to Ensure Access to Food.
  • USDA Information.
  • Federal Resources.

Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Actions to Respond to COVID-19
  • Child Nutrition Programs.
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
  • FNS Pandemic Guidance.
  • Additional Resources.
  • What’s New.

SENIORS

​Office of Healthy Aging:

FAMILY & CHILD CARE ISSUES

Child care licenses continue to be suspended through the month of April. 
Care.com
  • Care.com is the world's largest online destination for care. We connect families with caregivers and caring companies to help you be there for the ones you love.
  • Rhode Island has partnered with Care.com to increase childcare access to Rhode Islanders. In addition to providing 90 days of free, premium access to their website, Care.com has created portals specifically for frontline workers and caregivers in Rhode Island. Frontline workers looking for child care can visit www.care.com/rineed to find a local caregiver. Rhode Island residents interested in becoming caregivers can visit www.care.com/rigive  to register. Potential caregivers are subject to Care.com’s extensive background and safety checks. While child care services are not typically free of charge, the Rhode Island portal gives residents the ability to waive their fees and volunteer as caregivers, providing additional support to frontline workers​ ​

Community Action Association
  • The mission of the Rhode Island Community Action Association is to serve Rhode Island’s network of Community Action Agencies through training, and technical assistance, public education, capacity building, and for the development of public policy to address the impact of poverty in Rhode Island.
​
COVID Connectors
Department of Children, Youth & Families:
​Office of Health & Human Services
Rhode Island Delivers
Rhode Islanders’ connection to help for those living in quarantine or isolation due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our goal is to ensure that for this temporary quarantine period, you have what you need to safely remain home and monitor your symptoms. By doing so, you will help slow the spread of COVID-19. If you are under quarantine, you should not leave your home for any reason. Click here to learn more. 

If you have a question or need further guidance, call ☎️ 2-1-1 or the Point at ☎️ (401) 462-4444.
Multilingual representatives are available.

HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS 

Department of Health, Rhode Island: 
  • Rental assistance: Rhode Island has made $1.5 million in emergency rental assistance available to low-income renters who have been impacted by the COVID-19 emergency and are at immediate risk of homelessness. Those who qualify can receive a grant of up to $5,000 to support past due rent payments and other fees. Requirement information and details are available at HousingHelpRI.com or by calling 211.  
  • RIHousing is closely monitoring the latest news about the coronavirus (COVID-19) and working hard to ensure there are no disruptions to service for our customers and partners. LEARN MORE
  • More than 20 financial institutions in RI have pledged the following relief to their residential borrowers. MORE
  • Mortgage Forbearance: Homeowners with FHA, USDA, VA, or Section 184 or 184A mortgages (for members of federally-recognized tribes) and those with mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac have the right to request forbearance on their payments for up to 6 months, with a possible extension for another 6 months without fees, penalties, or extra interest. Homeowners should contact their mortgage servicing company directly.
  • Eviction Protections: Renters residing in public or assisted housing, or in a home or apartment whose owner has a federally-backed mortgage, and who are unable to pay their rent, are protected from eviction for 4 months. Property owners are also prohibited from issuing a 30-day notice to a tenant to vacate a property until after the 4-month moratorium ends. This protection covers properties that receive federal subsidies such as public housing, Section 8 assistance, USDA rural housing programs, and federally-issued or guaranteed mortgages.

Homes RI 
Rhode Island Housing 
  • Due to the current COVID-19 health emergency, RIHousing’s office building is currently closed until further notice. Staff are working remotely during this time to ensure there are no disruptions in service for our customers and partners.
  • Amid news about the coronavirus (COVID-19), effective March 16, 2020 RIHousing is suspending all in-person Homebuyer Education classes though April 2020. RIHousing is expanding online course options to include the Framework course offered by Fannie Mae.  The course features the same basic principles taught at the in-person class. The class is available free of charge at https://homeready.frameworkhomeownership.org and the Certificate earned upon successful completion satisfies the RIHousing homebuyer education requirement. 
​
Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless  

transportation

Airport Corporation, rhode island
​COVID-19 TRAVEL INFORMATION
  • At the direction of Rhode Island’s Governor, all passengers returning from any international & domestic travel are required to self-quarantine for fourteen (14) days and all are encouraged to continue frequent hand washing and practice social distancing.
  • Travel restrictions between the U.S. and Europe were recently announced due to coronavirus, effective March 13 at midnight. Please consult with your airline if you have European travel planned.
  • Additional COVID-19 Travel Information
DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, RHODE ISLAND 
​All DMV satellite offices are closed.

All road tests have been cancelled through April 30, 2020.

The Division of Motor Vehicles is temporarily waiving the requirement for a VIN check on out of state titles to be conducted by your local police station. The VIN will be electronically verified at the time of titling.

To ensure customers are not penalized for the actions we are taking to further protect health and safety, the DMV will be extending driver licenses, learner permits, ID's, CLPs, CDLs, registrations, inspection stickers, and disability placards scheduled to expire in the months of March or April 2020 by 90 days.

For further details about the expiration date extension please click here.

The Cranston DMV will be providing the following limited services and transactions.
  • Driver license, learner permit, State ID – Reservation Only
  • Vehicle Registration and Title – Reservation Only
  • Adjudication - Reservation Only
  • Commercial driver licenses and permits - Reservation Only
  • Dealer services – Drop Off and Checks Only

Make a Reservation for DMV services

Please check the DMV website to confirm an appointment before visiting the DMV.

RHODE ISLANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED NOT TO GO TO THE CRANSTON DMV UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
Department of Transportation, Rhode Island 
  • March 23, 2020, Press Release: RIDOT Keeps Essential Services Going for Rhode Islanders
    • The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is maintaining essential services such as road and bridge maintenance and construction during the challenging times created by the coronavirus. In accordance with Governor Gina Raimondo's directive, workers who are not associated with construction or maintenance, wherever possible, have been working remotely.
Public Transit Authority, Rhode Island 
  • Operating as normal 
  • RIPTA has announced enhanced facility-wide cleaning and sanitizing protocols implemented in response to the novel coronavirus.
Turnpike and Bridge Authority, Rhode Island
  • ​The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority has announced the modification of its E-Z Pass Office Call Center hours of operation beginning Tuesday, March 24th until further notice.
  • March 23, 2020, Press Release: E-Z pass office call center to modify days/hours of operation due to COVID-19
    • JAMESTOWN, R.I. – The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) will temporarily modify the days and hours of operation of their E-ZPass call center due to COVID-19. Effective Tuesday, March 24, 2020, RITBA will change its call center hours to Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. RITBA will be closed and not answer in calls on Saturdays until further notice. The RITBA call center is regularly open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 .a.m. to 1.p.m. The walk-in center will remain closed to the public until further notice.

MILITARY & VETERANS

Office of Veterans Affairs, Rhode Island  ​
Naval Station Newport:
  • Facilities and Service adjustments 
  • Family Advocacy Program telephone number has been changed to (202) 718-8366 - Sailor Assistance and Intercept for Life telephone number remains unchanged and is (401) 862-8416
​
U.S. Department of Defense:
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:
  • Providence VA Medical Center 
    • ​Current Operating Status
      • ​​Alert: PVAMC is screening everyone at the main entrance. We are only accepting emergency/urgent care in-person visits at this time. Call 401-457-3336 before coming to the medical center or our clinics, or message us through My HealtheVet. Visiting inpatients is temporarily suspended. 
  • Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
    • What is VA doing?
    • What should Veterans do?
    • How to protect yourself
    • VA COVID-19 Cases​

K-12 SCHOOLS

​Department of Education:

Monday, March 30 Updates
  • Distance learning for all schools will take place until Friday, May 1. School buildings will remain closed.
  • Friday, April 3 and Friday, April 17 will be planning or professional development days for district staff. Thursday, April 9 and Friday, April 10 are vacation days for all LEAs.
  • Governor Raimondo and Commissioner Infante-Green launched an April Reading Challenge for students to read every day of the month
  • Rhode Islanders with a smartphone cellular data plan can get UNLIMITED, FREE DATA through their phones through May 13th. Click here for more information and technology resources for families. 
  • Governor Raimondo has asked that Rhode Islanders stay home except for essential trips and avoid groups larger than 5 people.

Rhode Island Department of Education Operations As we strive to keep our students and community healthy and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to give you some updates about how RIDE is continuing to support students and LEAs.Governor Raimondo announced that effective March 17 until further notice that state agencies will be closing customer-facing lobby operations. At RIDE, this means the reception area and in-person certification office will be closed, and we will not hold in-person meetings or events.

Our RIDE team will continue to be available to you by email or phone:
Thank you for your understanding and patience during this challenging time. 

Resources and Information
We want to ensure you have access to the latest information about COVID-19.

General Information​
Resources for Distance Learning​
Resources and Tips for Families
U.S. Department of Education:

​UNIVERSITIES & COLLEGES

Brown University
  • The University reported positive cases of COVID-19 on March 14 and March 20. As this public health crisis evolves, it may not become uncommon that members of our community have exposure resulting from personal activities away from campus. Brown will defer to health officials to make appropriate notification of contacts of positive cases and will not send communications to the community about positive tests.
  • Both the State of Rhode Island and the U.S. federal government have declared states of emergency, and R.I. Gov. Gina Raimondo has required all public K-12 schools to offer instruction remotely through the end of April.
  • Brown remains open, but the University expedited the departure of students from campus and has taken steps to limit the exposure of Brown employees to the virus.
  • To protect the community while enabling students to complete the semester, Brown moved academic instruction for all undergraduate and graduate students to remote learning effective March 30.
  • Most undergraduate students who live in on-campus residences or Brown-owned properties vacated their residences and will complete the semester from their homes or at an alternate location.
  • Classes were cancelled for the week of March 16 so that faculty had time to prepare to transition courses to remote learning and students had time to pack and arrange for travel.
  • All in-person events are cancelled. Admissions events and all spring athletics competitions and practices are cancelled, and non-essential visitors are discouraged from coming to campus (parents and families are considered essential visitors during the process of helping students move off campus). 
  • Brown’s telecommuting status, which began on March 16, has been extended through May 1. Brown remains open, only essential personnel should report to work in person, and all other employees who can telecommute are expected to do so.
  • Brown researchers were asked to prepare for non-critical, on-campus research to be restricted only to essential activities by March 18.
  • Brown has suspended all University-sponsored travel to both international and domestic destinations.
  • Brown's Commencement and Reunion Weekend has been postponed from its traditional Memorial Day weekend schedule; the University's hope is that it can be held as early as October 2020, and the community will be informed when a date is set. Graduates will still formally receive degrees in May 2020 with a virtual Degree Conferral Ceremony being planned.
Bryant University
  • The last date for a student to submit a request for a withdrawal “W” grade has been extended from Friday, April 3, to Friday, May 1, the last day of classes and before the final exam schedule begins on Monday, May 4.
  • The Library is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Online support is available through chat, email, text, and phone to assist with research, access to articles, data, e-books, and course materials.
  • The Undergraduate Advising Office will hold walk-ins between 7-10 a.m., and 2-3 p.m. during each registration time-ticket. If you have an issue during the morning of your assigned registration, please call our front desk at 401-232-6210. Our front desk staff will take down your ID number, name, and phone-number, and an Academic Advisor will contact you for troubleshooting assistance.
  • Admissions in-person visits and events have been postponed in order to protect the health of our visitors and community.
  • The University bookstore is open for business Mondays through Fridays, 9 am-4 pm. The bookstore’s priority is to ensure the campus community has textbooks and other essential items.
  • ACE and the Writing Center Students can meet one on one with tutors, writing consultants, math specialists, writing specialists, and learning specialists via Zoom online technology. Drop-In Learning Labs are closed. To schedule an appointment, please call 401-232-6567 between 8:30 am and 4 pm Monday through Friday.
  • During this challenging time, our Campus Ministry staff remains available to anyone who might be seeking spiritual support, or simply would like to talk to someone. All of our chaplains are available to the entire Bryant community.
  • As of Tuesday, March 17, Bryant’s Amica Center for Career Education has shifted its service delivery methods amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. As a measure of community care focused in student, staff, faculty, and employer partner health safety, the Amica Center has gone virtual with its services until otherwise announced.
  • UPDATED MARCH 26, 2020 At the direction of the Governor of Rhode Island and the Department of Health, all dining services will be Grab and Go. All meals will be available for pick-up only. Please remember while waiting for meals in Salmanson to respect that all students should remain at least 6 feet apart.
  • Yesterday members of the Bryant administration participated in calls with the Rhode Island Department of Health regarding COVID- 19. As a result of information shared on these calls, and due to COVID-19 continuing to be a rapidly evolving situation, Bryant would like to encourage any students, faculty, and staff who are planning travel during Spring Break to reconsider your Spring Break travel plans if you are capable of doing so.
Community College of Rhode Island
  • All courses will automatically default to Pass/Fail for the Spring 2020 semester only. Faculty will continue to record and submit grades as usual. Students will have the option to request a letter grade by submitting a form to the Records office for each class individually no later than April 30. Each request is final and cannot be changed or revoked. The deadline to voluntarily withdraw from a course is still April 24, 2020. 
  • We have pushed back registration for Summer and Fall slightly.  New registration dates are outlined below:
    • Summer Registration
    • April 13 for all students
    • Fall Registration
    • April 20, 21, 22 for continuing and new degree students
    • May 4 for continuing and new non-degree students
    • April 10 for Student Veterans
  • As part of this ongoing effort to limit the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak and to mitigate potential community spread of the virus, CCRI has made the decision to move to remote instruction for the remainder of the semester. 
  • CCRI has suspended all college-sponsored domestic* and international travel for the near future. This includes any international travel associated with the college as a CCRI employee or student, including travel funded by a government grant, foundation, company or other private entity.
Johnson & Wales University
  • Online and remote instruction through the end of spring term.
  • The university will resume labs for culinary and baking and pastry. Labs will run on a six-day, seven-hour schedule for six weeks and are scheduled to begin on Monday, July 6, and conclude Friday, August 14. Lecture portions will be delivered online. Labs that run on a different schedule (e.g. once/week, two times/week) will be offered as well, and their schedule will be determined separately. To enroll in this modified Summer Term, students must complete an online request form indicating their intent by May 1, 2020.
  • If your internship has been cancelled and you are graduating with a BS or AS (not continuing), you can take free elective courses to replace your internship credit and graduate on time. 
  • Based on changes to the academic schedule and to lessen the in-person density in student housing, all on-campus students will be required to move out of their residence halls by Sunday, March 22.
  • Housing fees and adjustments to student accounts will take place the week of April 13.
  • Gym facilities university wide: Closed as of Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
  • Following the NCAA announcement on March 12 to cancel all remaining winter and spring championships, and recognizing the spread and ongoing threat of COVID-19, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Presidents’ Council voted unanimously to make the difficult decision to call off all spring competition, practices, and championships for the remainder of the 2019–20 academic year.
  • Each campus has canceled all Accepted Student Days and Open Houses scheduled during the month of March. The Admissions team will provide smaller campus tours for prospective students.
  • All previously scheduled fairs are being converted to virtual career fairs. Experiential Education & Career Services is coordinating with employers and students.
  • Due to the volatility of travel to countries that host our student abroad programs, we have decided to cancel all summer study abroad programs.
New England Institute of Technology
  • Intersession will not be held this year due to the shift in the start of the 2020 spring term. Students who planned on taking intersession courses should work with their advisor to discuss an alternate degree completion plan.
  • The status of clinical work is determined by the clinical sites; some continue to host our students, and some do not due to constraints in place at the clinical sites because of COVID-19. We are committed to seeing that the completion of health science students’ clinical work is done in as timely a manner as possible.
  • Due to limitations to gathering sizes imposed by the CDC and the state and federal governments, NEIT will be unable to hold commencement on May 3, 2020 as originally planned. We will consider alternatives to this year’s commencement ceremony and will provide updates once available. 
  • To increase the likelihood that our students’ education will not be delayed, we continue to plan to have a spring term. The spring term may begin with online instruction and, hopefully, will offer an opportunity for students to return to the campus for classes during the same term. To maximize this possibility, we are scheduled to begin the spring term on May 4, 2020 with the term ending on July 11, 2020. (The summer term is scheduled to begin on July 20, 2020 and end on September 26, 2020.) If students choose not to return for the spring term because they prefer to wait for a full term of classes on campus, it will be important for them to contact their student advisor before the start of the spring term to make their intentions known. These students will be guided to work with NEIT’s re-enrollment coordinator to return to classes the next time their spring 2020 courses are offered or to return for the summer 2020 term if other classes are offered that work with the students’ curricula. When students return within this timeframe, their tuition rate will remain the same as the 2020 spring term rates.
  • If resident students need their belongings now, they should contact the Office of Residence Life to schedule an appointment. Resident students will not be allowed in the residence hall without an appointment.
  • Students cannot live in the residence hall during the period when classes are offered only online. Residents will be invited back to the residence hall in advance of the re-establishment of classes on campus.
  • NEIT is adjusting each student’s payment plan to include only tuition for the 2020 spring term. If the residence hall opens during the 2020 spring term, students will be charged only a pro-rata portion of the room & board, which will be payable at that time.
  • Our staff is working remotely; therefore, please call (401)739-5000 or 1-800-736-7744 to be directed to the department from which you are seeking assistance.
Providence College
  • All classes will continue remotely through the end of the semester.
  • Commencement and Reunion Weekend have been postponed.
  • Students may register for a three-hour time slot between Monday, March 30, and Monday, June 1. Once your appointment is approved, you will receive a confirmation email with further instructions. Bring the confirmation email with you when you return to campus, as you will need to present it at the Huxley Avenue entry gate. You may bring only two people to assist you on campus. Do not come to campus if you are sick or under quarantine.
  • The library has created its own COVID-19 website with learning resources.
  • Academic advising and registration will be delayed until further notice.
  • Student employment/work study is suspended.
  • The Center for Career Education and Professional Development is available online.
  • For the health and safety of current and future Friars, all campus visits are canceled through June 1.  This includes admitted student programs, information sessions, campus tours, group visits, and transfer student interviews. The status of summer campus visits is unclear, and registration is not currently available.
Rhode Island College
  • Effective Monday, April 6, campus buildings will no longer be unlocked in the morning by Campus Police. Physical keys and key card access will still function during this time, ensuring that faculty and staff continue to have access to their respective areas.
  • All previously scheduled on-campus events, whether sponsored by campus or external groups and regardless of size, will be canceled or postponed at least through Saturday, May 16.
  • Effective Tuesday, March 31, all computer labs have been closed.
  • Effective Wednesday, April 1, the ITS Help Center is closed, but services will continue. If you have hardware or technology related issues that require in-person service, please email helpdesk@ric.edu.
  • On Monday, March 23, 2020 the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) confirmed that one of our students tested positive for coronavirus. Later that same day, the college sent a campus-wide communication notifying students, faculty and staff of the positive case on campus. Per RIDOH protocol, that student and another student in close contact with the positive case are now under quarantine on campus. Moving forward, we will continue to work with our facilities staff and an external company to continue to clean and sanitize high-contact areas like the residence halls.
  • Classes will resume on Monday, March 23 through online and/or alternative delivery until further notice. Your faculty members have been working hard to revise instructional plans in order to deliver course material through the web, video or teleconferencing tools, and other alternative methods. All in-person class instruction is suspended for the remaining six weeks of the semester.
  • Some dates have been changed due to the coronavirus situation. Midsemester grades are now due March 25. Last day to withdraw from class is April 3. Fall 2020 registration for degree students has been moved to April 13.
  • Beginning Monday, March 23, tutoring services will be available to students for subject tutoring, study skills, math and writing.
  • In response to the coronavirus pandemic and in order to maintain equity among students to progress towards degree completion, the college is instituting an alternative grading policy which will change current departmental and college grading policies for the Spring 2020 semester.
  • All events, regardless of size and including those organized by outside community partners, are cancelled through May 16. We will continue to closely monitor this course of action as the situation evolves.
  • The college has limited external public access to its buildings and facilities to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19. Specifically, through signage posted throughout our facilities, we are asking all members of the external public to limit their use of college facilities for essential purposes only.
  • Members of the Class of 2020, Commencement will NOT be held as planned on May 16, 2020.
Rhode Island School of Design
  • As of Monday, March 30 through the end of the semester, all classes will be taught remotely.
  • Please email or call your instructor using the contact information on your syllabus. If you are unable to reach your instructor, please call or email your instructor’s academic department.
  • The Provost’s Office has worked with deans and department heads to identify needed materials, equipment, and software to continue semester work.
  • Instructors have modified expectations to accommodate remote learning, and students will need to adapt in inventive and productive ways. Your instructor will discuss with you how assignments should be completed, including those normally requiring shop access.
  • RISD will adopt a pass/no credit (P/NC) system for final grading in all courses during the remote teaching period, except when an A through F letter grade is required externally.
  • Though classes will be taught remotely, campus operations will continue. RISD will provide food service, counseling and health services. Some student services may be offered through phone consultation or Zoom meetings, if necessary. As adjustments are made, they will be communicated by email.
  • Students enrolled in the RISD Student Health Insurance policy will remain covered under the United HealthCare coverage until 08/31/2020.
  • All students who have recorded hours in Workday for Spring 2020 will continue to receive the pay based on average hours worked during the pay period 2/15/20 – 3/13/20. The process will be automatic, and no additional actions are needed by students or supervisors.
Roger Williams University
  • ​The date to withdraw from a class has been extended to this Friday, April 3 at 4:30pm for all undergraduate and graduate courses.  If you are interested in withdrawing from a class, please email the Registrar’s Office at registrar@rwu.edu with your name, student id#, and your request to withdraw from the class (class & section please).
  • RWU librarians and staff are available to assist you during this challenging time. Learn about library resources you can access remotely. 
  • To mitigate the impact of the crisis on students’ academic records, keep the focus on learning, and maintain the strength of our community, RWU has adopted a policy allowing all RWU students to convert Spring 2020 courses to Pass/No Pass by June 1, 2020.
  • University College is reviewing implications to any changes to semester dates that effect third party billing such as Tuition Assistance, Legalman’s Paralegal Education Program, and Department of Defense. 
  • April 4, 2020: The University was informed yesterday that a person working in the MNS Wet Lab tested positive for COVID-19. We sent an announcement last night to everyone who currently has access to the MNS building as an advisory of the first positive case of the virus on campus. More information is available in this advisory.
  • Effective immediately all RWU students (except RWU School of Law which has its own policy) will be allowed to convert their Spring 2020 courses to a Pass/No Pass (P/NP) grading system. Students will have until June 1, 2020 to elect the P/NP option for any of their undergraduate courses for this term only.
  • Students will not return to campus and will continue remote learning for the duration of the Spring 2020 semester
Salve Regina University
  • All students have transitioned to remote learning for the remainder of the spring semester. All University-hosted meetings, conferences and events have been canceled through May 17 and access to campus is limited.
  • In accordance with Salve Regina's pandemic illness plan, only current students, faculty and staff may access University buildings at this time. Employees should always carry their University ID in order to access academic and administrative buildings. Exceptions to this policy may apply to previously authorized vendors after proper verbal health screenings have been conducted.
  • Based on guidelines from the Rhode Island Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Salve Regina has no choice but to postpone Commencement and cancel Senior Week activities. Our hearts go out to the Class of 2020 and those who expected to proudly celebrate with them in May. We will honor your accomplishments during the months ahead, and you will have a Commencement. As details for the new date become available, we will share them with you so that you and your families have time to prepare for this delayed, but nonetheless momentous and joyful occasion.
  • Counseling Services staff are available remotely to assist with referrals and offer support. Students should call (401) 341-2919 or email counselingservices@salve.edu to consult with a counselor about obtaining or continuing services in their area.
  • Current Miley Mart hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. At this time, Miley Mart is only accessible to on-campus residents who are on the meal plan.
  • All Salve Regina employees and students must cover their faces while inside campus buildings and outdoors on campus in close proximity to others. This includes all commons areas, hallways, lobbies, bathrooms, entranceways and exits. It does not apply to private office spaces or residence hall rooms where employees or students are alone.
  • All medical providers and Health Services staff are telecommuting until further notice. Telemedicine appointments are available between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment, call (401) 341-2904 or email healthservices@salve.edu. Please note that staff will be unavailable April 9-13 due to the Easter holiday.
  • McKillop Library is closed to all users until further notice. During this time, library staff will work remotely and on-site to support the Salve Regina community.
  • The state of Rhode Island is under a stay-at-home order through Monday, April 13. Rhode Island residents must stay at home unless they are going out to purchase food, medication or gasoline, or to travel to their work. Gatherings are limited to five or fewer people, and non-essential retail businesses have been instructed to close.
  • Out of interest for the safety of the University community, Salve Regina has extended plans for remote learning for all students until the end of the spring semester.
University of Rhode Island
  • ​All Summer Sessions 2020 courses will be offered using distance instruction modalities and will be offered as fully asynchronous online courses or mixed asynchronous/synchronous online courses. Potential exceptions for summer internships, directed study, and/or undergraduate/graduate research courses will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
  • Students have the option to earn traditional letter grades in some courses and can elect to receive an alternative grade for the remainder of their courses. If a student elects to receive an alternative grade, it will consist of an S/S-/U* grading scheme (in lieu of A, B, C, D, F).
  • As we continue to monitor the COVID-19 effects on our community, the University has made the difficult decision to close the Memorial Union.
  • Effective Friday, March 27, 2020, the University requests all students and families to not return to on-campus residence halls.
  • The University of Rhode Island has made the difficult decision to not hold the in-person commencement ceremonies scheduled for May 16 and May 17, 2020.
  • Effective Wednesday, March 25, 2020 beginning at 6 a.m. most university buildings will operate under a “card or key access only” model or on their weekend schedules.
  • The University has confirmed a case of COVID-19 within our community. The individual is in self-isolation at home following protocols from the Rhode Island Department of Health.
  • Effective immediately, Thursday, March 19, 2020, all face-to-face classes at all University of Rhode Island campuses will be delivered remotely for the remainder of the spring semester.
  • We have extended the deadline for submission of a Housing Agreement Cancellation request until April 3 with a URI announcement about the conclusion of the semester made well before then.
  • Students, faculty and staff arriving in the United States or who have traveled outside the 50 states and the District of Columbia in the past fourteen days must immediately self-quarantine for fourteen days.
  • Beginning Monday, March 16, through Friday, March 20, 2020 all face-to-face undergraduate and graduate classes on all campuses are canceled.
  • Dining services has limited services. Buffets have been replaced with take-away options and hours are reduced.
  • The Rhody Outpost’s weekly hours are suspended; however, packages can be requested and for picked up.
  • Non-critical research should be curtailed as much as possible and PIs should ensure appropriate social distance (6 feet) for individuals in a lab.

URI News: April 6, 2020

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

☎️ (401) 222-2080 | 📧 ​governor@governor.ri.gov
Recent announcements and news releases from the Governor’s Office:

EXECUTIVE ORDERS

Executive Orders made by Gov. Gina M. Raimondo:
  • Executive Order 20-34 - Thirty-first Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Extension of Various Executive Orders (5/15/20)
  • Executive Order 20-33 - Thirtieth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Hospital and Community-Based Health Care (5/9/20)
  • Executive Order 20-32 - Twenty-ninth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Lifting Stay at Home Order, Leaving Certain Restrictions in Place, Limited Re-Openings with Stringent Health Regulations (5/9/20)
  • Executive Order 20-31 - Twenty-eighth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Extension of Various Executive Orders (5/7/20)​
  • Executive Order 20-30 - Twenty-seventh Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Requiring Cloth Face Coverings in Public (5/5/20)​
  • Executive Order 20-29 - Twenty-sixth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Promoting Better Coordination of Health Care Coverage (4/27/20)​
  • Executive Order 20-28 - Twenty-fifth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Extension of Executive Orders (4/17/20)
  • Executive Order 20-27 - Twenty-fourth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Further Preparations for a Predominantly Mail Ballot Election (4/17/20)
  • Executive Order 20-26 - Twenty-third Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Support for Young Adults Aging Out of State Care (4/15/20)
  • Executive Order 20-25 - Twenty-second Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Public Meetings and Public Records Requests (4/15/20)
  • Executive Order 20-24 - Twenty-first Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Requiring Cloth Face Masks at Work (4/14/20)
  • Executive Order 20-23 - Twentieth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Extension of Various Executive Orders (4/10/20)
  • Executive Order 20-22 - Nineteenth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Shareholder Meetings (4/10/20)
  • Executive Order 20-21 - Eighteenth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Increasing Hospital and Nursing Facility Capacity, Extending Statutory Immunity (4/10/20)
  • Executive Order 20-20 - Seventeenth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Further Quarantine Order (4/9/20)
  • Executive Order 20-19 - Sixteenth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Increasing Access to Unemployment Insurance (4/9/20)
  • Executive Order 20-18 - Executive Order 20-18 - Fifteenth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Extension of Declaration of Disaster Emergency (4/8/20)
  • Executive Order 20-17 - Fourteenth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Testing, Critical Supplies and Hospital Capacity Reporting (4/7/20)
  • Executive Order 20-16 - Thirteenth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Authorizing Waiver and Medicaid State Plan Amendments and Adjustments to Essential Provider Rates (4/6/20)
  • Executive Order 20-15 - Twelfth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Extension of Executive Orders on the Operation of Food Establishments and Close Contact Businesses (3/20/20)​
  • Executive Order 20-14 - Amended Eleventh Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Staying At Home, Reducing Gatherings, Certain Retail Business Closures and Further Quarantine Provisions (3/28/20)
  • Executive Order 20-13 - Eleventh Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Staying At Home, Reducing Gatherings, Certain Retail Business Closures and Further Quarantine Provisions (3/28/20)
  • Executive Order 20-12 - Tenth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Quarantine Restrictions on Travelers from New York State (03/26/20)
  • Executive Order 20-11 - Ninth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Delaying the Primary Elections and Preparing for a Predominantly Mail Ballot Election (3/23/20)
  • Executive Order 20-10 - Eighth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Quarantine Restrictions on Domestic Air Travelers (3/23/20)
  • Executive Order 20-09 - Seventh Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Public Gatherings, Close-Contact Businesses, Public Recreation and Business Service Providers (03/22/20)
  • Executive Order 20-08 - Sixth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Economic Support for Restaurants, Bars and Establishments that Offer Food (3/20/20)
  • Executive Order 20-07 - Fifth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Extension of Time for Weapon and Firearm Background Checks (3/20/20)
  • Executive Order 20-06 - Fourth Supplemental Emergency Declaration - Expanding Access to Telemedicine Services (03/18/20)
  • Executive Order 20-05 - Third Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Public Meetings and Public Records Requests (03/16/20)
  • Executive Order 20-04 - Second Supplemental Declaration – Restaurants, Bars, Entertainment Venues, and Public Gatherings (03/16/20)
  • Executive Order 20-03 - Supplemental Emergency Declaration (03/13/2020)
  • Executive Order 20-02 - Declaration of Disaster Emergency (03/09/2020)​

​​RHODE ISLAND COURTS

On April 8, 2020, an executive order was by Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul A. Suttell to continue emergency measures that were first implemented on March 17 and were due to expire on April 17. Additional information can be found here. 

On March 30, 2020, Governor Raimondo announces that RI Superior Court will begin a program to assist businesses affected by COVID-19 it will allow businesses to continue to operate, access capital & pay debts incrementally under court supervision. Additional information can be found at: http://courts.ri.gov​· Courts sessions canceled through April 17. Emergency matters only.

Effective March 23, 2020, the Court will conduct telephonic conferences of uncontested matters by Stipulation of the Parties. The Tribunal will conduct telephonic hearings with Attorneys of Record, Police Prosecutors, and Motorist.

Supreme Court Executive Order 2020-04, Pandemic Response

​RI CITY AND TOWN RESPONSE EFFORTS

The RI House Republican Office compiled a detailed list of local government services and programs that have been added or modified in response to the COVID-19 social distancing mandates. We will update this list as new response efforts are announced. Please let us know if we can be of assistance to you.  
Barrington
  • State of Emergency declared
  • Like many other towns, has a page on website specifically for the crisis
  • All town meetings cancelled until further notice
  • Playgrounds, daycares, senior centers all closed until further notice
  • Recommending residents over the age of 60 to stay home, if possible
  • Also providing links and updates for mental health resources for those quarantined at home
Bristol
  • Last update on website was March 17th
  • The town has created a COVID-19 volunteer form. This will allow volunteers to do grocery runs for the town’s vulnerable population
  • Essential town meetings will continue but will be limited to no more than 25 attendees
  • State of Emergency declared and town offices closed to the public
  • Businesses are asked to contact the town’s Economic Development Coordinator for assistance or visit Commerce RI
  • New drop-box implemented outside town hall for residents to submit applications or other documents securely
Burrillville
  • Providing links, numbers, and addresses to local urgent cares in and around Burrillville
  • Provided instructions on how residents may be able to avoid the virus, or how they can recover from it
  • Stated town public safety officials are meeting daily to discuss any new procedures
  • Local school department offering free grab and go lunches for students aged 18 and under
  • All other municipal functions and meetings have been suspended
    • Asking residents to perform all necessary business online
  • The town will continue to send out updates using their Code Red phone messaging service
Central Falls
All department directors must take part in a regular COVID-19 briefing from Central Falls Office on Health
  • City offices are to remain open but will take necessary precautions
  • City is waving 3% fee for tax payments made online
  • Also waving all interest and penalties on quarterly tax payment until June 1st 2020
  • Closing some city parks, but not all
  • Central Falls Hotline created that is staffed from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM weekdays
  • Providing residents with bullet points from the CDC
Charlestown
  • Declared a state of emergency in the town
    • Will last until April 30th or until revoked
  • Town Administrator and Treasurer can take any actions needed
  • Provided links for information, such as DOH, Office of the Governor, and the CHARIHO School District
  • Cancelled all government meetings in the town, until further notice
    • Stated they will try to start rescheduling all meetings on March 30th
Coventry
  • Town Hall is closed to the public, but remains staffed for usual business. Residents are encouraged to use online services or mail where applicable
  • Recreational events are cancelled, for the foreseeable future.
  • Senior Citizens Center is closed for all public entry, for the foreseeable future
  • Local police will be taking reports over the phone for offenses that do not require immediate responses such as civil matters, minor vandalism, or animal related issues
  • VIN checks are suspended
  • Free grab and go meals for students
Cranston
  • State of Emergency declared
  • Students and faculty have Cranston West High have been under self-quarantine
  • Senior Center activities closed
    • Adult Day Services still operating as normal
  • Social Services seeing clients by appointment only
  • The city has not waived fees on online payments, like Central Falls
Cumberland
  • Providing resources and information for residents that are applying for unemployment, if they were laid off from the virus
  • Provides information on website for businesses that may need a small business loan
  • The town is offering free grab and go meals for students
  • The town's “Senior Van” is providing transportation for seniors to grocery stores on a set schedule. However due to social distancing the van can only hold up to three seniors. A call must be placed to make an appointment
  • Town provides a link for those that need “assistance”.
  • Volunteer opportunities are available for those interested in delivering bagged meals to seniors.
  • Town buildings are all closed, remote access to public town meetings is available, for those interested
East Greenwich
  • Emergency declaration announced
  • Senior Center Updates:
    • All programs were cancelled
    • Administrative offices still opened
    • Onsite lunch program replaced with box lunches
    • Transportation has been severely restricted, even for medical appointments and grocery shopping
  • Outdoor permits have been revoked until further notice, however all parks will remain open for the time being
  • Normal work operations for public works
  • All services that must go through the town clerk's office will and should be handled online or over the phone, a drop box for documents is also available.
  • Asking residents to not come to police station lobby without calling ahead of time, any appointments will be handled accordingly
  • Chromebooks are available for those students who need them for remote learning
  • Mental Health services have been enhanced are readily available for the town's residents
  • Town Hall is open, but restricts walk-ins
East Providence
  • Tax penalties have been suspended by the Mayor
  • Senior Center canceling all activities for two weeks by Executive Order of the Mayor
  • Chromebooks available for students
  • Social media providing food sites for children that need meals
Exeter
​• Creating an email list for residents as part of the Emergency Management Department
• Town Hall closed to all members of the public, lock box and online services are encouraged
• Any urgent matters are to be directed to the Town Clerk’s Office by phone
• Nonessential town meetings are cancelled indefinitely
• Providing updates on town’s Facebook page
Foster
​• State of Emergency Declared
• All playgrounds closed
• Town Hall operating on reduced hours
• Town meetings cancelled
• Providing information for voters to request mail in ballots so that residents do not have to be worried about crowded areas
glocester
​• Town’s emergency management posting and republishing posters on COVID-19 with background info on the virus, how to prevent it, and what to do if you have symptoms
• Held town emergency meeting (not accessible to public)
• Senior Center closed indefinitely
• Tax exemption extended to April 30th
• All other town meetings cancelled
• Providing numbers and emails of relevant employees so the public can conduct remote business transactions
Hopkinton
​• Local Declaration of Emergency
• Courts cancelled until further notice
• CHARIHO school district has a loaner program for Chromebooks for grades 2-4
o Families can also pick up meals at the front of Chariho High School for students under the age of 18.
• All recreational events are cancelled
• Town hall and other town buildings are closed until further notice to the public
o Employees will still be onsite, so the public is encouraged to contact them if they need to conduct business by email or phone.
Jamestown
• Town Emergency Declaration
• Town created a survey to assess the basic food needs of residents
• Town Facilities and Departments available by email or phone
• Town meetings cancelled
• Dropbox available, relevant employees emails and phone numbers posted and shared for residents to conduct business remotely
Johnston
​• Senior Center, Recreational Center, and Library are closed until further notice
• Link to RIDOH information on the coronavirus
Lincoln
​• Updating the town website with relevant PDF’s from the State as information becomes more available
• Encouraging residents to contact relevant municipal departments if they are not feeling well
• Disinfecting town buildings daily
• Hand Sanitizer and Disinfectant wipes available at town buildings for use
Little Compton
• Link provided directly to RIDOH website on the coronavirus
• Public meetings cancelled and State of Emergency declared
• Online services set up so residents do not have to visit town hall
o Employee information provided to conduct business
• Info provided for mail-in ballot for upcoming primaries
• All late spring/early summer activities still viable, at this time
Middletown
​• Town Council President sent out a letter to all residents
o The president is urging residents to not hoard any supplies and to contact United Way RI if in dire need of assistance.
• Emergency Operations Call in center now available for residents
• Links provided to the US Small Business Association
• Senior Center is closed to the public
• Town hall is closed, employees are still reporting
• Updating links that provided information on the adjustments of the 2020 US Census; also not seen in other towns
Narragansett
​• Sending out Code Red alerts to residents when necessary
• Town meetings: some are being rescheduled, and others cancelled indefinitely
• No “in-person” services at Town Hall without an appointment ahead of time
• Transactions must be made online, in the payment drop box in town, or through the respective town department by telephone
• Senior congregate meal program available to seniors affected by the closure of the Senior Center
• Posting the RIDOH hotline
Newport
• State of Emergency declared
•  City Hall closed
• Many city employees have elected to work remotely as opposed to a closed City-owned building
• Public buildings are being thoroughly cleaned
• Limited access to most public areas, enforced to encourage social distancing
• Financial relief packaged announced for city residents, more details to come
New Shoreham
• State of Emergency declared
• All town facilities have been closed
• Town is following social distancing guideline of no more than 10 people
• The town is implementing a “Shelter in Place” order
o This is in response to some residents being from harder hit states like New York
• Until further notice, all residents arriving on Block Island must immediately self-quarantine for up to 2 weeks
• Non-Residents are being discouraged to travel to Block Island, however if they must they shall also self-quarantine
o Visitors who are not part of Essential Activities are to leave the island as soon as possible
• Residents are also discouraged from traveling off the island unless the travel is for medicine, care of family or obtaining food
North Kingstown
​• Golf Carts are being sanitized after every use at the town’s golf course
o Social distancing in the golf shop
o Restrooms are on an enhanced cleaning schedule
• Senior Center Info
o Hotline set up for citizens interested in looking to volunteer to provide services needed by senior citizens
o The hotline can also be used by Seniors to request assistance for food, pharmacy, prescriptions, or other items deemed necessary
o Meals on Wheels is operating as normal in the town
• Town council meetings have been cancelled along with other non-essential meetings, or they have been closed to the public
• Residents asked to utilize only online resources or drop box services. Calling is also available
North Providence
​• Schools are providing free lunches to students
• Town recreational centers and the library is closed
• Town Offices and Operations continuing as normal, residents however are asked to avoid town buildings as best as they can
o It is not required, but residents are encouraged to use online services from the city
• Senior Center is closed
o Seniors seeking food are asked to call the Senior Center directly
• Publishing info from RIDOH
North Smithfield
• State of Emergency declared
o Extended until April 5th
• Releasing newsletter on website with continually updated information on the virus, such as how many in Rhode Island have it, updates from DOH, and more
• Asking residents to contact United Way 211 if they have problems regarding food, utilities and more
• All town meetings suspended
• Restricting all visitors to the local nursing home
• Food Pantry at local church is still open for all who need it
Pawtucket
• State contacts for the virus are published on city website
• Encouraging residents who have been laid off due to the virus to contact DLT to apply for unemployment
• City Council meetings are still ongoing; however, are closed to the public. The council is strongly encouraging residents to email testimony so they can take part in the political process of their city
• Essential city employees are still reporting to work
• The senior center is closed
o Meals available for pick up between 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Portsmouth
​• Emergency food bank set up for residents in need
o Food bank established by St. Barnabas Church Parish Center
o Accepting all donations from residents
• Providing links and updates to RIDOH and Governor Raimondo's guidelines for childcare and senior care
• Asking for those who are in possession of medical supplies (Ex. N95 Masks) to donate them where needed
• Grab and Go lunches available for students at the town middle school
• Local information is available on the town website, social media and by email or by a phone call to the towns Emergency Operation Center
• Meals available to seniors
o Meals must be made by reservation 24 hours in advance
o Are picked up at 110 Bristol Ferry Rd.
o Meals cannot be delivered
Providence
​• State of Emergency declared
• All city buildings are closed until further notice
• Grab and Go dinners for seniors and students are available at all recreation centers from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
• Providence Place Mall, one of the largest shopping centers in the state, is closed until further notice
• Small businesses that can implement social distancing may stay open, if not ordered to closed by the governor according to city directives
• The booting of cars and collection services of speeding tickets and fines are halted until further notice
Richmond
• State of Emergency declared
• Town Hall operating on reduced hours
• Asking for volunteers to help seniors in need
• Town Council, Planning Board and Zoning Board still meeting as usual
• Reminding seniors that Senior/Disabled tax exemptions are still due by 4/15/2020
• Senior Community Center activities are cancelled until further notice
• Providing guidance to residents for mail in ballots for the upcoming Presidential Primary, which was moved from April to June 2.
Scituate
• Connected with DOH to effort to plan multiple community response scenarios
• Has closed the local Senior Center and cancelled all activities within it. Meals are still being provided for seniors
• Town Hall is open but not for walk-in service. Residents are asked to call
• Will be dispersing information to residents via Code Red messaging, and social media websites along with the town's own website.
Smithfield
• State of Emergency declared
• Fields, playgrounds, and courts are all closed
• The town is still hosting a flu and TDAP vaccination session at no charge
o Animal rabies vaccination session has been cancelled until further notice
• Hosting virtual town hall forums on their website (March 27th)
• Code Red being used to inform residents periodically
South Kingstown
• Gatherings reduced to 10 people in the town by executive order of the Town Manager
• Town Manager announced that the town budget is not final and could change with the course of the virus response efforts
• Playgrounds and recreational spaces are closed
• Town Hall and municipal offices are open by appointment only, no walk-ins allowed
• Asking for resident volunteers to help out at the local Senior Center
o Seniors who have trouble getting groceries or prescriptions are advised to call the Senior Center for assistance
Tiverton
• Town Hall closed to the public with no exceptions
• Senior Center and Public library closed to the public until further notice
• The town’s website must be used to conduct any town business
• By state directive: The Tiverton Casino is closed
• The senior bus is out of service
• Seniors in need should contact the EBCAP food pantry, on Wednesdays, but must make an appointment
• 4th quarter taxes are still due April 1st, a fee for using credit cards online still applies
• Meals on Wheels still operating as normal for the town
Warren
• Town Hall open by appointment only; no walk ins
• Grab and Go meals available at Kickmuit Middle School
• Senior Bus service has been discontinued
o Seniors in need are asked to contact the Town Clerk's office for assistance
• Governor Raimondo suspending all evictions
• Request Form to donate unused medical supplies to the State for use
• Stats provided on how many are infected in each county of Rhode Island
Warwick
​• State of Emergency declared
• Public Works department still operating as scheduled
• Meal sites set up for children in need, at multiple schools
• City Clerk's office is open, but by appointment only
• Parks will remain open as long as residents practice social distancing
• Coronavirus response team created by Mayor on March 3rd
• Warwick Police Department increasing patrols at supermarkets to control crowd sizes
• Senior Center closed.  Grab and Go meals available.
Westerly
• Senior Center is offering takeout lunch services, but is closed for all other activities
• Meals on Wheels is still operating in the town, as usual
• Residents are urged to use online, telephone, and mail services to contact town staff, make payments and submit necessary documentation
• Westerly DMV Services at Westerly Town Hall are suspended until further notice
• All courts involved in the eviction process are closed, so residents should not have to worry about eviction.
• Providing links for students to get Microsoft Office for free for up to 6 months
West Greenwich
​• State of Emergency declared
• Normal Town Hall hours, no public access without an appointment
• All town meetings cancelled until further notice
• Residents asked to conduct all business online or over the phone, with provided staff information
West Warwick
​• State of Emergency declared
• Normal Town Hall hours, no public access without an appointment
• All town meetings cancelled until further notice
• Residents asked to conduct all business online or over the phone, with provided staff information
Woonsocket
​• State of Emergency declared
• VIN Inspection is suspended
• City Hall is closed to the public until further notice
o Only designated “critically essential” employees are to report to work
• Assemblies are restricted to 10 people
• Students can pick up food at a handful of schools throughout the city

​FEDERAL AGENCIES

​Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: