PROVIDENCE, RI — With eight new COVID-19 related deaths Thursday and 1,727, total cases, Gov. Gina Raimondo announced fines in the hundreds of dollars for those violating quarantine and isolation orders.
Raimondo pointed to the rise in cases and the growing testing capacity, currently reserved for people with symptoms, will produce more quarantine orders.
“More of us are going to be stuck inside for 14 days,” Raimondo said.
So, Raimondo said, she has written a new executive order setting new rules, including fines for breaking quarantine and isolation. Those fines, which the RI Department of Health has yet to finalize, will range in the 100s of dollars, Raimondo said.
Also, as part of the order:
- Anyone determined COVID-19 positive, by test or by doctor’s diagnosis, must isolate until they are no longer experiencing symptoms.
- RIDOH is cooperating with the RI Attorney General’s office to instruct local law enforcement in enforcing the order and issuing the fines.
Basic COVID-19 prevention
- Get your flu shot, and make sure the people around you do the same.
- Wash your hands often throughout the day. Use warm water and soap. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow.
- Stay home and do not leave your house if you are sick, unless it is for emergency medical care.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
COVID-19 notes and guidance
Check the WarwickPost.com COVID-19 page for a review of all outbreak-related coverage.
- Anyone who is sick should stay home and self-isolate (unless going out for testing or healthcare).
- The people who live with that person and who have been in direct close contact with that person should self-quarantine for 14 days. Direct close contact means being within approximately 6 feet of a person for a prolonged period.
- Help is available for people living in quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19. Visit www.RIDelivers.com for connections to groceries, home supplies, restaurants, and mutual aid groups. People can also call 2-1-1.
- 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.
- Groups of more than five people should not be gathering. Always avoid close personal contact with other people in public.
- Healthcare workers should not be going to work if they are sick (even with mild symptoms).
- People who think they have COVID-19 should call their healthcare provider. Do not go directly to a healthcare facility without first calling a healthcare provider (unless you are experiencing a medical emergency).
- People with general, non-medical questions about COVID-19 can visit www.health.ri.gov/covid, write to RIDOH.COVID19Questions@
health.ri.gov, or call 401-222-8022. This is the COVID-19 Hotline that RIDOH has available to the public.
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