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Speaking Monday, during her daily briefing, the governor said all state parks are being opened immediately.
Meanwhile, although COVID-19-related hospitalizations continue to fall in Rhode Island, the state’s toll from the virus climbed past 500, to 506, with the deaths of seven additional people.
The state reported an additional 121 cases of the virus, from the testing of 2,834 people. The infection rate in Rhode Island remains below 10 percent of those tested, but some communities have higher rates of infection.
Raimondo said the state beaches at East Matunuck and Scarborough will open on Memorial Day, although with limited parking and no concessions, dressing rooms, lifeguards or fees.
“This is really a very limited reopening of these two beaches, so that if you and your family typically have a tradition of going to the beach on Memorial Day, you can still do that,” the governor said. “You can go for a walk, you can take the kids to the beach, go for a walk, put your feet in the water. But it will be in a very limited way.”
In a reflection of the challenging politics of managing the reopening of a state, Raimondo said the state will not immediately support the opening of other beaches because of concerns about crowding. But she said the plan is open the state’s other beaches during phase 2 of the reopening.
With the recent relaxing of some restrictions, Raimondo underscored the ongoing need for people to wear masks in public, to maintain social distance from others, maintain a log of their contacts and frequently wash their hands.
Regarding the goal of reopening houses of worship on May 30, the governor said, “Between now and then we’re going to work through the exact guidelines. I expect that those will be posted later this week on ReopeningRI.com – exact guidelines around, what’s the capacity allowed in any one building at a time,” how communion will be addressed, how hymn books will not be permitted, and so on.
Raimondo spoke on the same day that Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced plans to reopen that state.
While Massachusetts might jump ahead of Rhode Island in relaunching some sectors of the economy, Raimondo noted that manufacturers were never ordered to close in Rhode Island. She said moving slowly with reopening makes sense due to the risks of spreading the coronavirus.
The governor said state officials are talking with Connecticut about possibly coordinating the reopening of such close-contact businesses as hairdressers.