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New state guidelines allow for the return of indoor dining, personal services like hair salons and tattoo parlors, as well as fitness centers and recreational sports. Businesses will have to maintain rigorous cleaning practices and restrict the number of customers allowed inside. Retail capacity will be doubled to one customer per 150-square-feet, and restaurants can seat half the normal number of patrons for indoor dining.
“This is a big phase,” Governor Gina Raimondo commented in a press conference Monday.
Businesses must submit their COVID plans in order to be approved for reopening. Raimondo urged businesses to remain cautious and reach out in need of assistance. She said that as of Monday, only 70% of open businesses have submitted plans, which Raimondo said was too few.
“We’re working for the best and preparing for the worst,” Raimondo said. “So do your COVID control plan before you open.”
Hundreds of childcare centers are also slated to reopen. Guidelines include a modified pickup and drop-off system, extra cleaning, and monitoring social groups among children. “I can practically hear the sigh of relief from parents out there,” Raimondo enthused, noting this would make it easier for parents to return to work.
Retail stores were allowed to reopen during Phase 1 under minimal customer capacity, but many chose to remain closed and conduct sales online. Kim Clark owns Rhody Craft, a gift shop on the east side of Providence. Unable to rely on local foot traffic and the tourist season, Clark kept the store closed and moved to online sales.
“I have worked 7 days a week,” she said. “I’m in here every day, taking photographs, editing, adding to the site, filling orders, and luckily I was able to do that and get enough orders to stay alive.”
Rhody Craft reopened Saturday, and Clark said customers were trickling back.
“People seem really happy to be out. But of course we’re not anywhere near the volume we need to survive and nor should we really be at this point,” she said.
Other retail businesses have been open since early May, offering in-store pickup and curbside delivery in addition to online sales.
“We’ve been sanitizing a lot, wiping down pin pads and surfaces,” said Luke Franco, who works at Civil, a skate shop in downtown Providence. “Obviously working behind the plexi-glass is a little new. But we’re getting used to it. This kind of feels like the new normal for now.”
While Civil has had an uptick in recent sales, Franco misses the social side of business. “It can be a little overwhelming seeing a line out front. You’re used to having everyone in the store, hanging out watching a skateboard video.”
The new guidelines will allow Civil to double its in-store customer capacity.
Phase two will also allow indoor dining at restaurants. Under phase one, restaurants provided take-out and delivery options. John Philipedes of Providence is co-owner and manager of Yoleni’s, a greek restaurant downtown. He says he’s ready to reopen.
“Rhode Islanders have done really well and acted as responsible people. I’m interested in seeing more people going out,” Philipedes said. “But it’s going to take time and we’re excited to have people in again, of course following these measures.”
LGBTQ Pride Month kicks off today, but parades and other traditional large social events will be canceled. Governor Raimondo urged people to get creative with safe ways to alternatively celebrate.
Raimondo thanked Rhode Island Pride, an LGBTQ advocacy group, for organizing a distribution network for coronavirus resources. And the Department of Health also announced it would begin collecting data on the gender identity and sexual orientation of people who get tested for COVID-19, in order to better identify and serve minority communities affected by COVID-19.
