Rhode Island's COVID-19 Guidelines
Hello!
As we respond to this time of uncertainty, it’s important for us to consider not only our own health, but the health of our clients and the community at large. That being said, we’ve created this page to collect all the available resources we can in order to conduct business while practicing social distancing and adhering to local and federal government regulations. With the guidance of the CDC, Rhode Island Board of Realtors, and Rhode Island’s State guidelines, we hope to maintain an active dialogue within our local, regional brokerage community, and with our clients, as we monitor market activity that is specific to your needs as they potentially evolve. These guidelines will be updated often, as regulations have been rapidly changing.
Latest guidance and information – State of Rhode Island Department of Health, Updated April 7th, 2020 at 11:22am
· All Rhode Island residents are required t stay at home unless traveling to work, traveling for medial reasons, or obtain food. Rhode Island residents may go outside to exercise to get fresh air, but must practice social distancing, while avoiding touching surfaces frequently touched by others.
· Domestic travel: Anyone returning to Rhode Island by plane (with the exception of public safety, health care professionals and pilots) must immediately self-quarantine for 14 days. Governor Gina Raimundo also reiterated that Rhode Island residents who work in another state must work from home if possible. Rhode Island businesses with employees who are residents of another state must make every attempt to let those employees work from home.
· Any person coming to Rhode Island from New York State must self-quarantine for 14 days. This quarantine restriction shall not be imposed in health, public safety, or healthcare workers.
· Any person who has come to Rhode Island from New York State within the last 14 days must immediately self-quarantine for the remainder of the 14-day period since arriving in Rhode Island. This This quarantine restriction shall not be imposed in health, public safety, or healthcare workers. Full self-quarantine instructions HERE
· If you have traveled anywhere internationally in the last 14 days, self-quarantine for 14 days. That means do not go to work or school and stay at home.
· Avoid all crowded places, large events, and mass gatherings. However, people should continue doing essential errands (such as going to the grocery store). All gatherings of more than (5) people in any public or private space such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, library, theater, place of worship, parade, fair, or festival, are prohibited.
· Through March 30th, 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.)
· 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.
· Whenever possible, avoid close personal contact with people in public. When greeting people avoid handshakes and hugs.
State Mandated Executive Orders
Restaurants, Bars, Entertainment venues and public gatherings until March 30th 2020
Non- essential businesses until March 30th 2020
Domestic Airplane travel restrictions until April 22nd 2020
Quarantine orders on travelers from New York State.
COVID-19 Testing
Limited appointments for coronavirus testing are now available to patients who qualify. CVS has provided convenient testing sites to get a COVID-19 test at no cost. Results are returned while you wait. Twin River Casino (100 Twin River Road, Lincoln, RI, 02865) in Rhode Island. For more information and to register for a test, please visit CVS.com.
Recommendations for Cleaning and Disinfection of Households
1. Household members should educate themselves about COVID-19 symptoms and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in homes.
2. Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily in household common areas (e.g. tables, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, handles, desks, toilets, sinks)
3. In the bedroom/bathroom dedicated for an ill person: consider reducing cleaning frequency to as-needed (e.g., soiled items and surfaces) to avoid unnecessary contact with the ill person.
4. As much as possible, an ill person should stay in a specific room and away from other people in their home, following home care guidance.
5. The caregiver can provide personal cleaning supplies for an ill person’s room and bathroom, unless the room is occupied by child or another person for whom such supplies would not be appropriate. These supplies include tissues, paper towels, cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants (examples HERE).
6. If a separate bathroom is not available, the bathroom should be cleaned and disinfected after each use by an ill person. If this is not possible, the caregiver should wait as long as practical after use by an ill person to clean and disinfect the high-touch surfaces.
7. Household members should follow home care guidance when interacting with persons with suspected/confirmed COVID-19 and their isolation rooms/bathrooms.
How to clean and disinfect surfaces
• Wear disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. Gloves should be discarded after each cleaning. If reusable gloves are used, those gloves should be dedicated for cleaning and disinfection of surfaces for COVID-19 and should not be used for other purposes. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and disinfection products used. Clean hands immediately after gloves are removed.
• If surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned using a detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
• For disinfection, diluted household bleach solutions, alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and most common EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective.
• Diluted household bleach solutions can be used if appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.
• Prepare a bleach solution by mixing: 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water or 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water
• Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims are expected to be effective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.).
• For soft (porous) surfaces such as carpeted floor, rugs, and drapes, remove visible contamination if present and clean with appropriate cleaners indicated for use on these surfaces.
After Cleaning
• Launder items as appropriate in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If possible, launder items using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry items completely, or
• Use products with the EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims (See approved Cleaners HERE ) that are suitable for porous surfaces.
Clothing, towels, linens and laundry items
• Wear disposable gloves when handling dirty laundry from an ill person and then discard after each use. If using reusable gloves, those gloves should be dedicated for cleaning and disinfection of surfaces for COVID-19 and should not be used for other household purposes. Clean hands immediately after gloves are removed.
• If no gloves are used when handling dirty laundry, be sure to wash hands afterwards.
• If possible, do not shake dirty laundry. This will minimize the possibility of dispersing virus through the air.
• Launder items as appropriate in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If possible, launder items using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry items completely. Dirty laundry from an ill person can be washed with other people’s items.
• Clean and disinfect clothes hampers according to guidance above for surfaces. If possible, consider placing a bag liner that is either disposable (can be thrown away) or can be laundered.
SARS/COVD-19 Approved Cleaners
https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2
Article last updated on Updated April 7th, 2020 at 11:22am