Rhode Island orders employers to require masks for all workers

[left-of-center2012]

Source: The Hill

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) on Tuesday signed an executive order saying businesses in the state must require all workers to wear masks starting Saturday to stem the spread of coronavirus.

In the order, Raimondo said all employees of the state’s “customer/client-facing businesses and non-profit organizations, office-based businesses and non-profit organizations, and any other such business category as determined by the Department of Business Regulation” must wear cloth facial coverings unless they have the capacity to “easily, continuously and measurably” keep six feet of distance.

Raimondo’s order also requires businesses and employers to provide any such face coverings or materials needed to make them to employees at the business’ expense and make them available staff-wide. Businesses that fail to comply will be subject to civil penalties, the order states.

Raimondo said retailers must also post signs indicating any customer age 2 or older must wear a mask in the facility, Bloomberg reported. “You have to do this,” she said, adding that government officials will perform “spot checks” at offices and stores.



Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/492826-rhode-island-orders-employers-to-require-masks-for-all-workers

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The state has seen a total of 80 deaths from the virus, including seven deaths Monday. State Health Department Director Nicole Alexander-Scott said that daily positive cases have decreased in recent days, but said this was likely the result of the Easter holiday and severe weather Monday reducing testing capacity. A total of 3,251 people in the state have tested positive since March 1.

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. Great

[Rebl2]

7. Yep

he is a do nothing governor, unless it benefits republicans. No to vote by mail. No to no excuses needed early voting. Time for him to go in November!

[bdamomma]

3. just wear them

to protect yourself and others, period.

[catrose]

4. I'm glad to hear it. I just finished making masks for all the employees in a pet store.

One of the cat rescues donated them. Nice (and I'm glad to help), but I kept wondering why employers put their employees in harm's way without protection. I had another order this week for an essential worker who was using a very makeshift mask. What's with these businesses? I know. The usual.

[Marrah_Goodman]

5. My Gov., Gina Raimondo has done a great job through this.

[JudyM]

11. She really is. I've been watching her daily 1PM pressers for a couple of weeks. Proactive.

Only thing that puzzles me is why they’re not publicly releasing cases and deaths for ALL the communal living facilities. Yesterday the health director said they’ll release them to news organizations that request the info, in the evening of any new cases/deaths. WPRI posted the numbers they were given yesterday but I know for a fact that at least one AL with multiple cases was not on that list. Peculiar.

[Totally Tunsie]

6. Ocean State Job Lot, a discount store with ten locations in RI and MA,

is offering free tablecloths and cloth napkins for anyone who needs to make masks. They're placed on a table in front of the store - just take them, no questions asked.

Nice gesture on their part.

[JudyM]

10. They are a good company.

[Igel]

8. Just had a horrible start.

School resumes in August with moderated social distancing in place ... everybody has to wear a mask.

The implications would be stunning. Instead of "put away the cell phone" or "take off the hat" or "that shirt's inappropriate, report to the AP" it'll be "put on your mask". And if a kid wants to avoid the test, "Oops, my string broke." And what about the mask with inappropriate comments, or fingers in a V with a tongue drawn between the fingers?

Wonder if teachers will have to provide masks, like in most states we're also responsible for providing pencils and paper to the kids who leave theirs at home?

Crap.