REPORTER: THIS IS HAPPENING WITHIN THE LAST HOUR. WE CAN TELL YOU THAT RHODE ISLAND HAS BEEN DEALING WITH A RISE IN CASES. CITING A RISE IN INFECTIONS, MASSACHUSETTS IS ADDING RHODE ISLAND TO ITS QUARANTINED LIST. THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TWEETING "ALL TRAVELERS , ARRIVING IN MASSACHUSETTS FROM RHODE ISLAND MUST FILL OUT A FORM, QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS OR PRODUCE A NEGATIVE COVID TEST. EXEMPTIONS APPLY FOR REGULAR COMMUTERS." IT WAS SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR HINTED AT EARLIER TODAY. >> THE RHODE ISLAND CONVERSATION ABOUT THEIR TEST SCORES RELATIVE TO OUR TRAVEL ORDER IS UND ACTIVE DISCUSSION. REPORTER GOVERNOR BAKER SPEAKING IN BEDFORD TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK DONE DURING THE PANDEMIC. THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT A MODEST RISE IN COVID19 CASES ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS AND WARNED , HE MAY ROLL BACK SOME REOPENING RULES IF IT CONTINUES. THAT COULD MEAN GATHERING SIZES COULD BE REDUCED OR WE COULD MAKE SOME OF OUR BUSINESS REGULATIONS MORE STRICT. REPORTER: HE SAYS THAT PEOPLE ARE SLIPPING DURING THE WARMEST MONTHS OF THE YEAR, BUT HE WANTS TO KEEP THE REOPENING ON TRACK. >> WE HOPE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. BUT, IF THE DATA DOESN’T SUPPOR MOVING FORWARD, AS WE HAVE SAI SO MANY TIMES, WE WON’T. REPORTER: THE GOVERNOR ALSO HINTING ABOUT NEW STEPS THE STATE IS TAKING TO HELP REOPEN SCHOOLS AS TESTING DELAYS CONTINUE. >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE WORKING ON DEVELOPING IS AN ABILITY TO DO SOME RAPID MOBILE TESTING FOR SCHOOLS WHEN SCHOOLS OPEN. YEAH. >> CAN YOU TELL US HOW WOULD THAT WORK? SURE, IN A FEW DAYS. REPORTER: THE GOVERNOR’S OFFI IS CONFIRMING IT’S ENTERING I
Rhode Island added to Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York travel orders
Updated: 11:13 PM EDT Aug 4, 2020
Rhode Island was removed Tuesday from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's list of states at "lower risk" for COVID-19 transmission, making it the only neighboring state subject to Gov. Charlie Baker's new travel order.DPH said the decision was made "due to increases in both RI’s positive test rate and cases per 100,000."As a result, starting Friday visitors arriving from Rhode Island must fill out a form, quarantine for 14-days or produce a negative COVID-19 test. DPH officials said exemptions apply for regular commuters. The order is enforceable with a $500 per day fine for noncompliance. The decision was announced by DPH officials just hours after Connecticut, New York and New Jersey added Rhode Island to their list of states included on a travel advisory.The three states said anyone entering from Rhode Island should quarantine for 14 days.The updated CT, NY and NJ advisory includes the addition of Rhode Island, with both the District of Columbia and Delaware removed from the list, bringing the total to 35 states and territories."As the number of COVID-19 cases continue to climb around the country, we must remain vigilant in our efforts to slow the spread of transmission," New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in a news release. The states said the travel advisory applies to any person arriving from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or a state with a 10% or higher positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average.As of Tuesday, Aug. 4, the states said there were 35 states and territories that met the criteria: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island was removed Tuesday from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's list of states at "lower risk" for COVID-19 transmission, making it the only neighboring state subject to Gov. Charlie Baker's new travel order.
DPH said the decision was made "due to increases in both RI’s positive test rate and cases per 100,000."
As a result, starting Friday visitors arriving from Rhode Island must fill out a form, quarantine for 14-days or produce a negative COVID-19 test. DPH officials said exemptions apply for regular commuters.
The order is enforceable with a $500 per day fine for noncompliance.
MassDPH
Map indicating lower-risk states according to Massachusetts travel order
The decision was announced by DPH officials just hours after Connecticut, New York and New Jersey added Rhode Island to their list of states included on a travel advisory.
The three states said anyone entering from Rhode Island should quarantine for 14 days.
The updated CT, NY and NJ advisory includes the addition of Rhode Island, with both the District of Columbia and Delaware removed from the list, bringing the total to 35 states and territories.
"As the number of COVID-19 cases continue to climb around the country, we must remain vigilant in our efforts to slow the spread of transmission," New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in a news release.
The states said the travel advisory applies to any person arriving from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or a state with a 10% or higher positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average.
As of Tuesday, Aug. 4, the states said there were 35 states and territories that met the criteria: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.