Hello Everyone,
I would like to apologize for the lack of communication the last couple of weeks, but the bottom line is we have had little to no communication with the Governor's Staff. It's been extremely frustrating trying to get restrictions eased for our industry.
Currently golf-specific activities are still operating under Phase II guidance. The golf industry Phase III plan was submitted four weeks ago and has not yet been approved. We also have sent in subsequent emails detailing the ease of restrictions in Conn., N.H., V.T and Maine. There have also been communications detailing golf regulations/restrictions in other parts of the country.
I can assure you that Government Strategies and the RIGA are working daily to try and get restrictions eased and clarified.
Here are the Phase III updates that have changed which are specific to other parts of running your business. As a reminder, all guidance can be found in greater detail at https://www.reopeningri.com/.
In Phase III, there is no golf-specific language. Clubs are however expected to follow the guidance for social gatherings, public events and outdoor recreation that are outlined in Phase III Picking-up-speed.
The Executive Order regarding face coverings has been extended to Aug. 3:
- Face coverings: Face coverings must be worn in public—both indoors and outdoors—whenever six feet of social distance cannot be maintained. Exceptions are made for children under two years of age and anyone whose health would be negatively impacted by wearing a face covering.
Other changes for Phase III include:
- Social gatherings: Social gatherings can be no larger than 25 people indoors or 50 people outdoors. For social gatherings like weddings where there is a licensed caterer involved (which makes the setting more like a restaurant) gatherings can be as large as 50 people indoors or up to 100 people outdoors.
- Public events: Public events can be up to 125 people indoors or up to 250 people outdoors. Any organizers planning to host a group of more than 100 people will need to submit plans to Commerce RI.
- Indoor settings: All indoor settings operating at a square footage capacity can increase up to one person per 100 square feet, provided that everyone maintains six feet of social distance. All indoor settings currently operating at a percent capacity cap can still increase up to 66 percent capacity provided that everyone maintains six feet of social distance. This includes places like offices and restaurants. Seated venues can open at up to 66 percent capacity, and free-flowing venues can open at 100 square feet per person, provided that everyone maintains six feet of social distance.
- Travel: Rhode Island will implement a mandatory 14-day quarantine for anyone coming to Rhode Island from any state with five percent or greater positivity rate. (Positivity rates are calculated using the average daily positivity rate for the last seven days.) As an exception, people will not have to quarantine if they have had a negative COVID-19 test within the past 72 hours. (If someone is tested after arriving in Rhode Island and gets a negative result, that person can stop quarantining.) The list of states with a percent positive rate of five percent or higher will be published today on RIDOH’s website and will be updated weekly. (Based on this reporting: https://coronavirus.jhuedu/testing/testing-positivity).
Other guidance documents have been updated for Phase III and are available for: Restaurants, Retail, Youth and Adult Sports, Offices, and Gyms.
Pools remain subject to the RI Department of Health's Emergency Regulations for Aquatic Venues
As soon as golf specific rules change for Phase III, an email communication will be sent out.
Regards,
Bob
Robert Ward
Executive Director
Rhode Island Golf Association
