Thayer Street Restaurant Hit With Coronavirus Compliance Order - Customers Too Close Together

Thayer Street Restaurant Hit With Coronavirus Compliance Order - Customers Too Close Together

A restaurant on Thayer Street on the East Side of Providence was hit with a compliance order this week by the State of Rhode Island for lack of adherence to coronavirus regulations. 

B.Good, located by Brown University, was cited for having customers too close together, a worker not wearing a mask - or social distancing, and bathrooms closed to the public -- prohibiting hand washing and hand sanitizer use. 

Moreover, the establishment's score for compliance got worse since the previous time inspectors were on the premises. 

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Students just recently began returning to Brown for in-person learning. 

B.Good Enforcement Actions

According to the state, on August 27, a Task Force inspector conducted a Healthy Environment inspection of B.Good, performed a checklist inspection based on the Safe Regulations and determined that B.Good scored a 7/11 for overall requirements. 

After the inspection, the inspector provided information and resources to B.Good to help it achieve full compliance, and advised that an inspector would conduct a reinspection in the near future.

On October 2, a different Task Force inspector conducted a reinspection of B.Good, met with an employee, and performed a checklist inspection. 

The inspector determined that B.Good then scored a 5/12 for overall requirements and a 3/5 for dining requirements.

Violations Cited by State

The following alleged violations stem from the October 2 reinspection, B.Good was found to be in violation of the following:

* The Executive Order which allows up to 1 customer per 100 square feet of the establishment’s area open to customers generally. The inspector observed approximately eight (8) customers in an area of approximately 300 square feet. This would equate to approximately five (5) customers over the limit.

* The section of Safe Regulations which requires all individuals in an establishment to wear cloth face coverings unless physical distancing or an exception applies and requires establishments to deny entry to any employee, who is not otherwise exempt from the requirement or who refuses to wear a cloth face covering when required. The inspector observed two employees in the store, one of which was not wearing a cloth face covering. The employee did not claim an exception, nor was the employee able to continuously maintain physical distancing.

* The section of Safe Regulations which requires each covered entity to develop, maintain, and ensure compliance with a written plan for the safe operation of the establishment. Upon request, Respondent could not produce a written plan.

* The section of Safe Regulations which requires each covered entity to implement and ensure compliance with screening of all individuals entering its establishment(s) at any time for any reason. Upon inquiry, the Respondent admitted that it did not conduct entry screening. The inspector observed several customers enter the store, none of which was screened by the Respondent. In addition, there were no posters visible at or near the entrance concerning entry screening.

* The section of Safe Regulations which requires each covered entity to ensure the placement of posters or signs at entry to its establishments educating any individual at the establishment concerning entry screening, required physical distancing, use of cloth face coverings, and other subjects as provided in guidance issued by RIDOH. The inspector observed that none of the required information was posted at the entry to the establishment and concluded, therefore, that the Respondent failed to ensure the placement of required posters.

* The section of Safe Regulations which requires all covered entities to ensure that their establishments have their restrooms open, and that they have running water and are stocked with hand soap. If access to restrooms or running water is limited, the establishment shall ensure ready access to hand sanitizer at all times. The inspector observed that the Respondent did not have its restrooms open and it did not have ready access to hand sanitizer available.

* The section of Safe Regulations which requires establishments to ensure compliance with a plan that includes procedures relative to, among other things, physical distancing at all times, to the extent feasible, and additional measures to be taken in high traffic, communal, or other areas where physical distancing is not feasible. As stated, above, Respondent admitted to not having the required plan and the inspector observed that there were no measures in place to ensure that physical distancing was maintained. 

* The section of Safe Regulations which prohibits selfservice seating. The inspector observed that patrons were allowed to seat themselves without assistance by the Respondent.

* The section of Safe Regulations which requires that information be collected from all visitors and other entrants who have interacted with others present on site for a period of 15-minutes or more solely for the purposes of contact tracing. Upon request, the Respondent admitted that they did not collect the required information for patrons who were on site of a period of 15 minutes or more.

B.Good has been ordered to rectify all the deficiencies -- be hit with a fine or an immediate compliance order, which would require immediate shut down until the violations are addressed.