NEW: Raimondo Orders All Employees of "Customer-Facing" Businesses in RI to Wear Face Coverings

NEW: Raimondo Orders All Employees of "Customer-Facing" Businesses in RI to Wear Face Coverings

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo announced Tuesday that she will be requiring employees at all "customer-facing" businesses in the state to wear facing-coverings starting Saturday.

The Executive Order signed by Raimondo on Tuesday extends to office workers, manufacturers, and non-profits -- and requires that employers provide the face coverings to any employees who need them.

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On Tuesday, Raimondo announced 7 additional COVID-19 related deaths for a total of 80 in the state.

Raimondo said that in the past day, there have been 275 new coronavirus cases for a total now of 3,251 -- and 213 current hospitalizations. 

Face Coverings

"These masks will not prevent you from getting the virus but evidence suggests if you wear a face mask, it reduces your ability to spread the virus to someone else," said Raimondo, of the cloth-based face-coverings previously recommended by the state to be worn -- but are now going to be required. 

"Earlier today I signed an executive order making our direction clearer," said Raimondo. "Beginning this Saturday, all employees of customer-facing [businesses], office, manufacturing and nonprofits must wear cloth-based coverings at work."

"All the businesses must provide the face coverings for employees — [such as] bandanas, scarves. Your employer must provide you with a face cloth covering," she said.  "All must take steps to remind customers to wear a face-coverings inside. The only exception would be someone who’s health would be in jeopardy wearing a face covering. If you’re one of those persons, you shouldn’t be outside."

Enforcement

"When you go to the store, go to the pharmacy, go to work, you should be wearing a mask, and everyone in that store — employers and customers — should be wearing a mask," said Raimondo.  "Stop thinking about what’s going to happen me if I don’t obey the rule. First, think about how I can obey that rule...we all need to ask ourselves what am I going to do between now and Saturday to comply with this order."

"I do want to reopen the economy — the new normal of life at work in the months to come until we have a vaccine or good treatment…will involve wearing masks," she added. "It will prevent each of us from spreading the virus."

"[The Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation] will be doing unannounced spot checks on retail businesses and all businesses that are open to be sure the businesses are complying and customers are complying," said Raimondo, of the order that goes into effect on Saturday. "If we see in a week or so there isn’t strictly compliance, I’ve [empowered] the DBR to enforce [the order] with fines and penalties — I haven’t gone there yet."

"You can go to commerce.ri.gov for videos and tips on how to get, make, or distribute masks to employees," she added.