RI's COVID-19 Executive Orders Extended Into November

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island's COVID-19 state of emergency will remain in place for another month. Late last week, Gov. Dan McKee again extended the order, along with the mask-wearing requirement in schools.

McKee said Rhode Island will eventually see a "slow exit" from the state of emergency, based on data including vaccination rates and case numbers.

Recently, these numbers have improved since the surge spurred by the delta variant over the summer. McKee called these "really good signs" that the state is well on the road to recovery, though no timeframe has been set at this time to lift the state of emergency.

The state of emergency has been in effect throughout the pandemic in Rhode Island, first declared by then-Gov. Gina Raimondo on March 9, 2020. At that time, few cases had been reported in the state, and the move was made to allow the governor greater flexibility in responding to the ever-changing situation.

"We need to take action," Raimondo said at the time. "I want every tool at my disposal."