Masks no longer required outdoors in R.I. for vaccinated and unvaccinated people

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – Masks are no longer required for vaccinated and unvaccinated people outdoors.

The changes announced by Governor Dan McKee go into effect beginning Wednesday, June 2. The Governor says they follow the CDC’s guidance to revise outdoor masking guidance for summer camps by May 28.

The new changes apply for any outdoor setting for any age group, including outdoor live performances, youth sports, and summer camps. Hosts or organizations may still require people to mask up.

That’s a decision the leaders of Camp Yawgoog have been working to make. Tim McCandless, Scout Executive of the Narragansett Council Boy Scouts of America says they’ve known for a while that this summer would happen in person, but they weren’t sure how.

“We have well over 4,000 youth plus several hundred adults to spend a week this summer from many different states like New York, Connecticut, Texas, and Florida,” McCandless said. “That’s why it was so important to put in place a testing procedure.”

McCandless says they’re only holding outdoor activities and campers won’t have to mask up, vaccinated or not. Anyone who goes indoors and isn’t vaccinated will need to wear a mask.

“We’re strongly recommending of both our staff and participants for those who are able,” McCandless said. “Right now, 12 and older are able to get vaccinated and we do serve kids under 12, so at this point they don’t have the opportunity to get a vaccination.

According to the Governor, Rhode Island’s COVID-19 cases are dwindling down. As of May 27, Rhode Island percent positivity over the last 7 days was 1.3%. The current rate of COVID-19 transmission in Rhode Island is considered moderate.

At this time, there are no changes to indoor masking guidance, including throughout school settings. Fully vaccinated people can elect not to wear masks indoors where it is permitted. People who are yet to be fully vaccinated should continue wearing masks indoors.