Remaining restrictions on ‘higher risk’ settings, activities lifted

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – Governor McKee’s office and the Rhode Island Department of Health announced Thursday that remaining restrictions on settings and activities deemed ‘higher risk’ will be lifted effective Friday.

The settings and activities include live indoor performances, indoor hookah, saunas and whirlpools, and nightclubs.

Indoor hookah shops, shuttered during the pandemic, can now return to pre-pandemic operations.

Concert goers will no longer have to maintain social distancing between one other and the performers.

Public saunas and whirlpools that previously did not allow unvaccinated individuals will now be open to everyone. Additionally, saunas and whirlpools can return to pre-pandemic capacity levels.

Nightclubs can also return to 100 percent capacity.

Unvaccinated people are still advised to wear a mask in all indoor settings. RIDOH says these settings and activities continue to be a high risk for those who are unvaccinated.