Seventeenth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Further Quarantine Order

WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, I declared a state of emergency due to the dangers to health and life posed by COVID-19 and that declaration has been extended until at least May 8, 2020;

WHEREAS, the COVID-19 virus continues to spread and threatens to overwhelm the State's ability to respond;

WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-03 imposing quarantine restrictions on persons returning to Rhode Island from outside the 5 0 states or the District of Columbia;

WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-10 imposing quarantine restrictions on domestic air travelers returning to Rhode Island;

WHEREAS, on March 28, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-14 imposing quarantine restrictions on all travelers coming to Rhode Island from another state for nonwork-related purposes; 

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that COVID-19 symptoms may appear as many as fourteen (14) days after exposure;

WHEREAS, the Director of the CDC has confirmed that a significant number of individuals infected with COVID-19 do not show symptoms; and

WHEREAS, COVID-19 is contagious and persons who are asymptomatic can spread the virus.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GINA M. RAIMONDO, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, pursuant to Article IX of the Rhode Island Constitution and the Rhode Island General Laws, including, but not limited to, Title 30, Chapter 15, and Title 23, Chapter 8, do hereby order and direct the following:

1. Any person who has been clinically diagnosed with COVID-19 by a licensed health care practitioner by assessment of symptoms or by laboratory testing must immediately self-isolate until: • they have had no fever for at least 72 hours (that is three full days of no fever without the use of medicine that reduces fevers); AND • they have experienced a resolution of their symptoms (for example, when their cough or shortness of breath have gone); AND • at least 7 days have passed since their symptoms first appeared.
2. Any person who has been in known close contact (within 6 feet) with a person who has been clinically diagnosed with COVID-19 by a licensed health care practitioner by assessment of symptoms or by laboratory testing and who has been contacted by the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) to inform them that they were a close contact with a confirmed positive case must immediately self-quarantine2 for 14 days following that contact. RIDOH shall work directly with any congregate care settings to adopt alternative infection control measures, as needed.
3. This quarantine restriction shall not apply to public health, public safety, social service providers, and healthcare workers provided they follow RIDOH guidance for Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers Quarantined for Exposure to COVID-19: https://health.ri.gov/publications/guidance/QuarantineGuidanceforCritic… ructure Workers.pdf
4. Instructions for self-isolation and self-quarantine and a description of COVID19 symptoms can be found at the RIDOH website: https://health.ri.gov/diseases/ncov2019/
5. I hereby authorize and direct the Director of RIDOH to take any action and make and enforce any rules and regulations necessary to implement this Executive Order.
6. The Director of RIDOH is further authorized to assess civil penalties, and enact rules and regulations in furtherance of such penalties, for violation of this Executive Order as well as: • EO 20-03 Quarantine Restrictions on International Travelers, • EO 20-10 Quarantine Restrictions on Domestic Air Travelers, and/or • EO 20-14 Staying at Home, Reducing Gatherings, Certain Retail Business Closures and Further Quarantine Provisions.

Such civil penalties shall be in addition to any other penalties authorized by law.

This Order shall take effect immediately and shall remain in full force and effect until May 8, 2020 unless renewed, modified or terminated by subsequent Executive Order.

So Ordered,

Gina M. Raimondo

Governor