Officials on the island are trying to enforce the governor’s orders, but the Town does not have the resources do so.”. 2 Bedroom, 2 bath water views, and direct access to Crescent Beach - $396 avg/night - New Shoreham - Amenities include: Internet, TV, Satellite or cable, Washer & Dryer, Children Welcome, Parking, No Smoking, Heater Bedrooms: 2 Sleeps: 5 Minimum stay from 5 night(s) Bookable directly online - Book vacation rental 1374602 with Vrbo. Hours after her comments, councilors wrestled with what to do. Instant Poll: Snow days, or snow days no more? State police officials have sent troopers to help the small police force on weekends. Visitors from any state with a 5 percent or higher rate of COVID-19 must do a 14-day quarantine in RI unless they test clear of COVID-19 in their home state within three days before arriving in RI. Leone said the security officers turn away about 180 mopeds a day from attempting to drive up High Street to the Mohegan Bluffs. NEW SHOREHAM, R.I. (WPRI) — Newly announced travel restrictions involving visits to and from Rhode Island are swiftly impacting tourism on Block Island. ... but a last for another island favorite — Surf House. Anyone coming to Rhode Island from a state with current travel restrictions will need to quarantine for 14 days or provide proof of a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival. Last week, two young tourists were killed in separate crashes on the island. BERLIN (AP) — A growing list of European Union nations barred travel from the U.K. on Sunday and others were considering similar action, in a bid to block a new strain of coronavirus sweeping across southern England from spreading to the continent. The lawyer for a New York City bar owner was arrested for opening his business in defiance of coronavirus restrictions. Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival. Andrew Cuomo's COVID-19 restrictions. Effective December 10, anyone who has been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 must quarantine for 10 days from their last known exposure. Furious over the abrupt action, five of those businesses filed a complaint Friday at Washington County Superior Court, saying the vote happened without notice and without the opportunity for them to be heard. What to do in Rhode Island now. The money comes from $770,437 in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grants the Town of Hilton Head Island received this year. “Every business on Block Island is complying with the rules and regulations,” Filippi said. On Saturday afternoon, Jessica Willi was on the phone with a Globe reporter when a wailing ambulance rushed by her to the island’s only medical center. SAN RAMON, Calif. (AP) — More than 1 million people have passed through U.S. airport security checkpoints in each of the past two days in a sign that public health pleas to avoid holiday travel are being ignored, despite an alarming surge in COVID-19 cases. The volunteer rescue squad was stressed from responding to medical calls and crashes. States with Current RI Travel Restrictions. Covid-19 holidays at the farm. Council member Sven Risom wondered about the impact on businesses that were following the rules, before ultimately siding with the majority. So, get ready for adventure; the only way to travel to the island is by boat or plane. The previous weekend, Ballard’s had hosted a free Reggae Fest that drew throngs of people to the beach concert. By Rachel Nunes , … For a town that’s managed to keep its positive coronavirus cases in single digits, the usual bustle of summer tourism has made locals worried about an outbreak. What happens on Block Island doesn’t happen in Providence, Cranston, Johnston, and other places.”. ... to make half of Staten Island an orange zone, meaning that a block … Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. A 16-year-old boy from Connecticut died last Monday when the vehicle in which he was a passenger struck a utility pole; the teenage girl who was behind the wheel was charged with drunken driving. Alaska Airlines creates 'Safety Dance' video about flying during pandemic, ‘This really happened’: Customer leaves $5,600 tip at Ohio restaurant, Watch Christmas Morning Mass on WPRI 12 and WPRI.com, Untraditional Holidays: How the pandemic has compelled us to change how we celebrate, World’s carbon dioxide emissions dropped 7% in pandemic-hit 2020. DUP’s use of veto to block extension of Covid-19 restrictions ‘appalling’ Department reports 14 more deaths and 331 more cases in Northern Ireland on … The early ferries limit capacity to 50 percent to cut down on the number of day trippers. (Positivity rates are calculated using the average daily positivity rate for the last seven days.) But she also said the state received a lot of complaints about crowding and a lack of mask-wearing on the Block Island Ferry during the weekend. The medical center is overtaxed; the Town does not have enough ambulances. We’re barely surviving.”. On Tuesday, governors in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts updated the list of states included in their COVID-19 travel advisories to include Rhode Island. “Something’s got to give. “What people need to do is be respectful of each other. Yet Governor Gina M. Raimondo acknowledged Wednesday that “Block Island isn’t doing well.”. Council member Martha Ball proposed pulling all of the outdoor entertainment licenses, making an exception for weddings. On Monday night, the Block Island Town Council voted to restrict travel to the island because of the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement was “concerning,” Willi said, noting that the majority of vacationers on Block Island are typically from those states imposing the travel restrictions. John Leone, owner of the Old Harbor Bike Shop, has heard that before. Latest COVID-19 coronavirus data and map for Block Island, RI There are COVID-19 travel restrictions in Rhode island. “I understand what the governor is trying to do, but it’s not working out here. Business is down 40 to 50 percent. The Block Island Ferry provides year round ferry service to & from Block Island. The school is undergoing a “deep cleaning,” according to Supt. That came at the end of a Thanksgiving weekend that saw far more travel around the country than had been hoped as the weather turned colder and COVID-19 caseswere already spiking again. Category: News. As New COVID Restrictions Loom Citywide, Schools Reopen In Staten Island’s Orange Zone December 9, 2020 at 12:15 pm Filed Under: Coronavirus , COVID , education , … Block Island, like the rest of Rhode Island, follows regulations on mask wearing and social distancing. But in general, we all need to be respectful of each other during the pandemic.”. What to do in Rhode Island now. “I am a hundred percent positive that there are people who support this decision,” said Jessica Willi, executive director of the Block Island Tourism Council. It is certainly worth the trip! This is a town laid out during horse-and-buggy days, as the police chief points out, with narrow, winding streets and a tiny commercial district by the ferry docks. Alaska. And everyone from town officials to the local tourism industry are feeling the pressure to do something. The State of Rhode Island COVID-19 Notice and Addendum to be included with all real estate rental and sales agreements remain unchanged. On the advice of Dr. Mark Clark, the doctor at the time at the Block Island Medical Center, town leaders issued an emergency order restricting travel on and off the island. . Call (401) 783-7996 or book your trip on-line. “Most people are disgusted with the decision,” said Steve Filippi, the owner of the popular Ballard’s Inn, who joined the lawsuit along with the Spring House Hotel, Mahogany Shoals, the National Hotel, and Aldo’s Restaurant and Pizza. Most of the venues weren’t causing problems, he said, and the issue of unruly crowds needs a more comprehensive solution. COVID-19 Local Travel Advisories For the most current information on COVID-19 developments in destinations across the state, visit these pages from our local … Visit ny.gov/vaccine to get the facts on the COVID-19 Vaccine in New York.. A new Micro-Cluster Strategy is addressing COVID-19 hot spots that have cropped up across the state.. Look up an address to see if falls into a Red, Orange, or Yellow Zone. First, the recent on-again, off-again quarantine restrictions that Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey imposed on Rhode Islanders caused a flurry of cancellations from out-of-staters who would have had to quarantine when they returned home. They asked for a temporary restraining order to stop the ban. Gina Raimondo. Thu, Dec 17. More than 16,600 people have tested positive for Covid-19 and more than 900 people have died of complications in Rhode Island, according to data compiled by … Filippi is also the president of the Block Island Tourism Council. “They are already trying to survive this challenging season to keep the doors open moving forward.”, Willi said there is not much that can be done about the new rules, since the restrictions don’t originate in Rhode Island. “They’re nice people. “There seems to be a lack of respect for authority. 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All visitors entering Alaska must complete a traveler declaration form, and either arrive with … Rhode Islanders planning to travel to a state that requires a COVID-19 test in order to avoid extended quarantine can schedule a test on portal.ri.gov. ... Carolina Beach businesses adapt to COVID-19 restrictions. We haven’t had it to this degree. “This year, it’s the COVID, the pandemic, people are uptight about everything. The state Department of Business Regulation has regularly inspected local businesses and, for the most part, found them in compliance. Rhode Island is sparkling like a holiday with decked halls and twinkling lights. “I know there are locals who don’t think the Town Council is doing enough — ‘we need our island back, we want to send our kids to school.’, “The issue they are trying to solve is this crowding issue. They thought it was going to be a quiet year, and it’s been a great year.”. There was also “the dynamics of what’s going on nationally,” said Lacoste. On Monday, Superior Court Judge Daniel A. Procaccini sided with town officials and kept the ban on outdoor entertainment in place. As New COVID Restrictions Loom Citywide, Schools Reopen In Staten Island’s Orange Zone December 9, 2020 at 12:15 pm Filed Under: Coronavirus , COVID , education , … Travel: As of June 30th, Rhode Island will implement a mandatory 14-day quarantine for anyone coming to Rhode Island from any state with 5% or greater positivity rate. . It gets confusing, especially this year, to plan because of the constant threats of more social restrictions (while understanding they are for the greater good). NEW SHOREHAM, R.I. (WPRI/AP) — A summer worker on Block Island has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Block Island Medical Center. With its 17 miles of beautiful beaches and designation by The Nature Conservancy as one of 12 “Last Great Places” in the western hemisphere, Block Island would appear to be the perfect getaway during a pandemic. It’s simple to wear a mask, it’s an easy thing to do. The lawyer for a New York City bar owner was arrested for opening his business in defiance of coronavirus restrictions. Staten Island Councilman Joe Borelli had 11 people around his Thanksgiving table Thursday, defying Gov. The island is surrounded by 21 miles of beach. Call (401) 783-7996 or book your trip on-line. But she also said the state received a lot of complaints about crowding and a lack of mask-wearing on the Block Island Ferry during the weekend. Compliance seems to wane as the day wears on and visitors start drinking. ... or else additional restrictions … “All cancellations are quickly being re-booked with a surge of fellow Rhode Islanders,” Filippi wrote in an email to Eyewitness News Wednesday morning. Published Mon Jun 01 2020 20:55:38 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Block Island is beginning to reopen this week after more than two months under tight restrictions aimed at … They believe they’re being used as a scapegoat for a problem they say is more complex. That affected 25 hotels and restaurants, whether they host rock bands or two sisters with a ukulele. (Shutterstock / Laura … NEW SHOREHAM, R.I. (WPRI/AP) — A summer worker on Block Island has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Block Island Medical Center. In any other time, a summer of flawless hot weather and the resulting boom in tourism would be welcomed. He’d also like the town to hire traffic cops to hand out tickets. The Town Council objected to the complaint on Monday, arguing to the court that they were acting in the interest of public health and welfare because “the situation is out of hand.”, “The island is being flooded by tourists with vacation mentality who congregate, drink, and appear to forget that we are in the middle of [a] pandemic,” the councilors said. “If there is an outbreak, the Town Council will be responsible.”. Bob Edme/AP Show More Show Less 12 of 20 FILE - In this Nov. 18, 2020, file photo, people wait in a line stretching around a block, outside a CityMD urgent care clinic offering COVID-19 … Block Island is spectacular and becomes more beautiful with each changing season. Rhode Islanders planning to travel to a state that requires a COVID-19 test in order to avoid extended quarantine can schedule a test on portal.ri.gov. NEW SHOREHAM, R.I. (WPRI) — Newly announced travel restrictions involving visits to and from Rhode Island are swiftly impacting tourism on Block Island. Here we will attempt to keep you updated on what is open. He’s seeing many young customers, especially Rhode Islanders, discovering Block Island for the first time. On Wednesday, members voted 3 to 1 to suspend outdoor entertainment licenses. Gina Raimondo said she is doing all she can to prevent a coronavirus outbreak on Block Island while keeping businesses open. Test results … Older people didn’t want to travel, and state officials throughout the Northeast encouraged residents to stay local. And the islanders say they are seeing a much different crowd than usual. on-again, off-again quarantine restrictions. “What we have to hope for is this year is an anomaly, and we will get the families back on Block Island,” Carlone said. “I understand the town is grasping at straws to deal with what’s going on, but I don’t know if that’s the solution,” said Chief Vincent Carlone. Welcome to Block Island. “Boats aren’t made for social distancing,” said Bill McCombe, the town emergency management co-director and chief of security for the Interstate Navigation Company, which runs the Block Island Ferry. Public drinking and partying on the beaches, vandalism and disrespect of others, and a free-for-all of cars, mopeds, bicycles, and pedestrians in the small commercial area has stressed the island’s easygoing nature, locals say. “The governor has allowed this [outdoor entertainment] because she’s pro-business, but we’ve seen what happens. Supreme Court denies request to block Covid restrictions at Kentucky schools. In summer, thousands arrive on the ferries each day, crowding the tiny downtown. Boudreau also said he would welcome the governor’s help in ridding the island of mopeds. In an email Wednesday, Jessica Willi, executive director of the Block Island Tourism Bureau, told Eyewitness News “many hotels are reporting multiple cancellations.”. . “Block Island, its residents, and town government are overwhelmed right now -- visitors are not doing what they are supposed to be doing in terms of following the governor’s orders, wearing masks and social distancing. People should be outside enjoying music,” Filippi said. If you live year-round on Block Island, like I do, it could be very simple. The COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. state of Rhode Island is part of an ongoing worldwide viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).As of November 11, 2020, there has been 39,776 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Rhode Island, 220 of which are currently hospitalized, and 1,243 reported deaths. The ban exposed a bigger rift in town over what to do about Summer 2020. COVID-19 Local Travel Advisories For the most current information on COVID-19 developments in destinations across the state, visit these pages from our local … Alaska. ... or else additional restrictions … [The Providence Journal, file … While most places were open this summer, with Covid-19 restrictions, some have started closing for the season. Anyone coming to Rhode Island from a state with current travel restrictions will need to quarantine for 14 days or provide proof of a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival. 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Block Island Health Services Update, March 25, 2020 COVID-19 Workplace Fact Sheet from RIDLT, March 25, 2020 . Even the police chief isn’t convinced this will solve the problems. “He assured me will make every effort to curtail mischievous behavior and bad driving on the island,” Lacoste said. She said since Tuesday’s announcement, there is continued “learning, modifying and adapting.”. © 1998 - 2020 Nexstar Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The town council on Block Island, which has about 900 year-round residents, concluded that an outright ban would be illegal. The Block Island Times reports that the Block Island Town Council unanimously voted Monday night to limit travel to and from the island because of the COVID-19 pandemic. She found out later it was coming from the fatal moped crash. It became the latest addi John Willis. Their selfies and videos of wild times on Block Island are posted on social media, drawing more young crowds and the kind of publicity islanders want to avoid. ”It’s crowds and bars that are the most dangerous things, the biggest spreaders of this disease,” he said. Leone also bought a breathalyzer to check customers suspected of drinking and has already had to use it. Copyright 2020 Nexstar Inc. All rights reserved. Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images “The governor might reinstate the restrictions. The town council on Block Island, which has about 900 year-round residents, concluded that an outright ban would be illegal. France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Ireland and Bulgaria all announced restrictions on U.K. travel, hours after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that Christmas shopping and gatherings in southern England must be canceled because of rapidly spreading infections blamed on the new coronavirus variant. People on mopeds zip along dirt roads, where they’re banned; ride on sidewalks, where they dodge walkers; and blare their horns in a way that’s “like nails on a chalkboard for islanders,” Lacoste said. States with Current RI Travel Restrictions. Police say the bar, located in a COVID hot spot, repeatedly defied restrictions. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. Bob Edme/AP Show More Show Less 12 of 20 FILE - In this Nov. 18, 2020, file photo, people wait in a line stretching around a block, outside a CityMD urgent care clinic offering COVID-19 … WASHINGTON (AP) — Top congressional lawmakers struck a late-night agreement on the last major obstacle to a COVID-19 economic relief package costing nearly $1 trillion, clearing the way for votes as early as Sunday. They just need to be put under control.”. Still, after talking with the police, Leone and the other moped operator on the island hired two security officers to be out and about in the island’s commercial district, focusing on moped drivers who weren’t following the rules. This was the third time the council tried to tackle the problems this summer has brought. More than 16,600 people have tested positive for Covid-19 and more than 900 people have died of complications in Rhode Island, according to data compiled by … Travel Warnings Please Read - Important Information! Lacoste, the first warden on the council, voted against pulling the licenses. “Back in March, we didn’t know what to expect. Block Island Ferry passengers reported large crowds and people not wearing masks, while beachgoers complied with coronavirus restrictions. Just about a thousand people live here full-time, but summers swell the town’s population by 15,000 to 20,000 people a day. Block Island has had just eight cases of COVID-19. It's officially the Shoulder Season on Block Island. Travelers from Rhode Island must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arriving in New York because of high levels of coronavirus in that state, Gov. Social gatherings will be limited to 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors. NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- The Brooklyn Diocese is asking the Supreme Court to block New York state's restrictions on capacity in churches. This is over the top.”. Public events, such as concerts, will be limited to 125 people indoors and 250 outdoors. Council member Chris Willi abstained; he owns Captain Nick’s, which has an outdoor entertainment license. Residents were complaining about the crowds. Block Island is loosening its tight COVID-19 restrictions. Advertencia de viaje - Coronavirus Town Service Methods During Closure Town Clerk Office Services, Court and Public Meetings Dog Licenses The list of affected states will be updated regularly on the Rhode Island Department of Health website. Latest COVID-19 coronavirus data and map for Block Island, RI A church stands in the Staten Island neighborhood of Tottenville on November 20, 2020 in New York City. Judge upholds Block Island ban on outdoor entertainment as town delays action on mopeds. Block Island has had just eight cases of COVID-19. Welcome to Block Island. That’s not likely this year, as the town faces a projected deficit of $800,000 from the loss of tourism-related revenue. Visit ny.gov/vaccine to get the facts on the COVID-19 Vaccine in New York.. A new Micro-Cluster Strategy is addressing COVID-19 hot spots that have cropped up across the state.. Look up an address to see if falls into a Red, Orange, or Yellow Zone. This is a lot for a small town with a just handful of police officers. Rhode Island is sparkling like a holiday with decked halls and twinkling lights. But the afternoon and evening ferries back to the mainland are crowded, and people often remove their masks when they take in the salt-air breezes above deck. It became the latest addi The North’s First Minister and Deputy First Minister disagreed in the Assembly on Monday over the DUP’s use of a cross-community veto last week to block the extension of … “The town just isn’t set up for this kind of pandemic response,” said Willi of the tourism council. Under the orders, Rhode Islanders visiting one of those states would have to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, and residents of those states would also have to quarantine after returning home from Rhode Island. Andrew Cuomo (D) during the coronavirus pandemic violated the First Amendment. Staten Island Councilman Joe Borelli had 11 people around his Thanksgiving table Thursday, defying Gov. This is about more than the outdoor licenses,” Willi said Sunday. Genesis Block uses grant to help black-owned businesses. Block Island is loosening its tight COVID-19 restrictions. (No motorcycle license is required to operate 50cc mopeds.). Andrew Cuomo's COVID-19 restrictions. Block Island is spectacular and becomes more beautiful with each changing season. if you have booked a rental with us for the 2020 season, you likely have questions about our cancellation policy, and if we have a policy relating specifically to COVID-19. Andrew M. Cuomo said Tuesday. Local Nonprofits Awarded $159,612 in COVID-19 Relief Funds In a fourth round of COVID-19-related grant-making, three local nonprofits received $159,612. Summer is waning, but with the school year delayed in Rhode Island, it’s possible that the crowds will continue to visit Block Island. They began discovering Block Island, which has no density limits at its beaches or beach parking lots. Cold Case Cards: Who killed Margaret Pizio? Danny Pestri, an owner of NYC bar that declared itself an 'autonomous zone' to defy COVID-19 restrictions was taken into custody for running over a deputy. Why it matters: The decision in a 5-4 vote heralds the first significant action by the new President Trump-appointed conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who cast the deciding vote in … The Block Island School has returned to online learning for the next three weeks after two sibling elementary students, along with their father, tested positive for Covid-19. Test results … Alerts and Latest Guidance. Advertisement In any other time, a summer of flawless hot weather and the resulting boom in tourism would be welcomed. “It’s extremely important for us to have outdoor entertainment. “Now they have a taste of it, and they’ll keep coming back,” Leone said. “Every year it’s the same story --July and August gets very busy out here,” Leone said. 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