Patrons lower their masks while dining in an outdoor seating area at Plant City restaurant, in Providence on May 18, 2020. Rhode Island is easing restrictions on restaurant capacities effective immediately, Gov. Dan McKee announced on March 12, 2021.Steven Senne/Associated Press
PROVIDENCE â Restaurants will be able to allow guests to sit at the bar until midnight as long as they are eating, and patrons can now be spaced six feet apart instead of eight feet apart, Governor Daniel J. McKeeâs administration announced Friday morning. These new changes will be effective immediately.
Starting next Friday, March 19, restaurants will be able to increase their capacity to 75 percent.
March 12, 2021 1:26 pm
PROVIDENCE, R.I (WLNE) – Commerce Secretary, Stefan Pryor announced the loosening of multiple restrictions, including increased capacity to houses of worship during Friday’s coronavirus briefing.
And many small businesses and restaurants say this is a big, and important step in the right direction.
Sean Hennessy, the general manager of Providence Oyster Bar says this is what so many have been waiting to see happen.
“I think it’s great. so many restaurants have suffered for so long just with all of the restrictions that have been placed on us. we have had to change on the fly. You know every week has something a little different but we are finally seeing the end of the tunnel with all of these restrictions being loosened,” Hennessy adds.
R.I. restaurants to allow up to 66 percent capacity starting Friday
Capacity and social distancing restrictions were also eased for funeral homes, gyms and fitness centers.
By Alexa Gagosz Globe Staff,Updated March 4, 2021, 1:25 p.m.
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Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor speaks.Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff
PROVIDENCE â As he promised, newly sworn-in Governor Daniel J. McKee is allowing business restrictions to relax in Rhode Island.
Restaurants in Rhode Island will be able to expand their capacity to 66 percent, effective Friday, announced Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor Thursday during the weekly coronavirus briefing.
Bars and restaurants, which have been heavily regulated by the state since former Governor Gina M. Raimondoâs three-week pause period after Thanksgiving, have only been allowed up to 50 percent capacity since late December when the pause was lifted.
February 11, 2021 5:23 pm
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – Rhode Island is easing more restrictions around social gatherings and for businesses starting Friday.
Secretary of Commerce Stefan Pryor announced at Thursday’s COVID-19 briefing led by the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) that bar areas will be allowed to reopen to dining and capacity limits will increase at certain places.
RI easing more restrictions:
– bar areas reopened for seated service only, max 4 people per party until 11 p.m.
– social gathering limit increased to 2 households indoor, 3 outdoor@ABC6pic.twitter.com/QYGyjfKu0G
Beginning Friday, restaurants will be allowed to reopen bar areas to a maximum of four people per party with 6 feet of spacing, or 3 feet with barriers. Patrons can only dine for a maximum of 90 minutes, and cannot stay past 11 p.m.