Governor: Hair salons, gyms, parks and more to reopen June 1

Rhode Island is eyeing a broad reopening of its virus-shuttered economy starting June 1.

Hair salons and barbershops, gyms and fitness studios, and a range of outdoor venues will be allowed to reopen as part of the state’s planned second phase of resuming normal social and business activities, Gov. Gina Raimondo announced Friday.

State parks and beaches, public gardens, historical sites, zoos and even mini-golf facilities are among the outdoor locations that will open in time for the summer season.

The state’s limit of five people for social gatherings also will increase to 15, and travel restrictions will be largely lifted on June 1, Raimondo said.

Restaurants, which were allowed to begin offering outdoor dining this week, will be able to start serving customers indoors, so long as they limit capacity to 50%, she said.

And office-based businesses will be allowed to bring back one-third of their workforce, though the governor said employees who can work from home should continue to do so.

Safety guidelines that have become the norm during the pandemic, such as wearing face masks and limiting physical contact, will remain, Raimondo said.

The Democrat previously announced that child care centers would be able to reopen June 1.

Raimondo said industry-by-industry details, including what restrictions and guidelines specific businesses will have to follow, will be released Tuesday on http://reopeningri.com.

Until then, she stressed, social gatherings are still limited to five people and those coming from out of state are still required to self-quarantine for 14 days.

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HOUSES OF WORSHIP

Rhode Island’s churches and other houses of worship won’t reopen at least until next weekend, despite calls from President Donald Trump to reopen them sooner, Raimondo said...