Businesses cited for not obeying Raimondo rules
Ten more businesses across Rhode Island, including four in the valley, have been cited by the state’s COVID-19 Enforcement Task Force over the past two weeks for failing to comply with a variety of public health directives related to the virus, state health officials announced on Thursday.
While the initial wave of establishments whacked by the state for failing to comply with COVID-19 health initiatives late last month were exclusively restaurants or bars, this most recent round included eight food businesses and two barbershops.
Businesses across Rhode Island – from Woonsocket to Westerly – were issued orders of three varying levels.
Establishments that received a “compliance order” can remain open but will be re-inspected in days to ensure that the establishment is meeting all health and safety requirements. According to the Rhode Island 'epartment of Health, six businesses received compliance orders – Subway Restaurant at Clinton St. in Woonsocket Grab and Go Convenience Store in East Providence and Asian Bakery, Sam’s Food Store, -ohn’s 0eat 0arket, and China Star III, all from Providence.
According to the compliance order for the Subway Restaurant in Woonsocket, alleged violations on Aug. included customers in an
area that allows for a maximum of five, no written plan for the safe operation of the establishment, no readily accessible hand sanitizer, and a lack of physical distancing.
According to the compliance order for the Grab and Go Convenience Store at 350 North Broadway in (ast Providence, alleged violations observed on Aug. 7 included no written plan for the safe operation of the establishment, the owner admitting that a cleaning log was not maintained, and a lack of physical distancing measures.
Those that received an “immediate compliance order” were informed they must close immediately because the violations documented represented an imminent threat to public health. According to RIDOH officials, three establishments received such an order ± Matt’s on Mendon Barber Shop in Cumberland, Rios Barber Shop in Westerly, and Andrea Hotel, also in Westerly, although that business is now in compliance, according to Health Department officials.
Alleged violations at Matt’s on Mendon Barber Shop in Cumberland stemming from an Aug. 7 inspection include none of the five employees wearing face coverings, with three refusing to do so when pressed. The owner claimed a medical exception, but one employee said she was a “grown up and was not going to wear one,” while another said she “doesn’t wear a mask anywhere.” This was happening while there were approximately 19 customers in the shop, three of whom were not wearing masks, according to RIDOH’s immediate compliance order.
Additionally, the owner said he did not maintain an employee work log or environmental cleaning log, and the inspector noted that employees were using barber tools and instruments without cleaning them between uses. The inspector also noted that hair cutting stations were within six feet of each other without any dividers between them, according to RIDOH’s order.
In certain instances, businesses that were generally compliant with safety regulations received combination compliance orders and immediate compliance orders, which allowed them to remain open, but required that certain areas be closed until the establishment can comply with all safety regulations. Only one location received such a combination order - Liberty Lunch in Pawtucket.
According to the RIDOH order, the alleged violations at Liberty Lunch stem from an Aug. 7 inspection during which an inspector observed a plastic shower curtain material used to create a barrier between booths and also hung from the ceiling at the bar area to the inside edge of the bar counter. However, the barrier does not meet the requirements of the State Fire Safety Code and is therefore non-compliant with the regulation, wrote the inspector.