State launches outdoors campaign

PROVIDENCE AP — Compliance with the state’s virus restrictions has improved since officials stepped up enforcement in recent weeks, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo said Wednesday.

Nearly all of the more than 1,000 businesses visited by inspectors last week were complying with the state’s facemask requirements and capacity limits, she said.

Bars and eateries, though, remain problematic. The Democratic governor said 15 of restaurants and bars weren’t ensuring proper social distancing for customers and staff.

Raimondo recently imposed an 11 p.m. closing time for bar areas. House parties, backyard barbecues and other social gatherings have also been limited to 15 people.

And neighboring Massachusetts has recently imposed a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine on travelers coming from Rhode Island. Connecticut, New York and New -ersey have recently dropped Rhode Island from their quarantine lists.

Raimondo said the Massachusetts order has been especially difficult on small business owners and restaurants, many of which rely on Rhode Island customers.

Rhode Island has had three new deaths from the coronavirus and more than 100 additional positive cases, state health officials said Wednesday.

Roughly 80 people were hospitali]ed with the virus as of Monday, according to the most recent data available, officials said.

More than 1,000 people have died and more than 20,000 have tested positive for COVID-1 in the state.

Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of the state’s health department, said social gatherings, travel, and dining out are among the factors driving new virus cases. Roughly 40 of new cases are also among people between the ages of 20 and 3 , she said.

The state is running more than 2,000 COVID-1 tests