BLOCK ISLAND FIRST PLACE IN R.I. TO ORDER LOCKDOWN

The tourist haven of Block Island became Rhode Island’s first community to order residents to shelter in place as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to climb.

Local officials on Tuesday said they’re also strongly discouraging second homeowners and other visitors from traveling to the island, and ordering them to self-quarantine for at least 14 days if they do.

For full-time residents, they’re asking people to restrict off-island travel to essential trips such as seeking medical care or obtaining food or other vital provisions.

Hotels, inns and rental homes, meanwhile, have been ordered to cancel reservations for the duration of the lockdown, which is effective Tuesday evening through April 15.