WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, Governor Gina M. Raimondo declared a state of emergency due to the dangers to health and life posed by COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, on March 15, 2020, Mayor Roberto L. DaSilva, issued Executive Order 2020-004 declaring a state of municipal emergency within the City of East Providence due to the outbreak of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the East Providence City Council ratified the Declaration of Municipal Emergency at a meeting on March 17, 2020 and authorized its extension through April 17, 2020; and

WHEREAS, the number of persons testing positive for COVID-19 in Rhode and across the country continues to rise; and

WHEREAS, the City of East Providence needs to take further action to limit the spread of COVID-19.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mayor Roberto L. DaSilva, by virtue of the authority vested in me as the Mayor of the City of East Providence, pursuant to the Rhode Island General Laws and the Home Rule Charter of the City of East Providence, do hereby order and direct the following:

Section 1: Staying Home From Work

1. All residents of East Providence are required to stay home unless traveling to work, traveling for medical treatment or obtaining goods or services that are essential to an individual’s wellbeing such as food, medicine, and gasoline. East Providence residents may still go outside for purposes of exercise and getting fresh air, however, residents must practice social distancing protocols, as defined by the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH),while outside and avoid touching surfaces frequently used by others.
   
   
2. Any East Providence employer with employees living in other states shall use all available means to enable these employees to telecommute or make other work-from-home arrangements. This provision shall not apply to public health, public safety, or healthcare workers. 
   
   

Section 2: Reducing the Size of Gatherings

All gatherings of five (5) or more people in any public or private space such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, conference room, meeting hall, library, place of worship, parade, fair, festival, park or beach, are prohibited.

Section 3: Certain Retail Business Closures

Effective Monday, March 30, 2020, all non-critical retail businesses within the City of East Providence shall cease in person operations. Critical retail businesses include, but are not limited to, food and beverage stores, pharmacies and medical supply stores, pet supply stores, printing shops, mail and delivery stores and operations, gas stations, laundromats, electronics and telecommunications stores, office supply stores, funeral homes, auto repair and supply, banks and credit unions, firearm stores, healthcare and public safety professional uniform stores, and other stores and businesses identified as critical by the Department of Business Regulation. Restaurants will be permitted to operate only for pickup, drive-through, and delivery in accordance with Executive Order 2020-005.

This Order shall take effect immediately and remain in full force and effect through April 13, 2020, unless further extended.