In this week’s COVID-19 update, The Good Five-Cent Cigar will discuss the University of Rhode Island’s decision to put all of the football team’s activities on hold following two positive cases, updates regarding Halloween at Rhody and Rhode Island’s newest executive order issued to limit social gatherings to 10 people or less.
Football team sees two positive COVID-19 cases
A player and staff member from the University of Rhode Island’s football team tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend, so the University put all team activities on hold for two weeks in response.
The decision to halt team activities was made after the Rhode Island Department of Health conducted contact tracing, leading to the recommendation that all players and staff should self-isolate. The University made this announcement on Monday.
“Our highest priority is the health and well-being of the student-athletes, everyone associated with our programs and the overall campus community,” said Athletic Director Thorr Bjorn in the University’s statement. He added that the decision was made with “an abundance of caution,” in order to “limit the possibility of spread,” to the rest of the team and campus.
State and University COVID-19 health guidelines have allowed the amount of players regulated in a practice pod, across all sports, to gradually increase as the University’s COVID numbers remain stable.
Quiet Halloweekend weekend on and off campus
Assistant Director of Media Relations Dave Lavallee praised students for a safe Halloween weekend.
“It was an overall really, really good weekend,” Lavallee said in reference to the absence of any misconduct or misbehavior displayed by students.
Public Safety Director Stephen Baker said that Halloween was “tremendously quiet” regarding COVID-19 concerns and large gatherings, and that things remained quiet off campus throughout the night.
Major Michael Jagoda and Capt. Michael Chalek of the URI Police Department took part in a successful community policing event that encouraged students to take advantage of University Halloween festivities. The department set up a food truck where they handed hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches and boxes of popcorn to students from 11 p.m. Saturday night to 2 a.m. Sunday morning. The event was supported by Vice President for Student Affairs Kathy Collins and went “really well” according to URI Police.
According to Lavallee, no members of URI’s communications team or police were notified of any misconduct by any students during Halloween.
Rhode Island Governor issues order limiting gatherings to 10
On Oct. 30, URI Communications released a statement in accordance with Rhode Island Executive Order 20-90, informing the community of Gov. Gina Raimondo’s mandated change to the size of social gatherings to 10 people or less.
The statement implored students, faculty and staff to restrict the number of people they come in contact with over the next two weeks in which the order is to be followed. All those participating in any type of social gatherings are required to wear masks when doing so. This message was given top priority, as Halloween weekend and Election Day were to be celebrated soon after.
URI reminded community members that state and local authorities will continue to fine violators of the order both on and off campus. University leadership also emphasized that a $500 ticket will be given to not only the host of large gatherings, but also to each person in attendance.
Raimondo also announced the following new restrictions: spectators are banned from youth and high school sports for two weeks, indoor sports facilities and ice rinks will be closed for one week starting Nov. 2 and houses of worship are asked to offer virtual services to reduce in-person gathering sizes.
In accordance with this, URI’s Boss Ice Arena has been closed and the University will continue to prohibit spectators at its sports facilities, both in and outdoors for all fall sports.
Resources
Health Services can be reached at 401-873-2246. Students can call the Counseling Center at 401-874-2288. The Center’s normal business hours are Monday, Thursday and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Outside of operating hours, students will be connected to ProtoCall, which provides behavioral health services over the phone. The Psychological Consultation Center can be reached at 401-874-4264, and the Couple and Family Therapy Clinic can be reached at 401-874-5956. For more information and stories in the coming days, check our website and Twitter @rhodycigar.