This message is sent on behalf of Health Services and the Division of Student Affairs.Health Services and the Division of Student Affairs.

URI asks community to improve adherence to health guidelines, limit multiple exposures to small groups.

While we commend our campus community for following our guidelines around face coverings, physical distancing and hand washing, more compliance needs to be achieved to decrease the number of COVID-19 positive cases at the University of Rhode Island. We are pleased with the commitment of the majority of our community members to keeping URI healthy, but unfortunately there are too many instances in which these guidelines are being ignored and it’s leading to an increase in cases and the number of people who have to quarantine as a result.

Some examples where immediate improvements are needed include:

• Wearing face masks correctly at all times including but not limited to: outside, in cars with other people, and when socializing with people you don’t live with.
• Decreasing the size of groups that are walking on campus or gathering at the Emporium at night and on weekends. These groups are exceeding the 15-person social gathering size.
• Limiting the number of people you interact with in total.

Most members of our community are doing a great job abiding by the state regulation limiting gatherings to no more than 15 people. However, students are gathering and interacting with multiple smaller groups that in total exceed 15 individuals. This pattern of socializing has led to an increase in positive cases at URI. Remember, we are all in this together, and each individual must take responsibility for keeping others safe and healthy. If we do not all commit to these simple steps, in-person classes are in jeopardy, as is the in-person spring semester.

Yesterday, Gov. Gina Raimondo highlighted COVID-19 outbreaks at the University of Rhode Island and Providence College and the significant negative impacts these outbreaks are having on our communities, the state’s economy, and the ability to travel across state lines. While the governor noted that URI is managing the cases and quarantine well within the safety protocols established, this is not how our community wants to be recognized.

So, we ask our students and our entire community to follow all of the guidelines we have established to keep our campuses and our communities healthy.

This is our opportunity as a Rhody community to demonstrate our commitment to the health of all people. It’s our responsibility to fight this virus. Our individual actions matter now more than ever and we want to be successful together, in-person until Thanksgiving.