Grocery shopping without a mask
Outside Whole Foods Market on North Main Street in Providence, the news that she could shop maskless brought a little cheer from Ashley Mello, who wore a mask this time, but is glad she won t have to in the future.
“Wow, if I don’t need to now, I won’t be,” said the 33-year-old farmer from Little Compton. “I can’t breathe in this thing.”
Mello said she was never too worried about the virus “I had the youth factor working for me” but she wore a mask faithfully to protect others, such as her in-laws.
New question in RI: mask or no mask? Here s how some folks are making the decision msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
CVS, Target, Walmart and Starbucks
“Consistent with the latest CDC guidance, effective May 17 customers who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear face coverings inside of our stores, unless it is mandated by state or local regulations,” CVS spokesperson Tara Burke wrote in an email to The Journal.
“Customers who are not fully vaccinated are asked to continue wearing face coverings, and employees are required to do so while at work. Health, safety and science will continue to drive our decision-making process.”
Walmart on Friday announced that “beginning today, vaccinated customers and members are welcome to shop without a mask, and we will continue to request that non-vaccinated customers and members wear face coverings in our stores and clubs. … Masks will also continue to be required by some city and state ordinances, and we will follow those requirements.”
PROVIDENCE A new asset in the campaign against coronavirus becomes available Monday, when RIPTA will begin providing free transportation to vaccination sites for anyone who needs it, Gov. Dan McKee announced Thursday at his weekly coronavirus briefing.
The program is intended to reduce an obstacle for people on limited incomes or do not have automobiles or other ways to get to an appointment.
State Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott hailed the new service as especially beneficial to communities of color and people living in the hardest-hit urban areas.
“That partnership with RIPTA is certainly something to celebrate,” she said from the stage at Veterans Memorial Auditorium.