Rhode Island Police Are Looking for New Yorkers Seeking Refuge in Their State

Rhode Island is the first state to do what Americans are expecting from their government amidst the coronavirus pandemic that has crippled the entire world.

On Friday, Rhode Island Police began stopping cars with New York license plates and today(March 28) the National Guard will begin assisting the police in doing home searches of people who have traveled from New York and put them under mandatory quarantine.

With less than 200 cases in RI, these are some of the aggressive strategies that will be used to curb the virus and keep New Yorkers out. Currently, there are over 44,000 confirmed cases in NYC, a little less than half of the total cases in the entire country.

“Right now we have a pinpointed risk,” Governor Gina Raimondo said. “That risk is called New York City.”

Raimondo signed an executive order Thursday that applies to anyone who has been in New York during the past two weeks and through at least April 25. It doesn’t apply to public health, public safety, or health-care workers.

National Guard members will be stationed at the T.F. Green airport, Amtrak train stations and at bus stops. Neighborhood Watch and similar local organizations will be following up with people at local residences. The maximum penalty for not complying: a fine of $500 and 90 days in prison.