Newport will require masks to be worn on busy streets

NEWPORT — Everyone except children and those with health conditions walking on four busy city streets will be required to wear a mask between noon and 10 p.m. beginning Friday under a city executive order.

The City Council passed on a 6-1vote a resolution sponsored by council Vice Chairwoman Susan Taylor that says masks must be worn on Thames Street between Washington Square and Wellington Avenue; on Broadway between Gould Street and Farewell Street; on America’s Cup Avenue between Long Wharf and Memorial Boulevard West; and on Broadway between Kay and Bowery streets.

Only Councilwoman Kathryn Leonard opposed the resolution.

“It’s not enforceable,” she said.

The requirement will be imposed through an executive order from City Manager Joseph J. Nicholson Jr. under the emergency powers granted to him by the council because of the pandemic.

People will be given notice of the requirement and offered a mask on a first offense, but for second and subsequent offenses, they could face a fine of up to $100.

“We are not looking to levy fines,” Nicholson said. “Government can’t be perceived as having a heavy hand. But by having an executive order that has local government behind it will get better compliance.”

Under Gov. Gina Raimondo’s executive order, people should wear a mask if they cannot keep 6 feet of distance between themselves and other people.

Nicholson, Taylor and other council members agreed that social distancing of 6 feet cannot be maintained on downtown’s narrow city sidewalks, especially when the city is crowded with visitors on weekend days when the weather is nice.

Respiratory droplets from a person can travel up to 6 feet during normal conversation, and up to 30 for those who are engaged in aerobic activity, says the resolution, so “the use of cloth face coverings is an important public health approach to slow the transmission of COVID-19.”