R.I. sees 15 new COVID-19 deaths; Raimondo eyes 10K daily tests

Updated at 5 p.m.

CASES OF COVID-19 in Rhode Island increased 272 day to day Tuesday, bringing the state total to over 10,000. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
CASES OF COVID-19 in Rhode Island increased 272 day to day Tuesday, bringing the state total to over 10,000. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

PROVIDENCE – As the likelihood of lifting Rhode Island’s stay-at-home order on May 9 increases, Gov. Gina M. Raimondo announced on Wednesday that she is aiming for 10,000 daily COVID-19 tests to be performed in the state by July.

That’s a jump of more than 7,000 over current testing totals, which averaged 2,700 per day over the last week, Raimondo said during her daily press briefing. By the end of September, she said, the goal is to try to reach 20,000 tests daily.

Cases of COVID-19 in Rhode Island increased by 272, to 10,205, with 15 more deaths, the R.I. Department of Health said earlier in the day.

The state has reported a total of 370 fatalities related to the new coronavirus.

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Those whose deaths were reported Wednesday ranged in age from their 50s to their 90s.

Current hospitalizations related to COVID-19 total 324, down three from one day prior. Of those hospitalized, 86 are in intensive care units and 60 on a ventilator. To date 665 patients with the virus have been discharged from hospitals.

The state conducted 2,938 tests on Tuesday, bringing the total to 79,373.

With the state poised to begin its reopening process, health officials will focus on three priorities when it comes to testing, Raimondo said.

First, “rapid, reliable affordable testing” should allow for anyone who has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 to receive a test and get results within 48 hours. People who test positive are to be isolated, and those who they’d had contact with tracked down and tested.

Secondly, outbreaks need to be addressed quickly.

“Our plan calls for an outbreak response team on the ground within four hours of multiple cases discovered in places [such as] congregant care settings,” Raimondo said.

That response includes testing for all residents and those who were in contact with them.
Early-warning detection systems set up in high-risk communities and densely populated settings such as nursing homes, schools, colleges and large work sites make up the third testing component.

Some of that legwork is already being done, according to Raimondo.

“By [May 11], we will have tested every resident and every worker in every nursing home in Rhode Island,” she said.

Random testing is set to begin as well.

A pilot program that offered COVID-19 testing via nasal swab and antibody, or serology, testing, to Stop & Shop employees at locations in North Providence, Providence, Cranston and Newport is being expanded, Raimondo said.

The health department is sending letters to 5,000 randomly selected state residents, offering the chance to receive the two types of testing at one of the four supermarket locations.

“This sort of data is going to be so important to let us know what we’re dealing with,” the governor said.

Regulations for businesses allowed to resume operations during the state’s first phase of reopening are expected to be online by this evening at reopeningri.com.

Raimondo has said that nonessential retail shops are to be among the first wave of reopenings.

Businesses that do unlock their doors must develop a plan to address COVID-19. Other requirements include sending sick employees home, screening for symptoms of illness, providing for six feet of distance between employees and requiring workers to wear masks.

Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza on Wednesday said that the city will adhere to the governor’s reopening timeline and allow certain nonessential businesses to reopen on Saturday. The city will also reopen parks, trails and green spaces for recreational, walk-on use, though parking lots will remain closed.

Close-contact businesses such as gyms and massage parlors will not be allowed to reopen Saturday, nor will restaurants be able to resume activities beyond takeout, pickup and delivery. Providence Place mall will also reopen, although only retailers with independent entrances will be allowed to let customers in under the first phase of reopening, Elorza said.

All other restrictions, including on crowd limits and entertainment licenses, remain in effect through June 5.

Elorza emphasized the importance of coordinating his latest executive order with the state. While the order signed Wednesday requires wearing face masks in all public places, including parks, Elorza said that stipulation may be amended to match the state policy, which grants an exception to mask-wearing outside when people can remain 6 feet apart.

“We want there to be no daylight between them,” Elorza said of the city and state policies.

(UPDATED throughout.)

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