DOH to distribute masks to protesters; R.I. reports 10 more COVID-19 deaths

Updated at 3:48 p.m. on June 3, 2020.

DEATHS DUE TO COVID-19 in Rhode Island have totaled 742 so far. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DEATHS DUE TO COVID-19 in Rhode Island have totaled 742 so far. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Department of Health’s staff will be attending peaceful protests, on a volunteer basis, in order to hand out masks and provide information regarding the coronavirus, announced Gov. Gina M. Raimondo Wednesday

“I will never tell you to not protest and exercise your rights and advocate for change,” said Raimondo, but she advised those who live with those with underlying health conditions and older residents to protest peacefully with extreme caution for those who are vulnerable.

While Phase II of reopening the state notes that congregations should make up 15 people or less, protests have broken out in response to the death of another black man in police custody. Raimondo said she is concerned that these protests could cause another coronavirus outbreak in the coming weeks but that she would not ask someone to not demonstrate.

“This is a difficult situation. This is a First Amendment right to protest. Particularly when we see things that are unjust and unconstitutional,” said the governor.

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Positive tests for COVID-19 in the state rose by 107 Tuesday to total 15,236, while deaths due to the virus in the state increased by 10 to 742, the DOH said Wednesday. 

“This is an encouraging picture,” said the governor, as positivity rates are below 5% state-wide. As testing increases, however, she said the same areas are seeing more than a 10% positivity rate, including Central Falls, North Providence and  Pawtucket.

Current hospitalizations due to the virus totaled 189, an increase of one from a day earlier. Of those hospitalized, 44 were in intensive care units, a four-patient decline from the day prior, and 30 were on ventilators, a decline of one person day to day.  

To date, 1,211 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from hospitals in Rhode Island. 

There were a total of 2,608 tests conducted on Wednesday, bringing the state total to 159,560. 

This story has been updated to include details from the governor’s press conference.

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