R.I. COVID-19 cases reach 711, with two more deaths; state expanding hospital bed capacity

Updated at 6:28 p.m.

COVID-19 cases in Rhode Island hit 711 as of Friday. / COURTESY CAPITOL TV
COVID-19 cases in Rhode Island hit 711 as of Friday. / COURTESY CAPITOL TV

PROVIDENCE – Cases of COVID-19 in Rhode Island increased by 54 since Thursday to 711, along with two more deaths, Gov. Gina M. Raimondo said Friday.

That brings the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the state to 14. Hospitalizations due to the virus in the state totaled 77 by late Friday.

One of those who died was a resident at Golden Crest Nursing Centre in North Providence, and the other was not a nursing home resident.

So far, about 57% of people who have died from COVID-19 were residents of nursing or group homes, said Rhode Island Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott.

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About 150 nursing home residents have been diagnosed with the virus since the outbreak began here in early March, Alexander-Scott said.

There are about 65 cases spread between Golden Crest residents and staff, and about 60 cases are at Oak Hill, where two people have died of the virus.

Five deaths have been reported at Golden Crest.

Overall, the coronavirus has spread to 12 nursing homes, with six cases at Oakland Grove Health Care Center in Woonsocket and fewer than five cases at others, which Alexander-Scott did not name.

Nursing home staff are keeping residents infected with the virus and those who have been exposed separate from other residents, and are regularly checking temperatures, she said.

Health officials are now encouraging Rhode Islanders to wear cloth face coverings in public, Alexander-Scott added.

Face coverings will help limit the spread of illness by people who have the virus but aren’t displaying symptoms yet or who don’t realize they have symptoms.

Alexander-Scott stopped short of recommending that residents wear medical masks, saying instead that such masks should be reserved for medical and other essential workers.

Raimondo said that part of her efforts to prepare for a surge in cases includes making sure the state has enough hospital beds for those affected. She said the state is working to convert the Rhode Island Convention Center, the former Citizens Bank building in Cranston and the former Lowe’s building in North Kingstown as locations, adding over 1,000 beds to the state total.

“That work is well underway… I feel very confident that we’re going to be ready,” the governor said.

Hospitals throughout the state are also working to expand their capacity by preparing to care for patient volumes that are 10% to 20% above normal.

Raimondo repeated her call for retired medical workers such as doctors, nurses, therapists and nursing assistants to volunteer to help at RIresponds.org. Hundreds have already signed up but help is still needed, she said. Some volunteers will be paid.

Testing increased to about 1,000 per day this week after much-needed supply shipments arrived, a measure that the Raimondo says she hopes will allow health officials to more effectively contain the spread of the coronavirus.

But, she said, Rhode Islanders must do better at heeding her stay-at-home order.

According to data gathered by the state, residents have cut down daily activities by 36%, falling short of the 41% national average.

“The number of miles the average Rhode Islander is traveling in a day is greater than in other states,” she said. “We need to do better… That means stay at home. That means work from your home. That means stay in your house. Go out quickly and occasionally to the grocery store.”

Despite efforts to open day care facilities, child care licenses in the state will continue to be suspended through April, Raimondo said.

“I have been optimistic that we would find a temporary solution… We just haven’t found a solution which is safe,” she said.

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island on Friday also announced that it is temporarily waiving member cost-sharing (copays, coinsurance and deductibles) for any treatments related to COVID-19.

Raimondo issued a joint announcement with R.I. Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea on Friday allowing remote online notarization. The policy, which went into effect immediately and extends through the duration of the state emergency declaration, allows authorized notaries public to virtually witness signatures on requisite legal documents using secure audiovisual technology. Instructions on how to use this technology are available on the secretary of state’s website.

(UPDATES 2nd paragraph with number of hospitalizations.)

 

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