R.I. has 18 new COVID-19 cases, raising total to 124

Updated at 2:42 p.m. on March 24.

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island has 124 confirmed cases of COVID-19, marking an 18-case, one-day increase, Gov. Gina M. Raimondo said on Tuesday.

About 200 tests a day are being performed, a number that the governor said she hopes to increase to up to 800 daily after shipments of testing supplies and protective gear for health care workers arrive.

“Once we have that stable influx of supplies then we will be able to work toward that expansion,” Raimondo said. “That is absolutely vital to happen before we can reopen the economy.”

Testing continues to be done at the state’s health laboratory in Providence, but the R.I. Department of Health has begun to partner with hospitals and private labs, including East Side Clinical Laboratories.

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Some state residents who tested positive have now recovered, but social distancing continues to be key, said Rhode Island Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott.

“It it is critical that everyone follows these instructions,” she said. “The virus does not pick and choose who to infect. If we are going to stop the spread and get this under control… everyone has to do their part; young, middle-aged and older.”

Although the state’s first cases of Covid-19 were connected with a school trip to Italy, the most current rounds of positives are associated more with domestic travel, Alexander-Scott added.

Raimondo also announced on Tuesday that the state has partnered with Care.com to help workers access child care and elder care. She said the state is the first in the nation to take such a move.

The organization has agreed to provide for free for 90 days their premium product – which allows people to look for child care and elder care workers. The cost of a care worker is not covered by the service.

Raimondo also said that for those out of work, the program could be a way to make money by offering their services through the program. The site has a portal for those who want to volunteer services.

Child care centers in the state may also choose to continue operations under new guidelines created by the state Department of Health Services.

Centers that remain open may receive surprise visits from DHS to make sure they are following the rules, Raimondo said.

The Boys and Girls Club, Greater Providence YMCA and Children’s Workshop are among the centers that are open to provide childcare for health care workers.

Raimondo added that she has asked the General Assembly to convene the Disaster Emergency Funding Board “go into the market and secure a line of credit… so we can continue to pay the bills and get back on our feet.”

The board plans to meet Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at the statehouse, where the meeting will be broadcast on state television.

Updated to include more details of testing in the state, as well as details of child care rules in the state.