In her daily briefing on Saturday, RI Governor Gina Raimondo announced 97 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 806. The total number of deaths is 17. Six of those who have died were residents of Golden Crest Nursing Home in North Providence.
Raimondo said that the Rhode Island statehouse will be lit in the color red starting tonight, in order to honor first responders and the thousands of Rhode Islanders who are "pitching in to do what's required in this moment of crisis."
The governor and Department of Health Director, Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott updated the state directive about coronavirus testing, saying that the state is now capable of swabbing and testing well over 1,000 people per day, and asked primary health care providers to ramp up their referrals and send anyone who may need a test. Testing is now open to any person who has symptoms of COVID-19, including a fever accompanied by a cough. "We are behind...and we need to catch up," said Raimondo. Previously, testing had been restricted to health care workers and those who live in a congregate setting. Governor Raimondo noted that the lag time between a test and notification about its results, is still a few days.
Dr. Scott also repeated her recommendation to wear face coverings in public. Such "homemade" cloth face coverings are adequate to help protect against virus spread, but should not be substituted for social distancing. The homemade face coverings may be made of any cloth and do not need to be medical grade N-95 type masks. Those masks, said Scott, are to be reserved for health care workers.
The governor again used her briefing to drive home the point that social distancing is the key to minimizing the spread of COVID-19. She said that "thousands will be hospitalized" with coronavirus in the coming weeks, and that the only way the pandemic stays manageable is if everyone adheres to social distancing guidelines.
Raimondo reminded residents that although tomorrow is Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week for Christians, there can be no religious service gatherings. She also reiterated her order that all state beaches and parks are to remain closed and parking lots are off limits.
Photo: Getty Images