Rhode Island state officials reported 341 new positive COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the total to 8,962. Thirteen new fatalities bring the state total to 279. Governor Gina Raimondo says that with the continued "plateauing" of the number of cases, the state is on track for Phase 1 of her reopening plan to be enacted on May 9th. Meanwhile, several other states have announced the extension of stay-at-home orders. Raimondo says that she is hopeful that such a step will not be necessary in Rhode Island, as long as the data concerning new cases and fatalities stay at plateau stage, or decrease.
The governor said that in the coming week she will announce specifics for Phase 1 regarding which state parks will reopen under the plan. Lincoln Woods and Fort Adams are among those targeted for Phase 1 reopening on May 9th, but no beaches will open in Phase 1. Even after parks open, Raimondo says that face masks and social distancing wil lstill be part of the norm.
Governor Raimondo announced on Friday that she is targeting June 1st as a possible reopening date for child care centers. Child care centers are required to submit their reopening plans by May 22nd. Those plans must include measures to help avoid the spread of the coronavirus, like temperature screening and limiting child groups to 6 to 10 children.
graphic & data: RIDOH