3rd Possible Case Of Coronavirus In RI Tests Negative

PROVIDENCE, RI — The third possible case of the new coronavirus in Rhode Island, a woman in her 30s, tested negative for the virus, the state Department of Health announced on Tuesday night. As with the first two "presumptive positive" cases, she was part of a school trip to Europe last month.

The woman's test results, originally expected on Monday night, were conducted at the department's State Health Laboratories in Providence. Because she is an employee at Achievement First Academy in Providence, both that school and the Cranston campus were closed Monday and Tuesday for cleaning. Both are expected to reopen on Wednesday. St. Ray's, meanwhile, will remain closed all week for cleaning.

Also on Tuesday, the department announced that a woman in her 20s, a Massachusetts resident, tested positive for the virus at the Massachusetts Department of Health's lab. Her results are awaiting confirmation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She also went on the St. Ray's Europe trip, and is recovering at home.

In total, four people were tested following a trip to Europe in mid-February, organized by St. Raphael Academy in Pawtucket. The first patient, a man in his 40s, is still in the hospital, health officials said, while the second, a teenage girl who attends the school, has mild symptoms and is recovering at home. All 38 people who went on the trip have been directed to self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days, in accordance with CDC guidelines.

The new virus, known as COVID-19, is spread through respiratory droplets, the same way as other common seasonal illnesses like the flu. At this time, Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the department's director of health, said the main focus is on prevention. Rhode Islanders are urged to frequently wash their hands thoroughly with soap and warm water, using alcohol-based hand sanitizer if unable. Other precautions include:

• Get a flu shot, and encourage those around you to do the same.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow rather than a hand or the air.
• Stay home from school or work if sick.
• Keep surfaces, especially bedside tables, bathrooms and children's toys clean by wiping them down with disinfectant.
• Get plenty of sleep, by physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious foods to maintain good health.

The CDC does not recommendCDC does not recommend that otherwise healthy people wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory viruses, including the new coronavirus. Only wear a mask if a healthcare provider instructs you to do so, the Department of Health said. Those with symptoms are asked to wear a mask to help prevent spreading the disease to others.

Read more about coronavirus in Rhode Island and beyond:

• Coronavirus In Rhode Island: Schools Closed, Store Shelves Empty
• East Greenwich School Closed Over Coronavirus Concerns
• RI Catholic Churches Take Steps To Avoid Spreading Coronavirus
• Coronavirus In Rhode Island: What To Know
• An Outbreak Of Coronavirus Misinformation: AP Fact Check
• RI Coronavirus: 2nd 'Presumptive' Positive, 3rd Person Tested
• Pawtucket School Says RI Coronavirus Patient Is Community Member
• Cohasset Woman Quarantined For Potential Coronovirus Exposure
• Coventry Schools 'Continuously' Monitoring Coronavirus Updates