RI Coronavirus: 2nd 'Presumptive' Positive, 3rd Person Tested

PROVIDENCE, RI — Just a few hours after announcing the state's first "presumptive positive" case of the new coronavirus in the state, the Rhode Island Department of Health said a second person, a teenager, likely has the virus, while a third is being tested. All three people went on the same trip to Europe last month, the department said.

The second presumptive positive patient is a teenage girl, who is at home with mild symptoms, the department said. The third person being tested is a woman in her 30s who also has mild symptoms, the Department of Health said.

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The update came on Sunday evening, around 13 hours after the department announced the state's first presumptive positive case, a man in his mid-40s. All three people went on a trip to Europe, organized by St. Raphael's Academy, in mid-February. The school will be closed for the entire week, the department said.

"All three people went on the same trip to Italy," said Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the Director of Health at RIDOH. "This is precisely why we are being so aggressive in identifying contacts, ensuring monitoring, and testing people who are symptomatic."

In total, 38 people went on the trip, the department said. All of them will be self-monitoring for symptoms for 14 days, and have been instructed to avoid going to school or work and to stay at home during that time.

The woman being tested for the virus is a staff member at Achievement First Academy in Providence. Her test results are expected on Monday, according to the Department of Health, and the school will be closed for one day for cleaning.

The department is now working to reach out to other people who have been in direct contact with the three individuals. Anyone who was in direct contact with them will self-monitor for 12 days, the department said, under the supervision of public health officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reaching out to the other people who were on the return trip to the United States, the department said.

COVID-19, like other respiratory illnesses, is spread through droplets. Therefore, Rhode Islanders are encouraged to take the same preventative measures that are generally recommended during cold and flu season, especially washing hand thoroughly and often, as well as coughing and sneezing into the elbow. Other recommendations are listed below.

• Get a flu shot, and encourage those around you to do the same.
• Wash hands with warm water and soap. If not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Stay home from school or work if sick.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth, as germs can spread easily this way.
• 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 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.

Anyone who has recently traveled to an area where the virus is currently spreading and has symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath is urged to reach out to their doctor.

Across the country, more than 60 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, RIDOH said, with the first death reported on Satruday. Around the world, there have been more than 80,000 confirmed cases.

While Rhode Island's first presumptive positive cases were reported on Sunday, the department has been "closely monitoring" the situation since the beginning of the year and has taken steps to prepare the state for a potential outbreak. These include coordinating closely with other state agencies such as the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Rhode Island Food Bank, American Red Cross and more.

"My primary message to the people of Rhode Island this morning is that the risk in Rhode Island at the point is low and that we have been preparing for this for weeks," Governor Gina Raimondo said during the news conference on Sunday morning. "We did not wake up today and just get started in our preparation."

Other preventative steps include:

• Establishing an Incident Command System response, which is how RIDOH and other State agencies organize to prepare for (or respond to) an urgent situation that requires extensive coordination. It includes staff from the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA), the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals (BHDDH), the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), and Rhode Island Commerce. It also includes staff from RIDOH's State Health Laboratories, Center for Acute Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response, and Center for Public Health Communication, among other areas of RIDOH.
• Regularly communicating with RIDOH's Infectious Disease Epidemiology Advisory Committee (IDEAC) to track any clinical and epidemiological developments related to COVID-19. (IDEAC is a group of infectious disease physicians throughout Rhode Island that provides guidance to RIDOH leadership on emerging infectious disease matters.)
• Maintaining a robust system to receive and follow up on illness reports from Rhode Island healthcare providers.
• Regularly sending to local healthcare providers summaries of the national situation, criteria to guide evaluation of patients, and guidance on specimen collection, testing, and reporting.
• Coordinating closely with healthcare facilities and emergency medical services (EMS) providers to ensure their preparedness.
• Communicating regularly to community partners, such as schools, faith leaders, and municipal officials.