Asymptomatic Coronavirus Testing Open To Younger Rhode Islanders

PROVIDENCE, RI — Starting Wednesday, asymptomatic coronavirus testing in Rhode Island was expanded to all residents aged 18 to 39.

Rhode Island has seen a slow uptick in cases of the virus over the past weeks, many of which are connected to social gatherings such as baby showers, backyard barbecues and parties, Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, said.

Tests can be scheduled at portal.ri.gov, and will be conducted at the Rhode Island Convention Center.

This is not the first time the state has identified younger Rhode Islanders as a vector for the virus. Gov. Gina Raimondo has frequently chastised 20-somethings for gathering in large groups, refusing to wear masks, and congregating at bars.

Alexander-Scott said the department is opening the asymptomatic testing eligibility to all younger residents to help the department get an idea of how prevalent the virus is in the population.

"If you become more aggressive, and have more contact, you have more cases," Alexander-Scott said. "We have a controllable level right now. We don't want to go beyond that."

Alexander-Scott reminded Rhode Islanders that a negative test result is not a free pass to ignore social distancing and masking requirements, since it only represents a snapshot in time and does not mean the person cannot get the virus immediately after.

Also on Wednesday, Raimondo announced that Rhode Island partnered with two labs — Accureference and Dominion Diagnostics — to both increase the state's test processing capacity and speed the result time. The two new labs will each process an additional 1,000 tests per day and will guarantee test results within 48 hours, starting next week. In September, Dominion will ramp up its test processing to 7,000 tests per day, Raimondo said, bringing the state's total to about 9,000 tests per day.