Coronavirus In RI: Child, Elder Care Services Available

PROVIDENCE, RI — The state of Rhode Island is offering child and elder care options to essential workers who cannot be at home with their children during coronavirus school closures. The state has formed a partnership with Care.com, Governor Gina Raimondo said Tuesday, which will offer all Rhode Islanders access to premium services for 90 days.

While it is not a perfect system, Raimondo said, it will offer options for those who need it to access care for their children or elderly relatives. In addition, out-of-work Rhode Islanders can sign up to be caregivers during this time, offering a way to earn money during this difficult time. Anyone who is interested in becoming a volunteer caregiver can do so as well through the site.

Care.com has launched a special website just for Rhode Islanders. The partnership is the first of its kind in the country, Raimondo said.

In addition, several child care facilities will be available to the children of essential hospital workers, including the Greater Providence YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, Children's Workshop, Children's Friend and more. The Department of Human Services will reach out to each hospital to share what facility is available and who is eligible.

Other child care facilities who wish to remain open during this time can do so, provided they follow very strict guidelines set forth by DHS, Raimondo said. This arrangement could change in the future, she said, but she is allowing centers to reopen at this time provided they meet the requirements.

"I'm grateful that you want to remain open," she said. "But you must follow the regulations to keep yourselves and the children you serve safe."

There are 18 new cases of COVID-19 in Rhode Island as of Tuesday, Raimondo said, bringing the state's total to 124 cases. Many of these cases are considered "recovered," said Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of health at the Rhode Island Department of Health.

To be considered recovered, a patient must have had symptoms for at least seven days and showed improvement over that time. The person must have three days without a fever, without using a fever reducer.

Raimondo again said that she has no plans to issue a shelter-in-place order unless it is absolutely necessary, saying that she is trying to protect the state's economy as much as possible, but that it is up to every citizen to do their part to avoid it.

"I am not going there. I do not want to go there. My ability to hold the line on that ability relies on the people of Rhode Island," Raimondo said. "So far you are doing a good job. Hang in there so we can get to the other side of this."

Although she has not taken statewide action, the governor encouraged individual town and cities leaders to take shelter-in-place actions as they see fit, especially in coastal areas with a slot of out-of-state homeowners. Several communities, particularly Newport and Westerly, have reported an influx of part-time residents from New York and other states, Raimondo said. These summer homeowners are asked to self-quarantine for 14 days to help prevent the spread of the virus within these communities.

On Monday, the New Shoreham issued a shelter-in-place order for Block Island and strongly discouraged any tourism to the island until at least mid-April. Non-residents are asked to return to the mainland, while part- and full-time residents are to remain in their homes unless it is absolutely necessary to go out.

With so many people out of work, the state's Department of Labor and Training is seeing an unprecedented number of unemployment claims, surpassing the 2009 recession and banking crisis before it. For this reason, residents are asked not to call the department to check on the status of their unemployment claims.

"We are going to pay every claim. Rest assured, the money is there," Raimondo said. "We are doing everything we can to get you your payment within 10 to 12 days. Hopefully sooner. ... Please don't show up, and please try to resist the urge to call and check on your claim. That will only slow us down."

Related: Rhode Island Coronavirus: Applying For Unemployment, Disability

Anyone who has access to the internet is asked to file their claim online, rather than over the phone.

As families across the state adjust to the second day of at-home learning, Raimondo said early reports show that things are going well. On a call with superintendents last night, she said she heard many reports of high attendance and patience from students and teachers.

"Hats off to you," Raimondo said to students, teachers, parents and administrators. "Students are showing up ... Obviously there are a few kinks that need to be ironed out. We will be better tomorrow than we are today."

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