House Committee Meeting Postponed Over Coronavirus Concerns

PROVIDENCE, RI — A House Judiciary Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday night has been postponed over concerns of the new coronavirus spreading in Rhode Island. The cancellation came at the recommendation of Nicole Alexander-Scott, the Director of Health at the Rhode Island Department of Health, since a large crowd was expected to attend.

"It is [Dr. Alexander-Scott's] strong suggestion that as much as possible large events be postponed or rescheduled in order to limit the spread of COVID 19," the department said in a statement. "Because COVID-19 spreads between people who are in close contact with one another (within roughly 6 feet), canceling or postponing large events is an important tool to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Rhode Island. Measures such as these are most effective at limiting the spread of disease when implemented before a community is seeing widespread transmission. Additional details and guidance on mass gatherings will be forthcoming today.”

All other House committee hearings will be held as scheduled on Wednesday.

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There have been five cases so far in Rhode Island. Two new cases, the state's fourth and fifth, were announced on Tuesday evening. On Monday, Governor Gina Raimondo declared a state of emergency, saying that although the risk to most Rhode Islanders remains low, the declaration allows her more access to resources and funding as the containment effort continues.

Several colleges and universities have changed their policies, canceling planned travel and study abroad. Both Roger Williams University and Bryant University have chosen to suspend in-person classes and transition to online learning for the near future.

In the healthcare setting, visitors have been restricted at hospitals and nursing homes around the state to protect patients and employees.

All Rhode Islanders are asked to take preventive measures to keep themselves and those around them safe, especially washing their hands frequently with warm water and soap or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Other recommendations include:

• Get a flu shot, and encourage those around you to do the same. While this will not help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, it is an effective tool to keep people with the flu from developing complications that require hospitalization.
• 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.
• Masks are not recommended for healthy people to avoid getting the virus. Instead, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asks that people with respiratory symptoms wear a mask to avoid spreading them to others.

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