Just 4 Days Into 2021, RI Reports 32 Coronavirus Deaths

PROVIDENCE, RI — Less than one week into the new year, Rhode Island already reported double-digit coronavirus deaths. Since Jan. 1, 32 people have died, according to the state's Department of Health.

In that same period, there have been 2,304 new cases of coronavirus in the state. Overall, Rhode Island has seen a decline in new cases since the peak in early December, with a slight increase in the last few days of the month.

If the state sees a spike in cases and hospitalizations connected to Christmas and New Year's Eve, the increase will likely come in the coming weeks. Gov. Gina Raimondo is expected to discuss this possibility, as well as what restrictions the state will have going forward, at her first news conference of the year on Thursday.

As of Monday, Rhode Island's daily percent positivity was 7.3 percent, well above the safe threshold of 5 percent. Last week, the weekly percent positive rate was 5.3 percent, the lowest it's been since the week of Nov. 7. Hospitalizations and cases per 100,000 people declined week-to-week, as well.