Rhode Island Coronavirus Hospitalizations Highest Since May

PROVIDENCE, RI — The latest weekly coronavirus data is out, and, in the words of Gov. Gina Raimondo: it continues to be a bad news story in Rhode Island. In total, 323 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, the highest number in the state since late spring.

The last time hospitalizations were that high was May 5, when 337 beds were occupied. Last week, Raimondo said the state's hospitals were at 97 percent of their coronavirus capacity, and that the Cranston field hospital was expected to accept the first patients the week after Thanksgiving.

Last week's data trends once again exceeded safe ranges in all three categories: new hospitalizations, cases per 100,000 people and the percent positive rate. The first two continued their monthlong upward trend, while the percent positive rate held steady at six percent — a full percent higher than the safe range of fiver percent of lower.

As the state grapples with the second-wave onslaught of cases and hospitalizations, Raimondo urged all Rhode Islanders to stay home this Thanksgiving, only celebrating with members of the immediate family. In an effort to clamp down on all social gatherings, the governor lowered the social gathering limit to only include members of individual households.

Starting Monday, the state will begin a two-week pause, during which time portions of the economy will be forced to close entirely, while others will be strictly limited. Raimondo said the pause is needed to slow the spread of the virus in the state and keep the health care system from becoming overwhelmed.

Coronavirus in Rhode Island: Read more

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• RI Colleges, High Schools Pivot Toward Distance Learning
  
• Rhode Island Hospitals At 97% Of Coronavirus Capacity
  
• 2-Week 'Pause' Coming To RI; Full Lockdown Could Follow