Rhode Island Has The Best Response To Coronavirus: WalletHub

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island leads the country when it comes to responding to the new coronavirus pandemic. Next-door neighbor Connecticut came in second place, with Massachusetts in sixth.

Along with earning first place overall, the Ocean State also topped the list in the "prevention and containment" category. This closely follows the sentiments of Governor Gina Raimondo and the state's Department of Health, who have said that the aggressive measures taken in the state — closing down schools for a week, forbidding dine-in service at restaurants for two weeks, limiting gatherings to 25 people or fewer and more — keep the state "one step ahead of the virus."

Here's a breakdown of how the state ranked in each category. The interactive map below shows where each state ranks.

• State and Local Public Health Laboratories per Capita: 9
• Tested Cases of COVID-19 per Capita: 1
• Share of Workers with Access to Paid Sick Leave: 6
• Total Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Funding Per Capita: 8
• Public Healthcare Spending per Capita: 8

As of Tuesday, there have been 23 confirmed or presumed positive cases of the virus in the state. There have been 403 negative tests, and approximately 3,000 people are currently under self-quarantine in the state.

Anyone who is unwell, even a little, is strongly urged to stay home until they feel well. All Rhode Islanders are asked to avoid going out in public unless it is necessary. When out in public, everyone is asked to keep six feet away from others and practice good cough and sneeze etiquette. 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.
• 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.
• The CDC does not recommend that otherwise healthy people wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory viruses, including the new coronavirus.

If you have questions, reach out to the Rhode Island Department of Health by calling the COVID-19 hotline at 401-222-8022, or 211 after hours, emailing RIDOH.COVID19Questions@health.ri.gov or visiting the department's website. In addition, the state has launched a 24-hour hotline during an anxiety-prone time. Anyone in need of mental health assistance can call 401-415-5565.

See the full study on WalletHub's website.

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• Coronavirus: Rhode Island Bishop Suspends All Masses
• 'These Measures Will Save Lives': Raimondo On Coronavirus
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