Rhode Island Reports Record-Setting 919 New Coronavirus Cases

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island smashed its single-day coronavirus record Tuesday with 919 new cases, far exceeding the previous record set just one day before.

Two of the state's weekly data trend indicators — new hospitalizations and cases per 100,000 people — are now above the safe thresholds defined by the state, while the third, the positive test rate, has inched closer and closer to 5 percent over the past month. Daily percent positive rates have frequently exceeded this value, including Tuesday's 6.7 percent.

Megan Ranney, a doctor with Brown Emergency Medicine, said medical systems in the United States will be overwhelmed in the coming weeks and months because "there simply isn't enough capacity in the system."

"I worked last night in the ER," Ranney tweeted Wednesday. "I have never seen so many sick COVID-19 patients in a single shift. And Thanksgiving is coming. It is, indeed, about to get worse."

Gov. Gina Raimondo has repeatedly said the state is in a "bad place" in recent weeks. She is urging all Rhode Islanders to take action now and comply with face mask orders and tighten their social groups to slow the spread of the virus as the holiday season approaches.

"We have to take our medicine," Raimondo said last week. "We could do it now, or we could do it later. The longer we wait, the worse it will be."

The governor's latest round of restrictions went into effect Sunday, including an overnight stay-at-home advisory, stricter mask requirements and capacity restrictions in large stores.

Read more:

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• Stricter Regulations Expected For Thanksgiving In Rhode Island
• Indoor Sports Given Green-Light To Resume In Rhode Island
• Bristol 'Superspreader' Party Linked To 21 Coronavirus Cases
• Hospital, Nursing Home Visitation On Hold In Rhode Island