Rhode Island Works To Make Protests Safer From Coronavirus

PROVIDENCE, RI — Both Gov. Gina Raimondo and Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, have expressed their concerns about a possible spike in coronavirus cases in the state following large, peaceful protests in Providence. In an effort to keep residents safe while avoiding infringing on their rights to peacefully assemble, the department will have volunteers stationed at upcoming protests to hand out masks, answer questions and encourage social distancing.

"Although I will never tell you to not protest, exercise your rights advocate for change, I'll say this," Raimondo said. "If you live with someone who is older, sick, has an underlying condition ... I am begging you to exercise extreme caution."

Anyone who attends a peaceful protest is asked to bring their own mask or face covering, try to stay at least 6 feet away from others, remain in groups of 15 or fewer and monitor themselves for symptoms. Raimondo asked all attendees to download the state's Crush COVID app, keep a record of who they were in close contact with at the protest and get tested for COVID-19 if they develop symptoms.

On Wednesday, the Rhode Island Department of Health reported 107 new cases of coronavirus in the state and 10 deaths.

"We are absolutely in a plateau," Dr. Alexander-Scott said of both case numbers and hospitalizations.

The majority of deaths in the state continue to be older Rhode Islanders, particularly residents of long-term congregate care facilities such as nursing homes. Two of Wednesday's victims were in their 70s, two were in their 80s and six were in their 90s, Alexander-Scott said.

Hospitalizations continue to trend down in Rhode Island. As of Wednesday, 189 people were in the hospital related to COVID-19, 44 of whom were in an intensive care unit and 40 on ventilators.