Rhode Island's Coronavirus Rate Tops 5% In Testing

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island's positive coronavirus test rate surpassed 5 percent Sunday, the highest reported in months. The spike came after Gov. Gina Raimondo announced new regulations Friday to clamp down on the state's second wave of the pandemic.

The latest coronavirus data update showed a 5.1 percent rate, which just barely exceeds the state's safety threshold. A total of 4,560 tests were conducted Sunday and 232 cases were found.

On Friday, Raimondo announced the first of two rounds of new regulations. Although Rhode Island remains in phase three of reopening, the social gathering limit was lowered to 10 people, and state officials urged all residents to keep their social groups as small and stable as possible.

Although the governor usually holds her weekly coronavirus news conferences on Wednesdays, this week's will be held on Thursday, when she will announce further restrictions.

While action must be taken to slow the steep increase in cases and hospitalizations, the governor said she is committed to minimizing the impacts to local businesses, commerce and in-person schools.

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