Rhode Island's High-Risk Communities See Drop In Coronavirus Rate

PROVIDENCE, RI — As Rhode Island's overall coronavirus percent positive rate continues to fall, the state is seeing excellent progress in densely populated, urban communities, Gov. Gina Raimondo said. Central Falls, Woonsocket, Providence and other high-risk areas have seen a drop in the percent positive rate in recent days and weeks, she said.

Overall, the state's percent positive rate is just below two percent, Raimondo said. With the virus under control at a macro-level, the state will focus on preventing and containing outbreaks in certain communities, large communities and other insulated areas. This individual approach will help prevent another large-scale outbreak and avoid the need to close large swaths of the economy again, Raimondo said.

The Center For Disease Control and Prevention's percent positive benchmark is 10 percent or less. As of this week, Central Fall's rate is 13 percent, down from 22 percent just a few weeks ago. Providence, meanwhile, has been below 10 percent for several days, down from 18 to 19 percent in late May. Pawtucket has been at or below 10 percent for several weeks, Raimondo said, while Woonsocket has had a slow decline to approximately six percent from 15 percent.

Wednesday marked another day of low case numbers in Rhode Island. The Department of Health reported 46 new cases of COVID-19 and 11 deaths. There are currently 1236 people in the hospital, 17 of whom are in an intensive care unit and 13 on a ventilator.

Nursing homes continue to account for approximately three quarters of all coronavirus deaths in Rhode Island. Nine of the 11 deaths reported Wednesday were residents of long-term care facilities, said Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of the Department of Health. Six of the victims were in their 70s, two in their 80s and three in their 90s.

The state continues to encourage close contact employees such as hair stylists, gym employees, restaurant employees, even clergy, are encouraged to get tested. Anyone who has found themselves in a large crowd in the past week, especially those who attended a peaceful protest, is eligible, Raimondo said.

"You won't get turned away," Raimondo said to close-contact employees who are unsure if they are eligible to get tested.

To help facilitate asymptomatic testing, the state is opening four new sites at Stop and Shop locations: one in Cranston, one in Pawtucket and two in Providence, at W River Street and Manton Avenue. Testing is available at these sites and the National Guard-operated sites at the Community College of Rhode Island and Providence College. Appointments can be scheduled online.