Health & Fitness
RI Only State With Enough Coronavirus Testing To Reopen: Harvard
Estimates by Harvard University researchers found that Rhode Island was the only state with enough testing per resident to safely reopen.
Estimates by Harvard University researchers found that Rhode Island is the only state conducting enough coronavirus testing per resident to safely reopen. The research claims states need to conduct 152 tests a day per 100,000 residents to safely reopen. Rhode Island exceeds the minimum, hitting 185 tests per 100,000 residents last week.
The research estimates, published by the New York Times, comes as many states begin to consider reopening the economy, but testing and virus tracing are essential pieces of the puzzle.
Gov. Gina Raimondo said Saturday that although infections, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 are still rising, she will begin outlining plans next week to reopen the state's economy in incremental fashion.
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As of Saturday afternoon, the Rhode Island Department of Health said, the state has 4,491 confirmed cases and 137 fatalities. The health department also said that 32,826 residents have been tested since March 1.
The virus is estimated to peak in Rhode Island around April 23, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and evaluations. The institute estimates that on April 23, Rhode Island will experience a shortage of intensive care unit beds — 107 beds short of the 148 beds needed. It is project that by August 4, 438 people will have died of COVID-19.
Find out what's happening in Cranstonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Raimondo said she is working to roll out mobile testing in the state to increase accessibility to underserved communities.
Unemployment remains a massive concern in Rhode Island, pushing the question of reopening the economy to the forefront. Newly released date from the federal Department of Labor shows that more than 22,000 claims were filed in the state during the last week alone, and Raimondo said Thursday that more than 160,000 claims have been filed in total since the beginning of the crisis.
Coronavirus in Rhode Island: Latest headlines
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