RI Reports Largest Single-Day Number Of Coronavirus Deaths

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island saw its largest single-day number of coronavirus-related deaths Tuesday. The Rhode Island Department of Health reported 26 deaths and 132 cases of the virus.

This breaks the previous single-day record for reported fatalities of 23 from May 3.

Tuesday's new data brings the state's cumulative totals to 12,951 cases and 532 deaths. At this time, there are 247 people in the hospital, 59 of whom are in an intensive care unit and 44 of whom are on ventilators. The number of people in the hospital continues to fall in Rhode Island and has been on a downward trend since late April.

Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of the department, said approximately half of the 26 deaths happened within the last 24 hours, while the rest were reported Tuesday due to a delay in test results. The ages of the victims ranged from their 50s to more than 100 years old. One person was in their 50s, two were in their 60s, seven were in their 70s, 10 were in their 80s, five were in their 90s and one person was more than 100. All but two of the reported deaths were in assisted living facilities, a trend that has continued throughout the outbreak in Rhode Island.

While the number of cases reported each day continues to fluctuate, there is an overall downward trend in that data as well. The peak in new cases reported came on April 23 with 437 and has been in decline ever since.