RI Sees Drop In Coronavirus Hospitalizations, Cases, Deaths

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island saw a drop in new coronavirus cases, deaths and hospitalizations Monday, some of the lowest numbers reported since the beginning of the outbreak in the state. The Department of Health reported 67 new cases and two deaths, continuing the downward trend from the weekend.

As of Monday, 195 people were in the hospital with COVID-19, marking the first time that figure has dropped below 200 since early April. There are 46 people in intensive care units and 29 on ventilators, which has slowly declined as well.

One of the latest victims was in their 70s and one in their 90s, said Dr, Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of the Rhode Island Department of Health.

Monday's numbers come as good news as the state moves into phase two of reopening. Three weeks after the stay-at-home order ended, the state did not see a sudden spike in cases or hospitalizations, Gov. Gina Raimondo said Friday, which shows that Rhode Islanders are following social distancing and masking requirements, and that they are working.

"We can move with confidence to phase two," Raimondo said. "If things change, we have to change. That will be the way we are living for awhile."

Saturday was a record-breaking day tests, Raimondo said. Approximately 4,000 people were tested, while just 2.5 percent tested positive. This is a "very encouraging statistic," the governor said, though there is still much work to be done to bring down positive rates in urban communities, many of which remain above the 10 percent recommended by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.

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