RI Sees Low Coronavirus Rate Following Record Testing Day

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island tested a record number of people for coronavirus Thursday, Gov. Gina Raimondo said. More than 4,400 tests were conducted in total, with a percent positive rate of just three percent.

"We are testing thousands of people all across the state and the positive rate is the lowest it's ever been," Raimondo said. "We are in a very stable place and I am confidence we are doing the right thing by opening the economy and moving ahead on phase two."

There were 113 new cases of COVID-19 announced in Rhode Island Friday and 16 deaths. Three of the victims were in their 60s, three in their 70s, six in their 80s, three in their 90s and one over 100 years old, Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of the state's Department of Health, said.

"We're not out of the woods," Raimondo said. "But also not living the daily crisis that we once were."

Hospitalizations continue to trend downward in the state, as well. As of Friday, 182 people were in the hospital related to COVID-19, 37 of whom were in intensive care units and 23 on a ventilator.

Although the state's overall percent positive rate is well below the 10 percent recommended by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, several urban communities continue to have high rates of positive cases. Central Falls still has the highest percent positive rate in Rhode Island at 26 percent, followed by Providence at 24 percent. In total, there are 13 cities and towns at or above 10 percent: Central Falls, Providence, North Providence, Pawtucket, East Providence, Smithfield, Woonsocket, Johnston, North Kingstown, Cranston, Cumberland, Exeter and West Warwick. The department continues to focus testing and prevention efforts in these areas to expand access to health care and get the virus under control.

Patch editor Scott Souza contributed to this story.