RI's Weekly Coronavirus Rate Hits 8.9%; Cases Climb

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island's weekly positive coronavirus test rate hit 8.9 percent over the last week, an increase of 2 percentage points from the previous week.

It was the highest week-to-week increase to date, according to new data released by the state Department of Public Health Tuesday. The last time the rate rose that sharply was Nov. 7 to Nov. 14, when it increased 1.9 percent.

Case numbers per 100,000 people rose by 278 over the last week, the largest week-to-week increase to date.

The updated statistics came a day after the state was ranked number one in the country for coronavirus cases per capita by the COVID ActNow consortium.

It's also week two of the state's two-week pause, aimed at slowing the spread of the virus and lowering the strain on Rhode Island's hospital system. All existing hospitals have reached their coronavirus capacity, and the two field hospitals in Cranston and at the Rhode Island Convention Center are open and accepting patients.

During the pause, Rhode Islanders are asked to avoid all social gatherings with people outside their immediate household, certain businesses are required to close and other businesses must limit capacity. While the pause is set to end on Sunday, Raimondo said she would make a decision about starting to "dial up the economy" later this week, depending on the data.

These are coronavirus statistics released by the state health department Tuesday:

Coronavirus in Rhode Island: Read more

• Rhode Island Has The Most Coronavirus Cases Per Capita In U.S.
• First Coronavirus Vaccines Could Arrive In RI Within Weeks
• Beginning Of RI's Coronavirus Pause Looks Promising: Raimondo
• Gov. Gina Raimondo Calls On Healthcare Workers To Help R.I.
• Gov. Gina Raimondo Gives Update On R.I. Coronavirus Testing
• Rhode Island's 2 Field Hospitals Open, Accepting Patients
• When Can Rhode Islanders Expect Things To Go Back To 'Normal'?
• 'For 2 Weeks, Lock It Down': RI's Pause Starts Nov. 30