Block Island Reports First Coronavirus Case In Months

NEW SHOREHAM, RI — A person on Block Island contracted the coronavirus, becoming the first case on the island since March. The person is an employee working on the island for the summer, the Block Island Medical Center said Monday.

The medical center received the positive test result around 8:45 p.m. Sunday, the town said in a statement. The person was quarantined and the employer was notified.

The Rhode Island Department of Health is conducting contact tracing and is working with medical officials on the island.

New Shoreham has managed to stay insulated from Rhode Island's coronavirus outbreak, reporting no cases for months. In March, a stay-at-home order was issued, and all visitors were strongly discouraged from coming to the island.

In June, Gov. Gina Raimondo expressed concerns about crowds of unmasked passengers on the Block Island Ferry.

"Here's the reality. We don't want an outbreak on Block Island," Raimondo said. "We are working really hard to keep Block Island open. There are a lot of people who make their living out there, and we all have to do our part."

Asymptomatic testing will begin on the island this week, administered by the community's Disaster Medical Team and Rhode Island Department of Health. Contact workers and first responders will be given top priority, along with those who live in communal housing and the contacts of anyone exposed to COVID-19, followed by residents.