Editor's note: This story appears on our websites as part of a partnership between Beacon Communications and East Bay Newspapers to share coverage of the COVID-19 crisis. For full audio of the governor's follow-up conference call with reporters, click here.
Twelve more Rhode Islanders have died of COVID-19, bringing the total number of fatalities in the state to 251. There are 321 new cases, with 269 Rhode Islanders hospitalized. Of these patients, 88 are in intensive care units, and 55 are on ventilators.
The new fatalities include one person each in their 50s and 60s, three in their 70s, four in their 80s, and three in their 90s.
The numbers show a day over day increase from Tuesday, but there were also more tests conducted that would account for that increase. Overall, Gov. Gina Raimondo sees a potential plateau in place, coming a little over a week sooner than predicted. “We are probably at our peak now,” she said. “We are waiting for the day we begin to see a decline.”
“If our numbers continue to look like this, and everyone stays home until May 8, I intend to enter phase one of the reopening plan on May 9,” she said.
The governor emerged from her call with the members of Rhode Island’s federal delegation with high praise for their efforts in securing some $1.5 billion for the state, $1.25 billion of which has already been wired to the state’s coronavirus relief fund.
“They have delivered 1.5 billion and they are fighting to continue to deliver,” she said of Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, and Reps. David Cicilline and Jim Langevin. The governor outlined her preliminary vision of where she sees that money being allocated. Priorities may include wage subsidies for low-income workers, funds to help small businesses, hospitals that have incurred staggering costs preparing for the surge in patients, and preventing layoffs. She also noted group homes, public safety, and municipalities would all need additional support.
“It’s important for me that you know we have the best federal delegation in America,” Raimondo said. “We are going to get Rhode Island back on its feet while keeping Rhode Islanders safe and tested.”
Raimondo said the state will spend the money responsibly and transparently, and to that end will be setting up a website that shows how the money is being spent.
She also emphasized that this is all very preliminary and dependent on many unknowns.
“It’s going to be a really tough job ahead to balance budget,” she said. “You have my pledge that I will work hard every day to get as much as I can, breathe life into the Rhode Island economy, and be transparent.”
Big summer events are unlikely
Tourism is another sector of the state economy that will need lots of support in the months to come, as the governor put organizers of the state’s biggest summer events on notice that 2020 is not their year. “If it’s a parade, a music festival, a huge cultural event with hundreds of people, you are not going to be able to have that event,” she said. “My stomach is in a knot as I think about the Bristol parade and the Newport Folk Festival. I cannot stand here and tell you that you are going to be able to have those events in June, July, August in the way you intended.”
She also noted that summer weddings greater than 50 people are not likely to be permitted, though she said there is an outside possibility that August events could go from 50 to 100 people. She said she would make this guidance more official later in the week.
Backing this decision, Rhode Island Department of Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott said, “We are going with what the science is telling us … a large crowd significantly increases the risk. The risk at stake outweighs the benefit of the events, but will hopefully help in the long run.”
Last day for health enrollments
Other highlights included noting that tomorrow is the last day for open enrollment at healthsourceri.com for the special enrollment period triggered by the crisis. Enrollment will still be open for people who have a job loss or other change of circumstance.
Alexander-Scott discussed the disparity in rates of both coronavirus cases as well as hospitalizations in the African American and Latino communities relative to the Caucasian communities. She noted that the relevant data is available at the RIDOH website’s COVID-19 homepage at health.ri.gov.
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thepilgrim
Covid 19 is letting the citizenry see the tyrannical government in action. It’s also letting us see how very few know or will stand for their once constitutional rights. Freedom has been removed because no one will die for it anymore. All fooled into giving up their rights because of a flu going around.
Wednesday, April 29, 2020 Report this
bill123
“Our leaders are making a mockery of their own quarantines”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJgRk1p8ktY
(mentioning Obama, mayor of Chicago, governor of Maine, Clinton - “a terrible crisis to waste”, mayor of New York)
As Maine goes, so goes RI.
Thursday, April 30, 2020 Report this
Justanidiot
reichsfuhrer gigi has just made it plain that the general assembly will not be permitted to meet. counting staff, these assemblages are too large. now her plan for complete domination of the guvmint is complete. order 66 is coming soon
Thursday, April 30, 2020 Report this
thepilgrim
There was a great You Tube video put forth by California doctors which proved that Covid 19 was no different than a flu. Less than 1 in 1000 who contract it die. Yesterday their You Tube video was removed for “violating the terms of service”. Yet there was no pornography or cursing. The video was removed for telling truths they want concealed. I can see that this will all end in violence. The militarized police will be unleashed. Arm yourselves if you still can.
Thursday, April 30, 2020 Report this
Justanidiot
robert, you have your right to your own opinion and the right to express it, so long as it agrees with what the liberal media say is true. go against that and you will find yourself in quontonimo
Thursday, April 30, 2020 Report this
JamesBruder
I’ve gone completely insane, my apologies
Thursday, April 30, 2020 Report this