COVID-19 CRISIS

THE LATEST: State expands asymptomatic testing

RI approaches 800 deaths, but other key indicators steady or declining

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While acknowledging those who passed away in recent days due to the virus, Gov. Gina Raimondo said during her Monday, June 8, COVID-19 press briefing the overall track and data continue to “trend in the right direction.”

As of Monday there were 10 newly reported COVID-19 related deaths. Including those with the 17 who died over the weekend attributed to the virus, the total to date is 799. Fifty-one new positive cases were found for a total of 15,642. And the state has conducted 179,169 total tests with those coming back negative at 163,527.

“I remember when I was up here reporting 300, 400, hundreds of new cases a day,” Raimondo said, adding the declining numbers “should give you confidence we continue to have a stable situation and we’re doing a very good job dealing with the virus.”

The governor, however, continued, “Every day Rhode Islanders are losing loved ones so we have to continue to be vigilant, aware and alert.”

Testing

To that end, the bulk of Raimondo’s remarks pertained to testing and the expansion of the early warning system already in place.

Reiterating she “never wants to shut down the economy again,” the governor said the state is implementing a program to test employees in congregate settings (nursing homes, ACI), first responders, close-contact workers (gyms, spas, salons, barbershops, etc.) and education workers with a goal of testing as many as 900 asymptomatic people a week.

Raimondo said the aim of the effort is “to get a feel for the prevalence of the disease in those industries.” And by targeted testing, the state can catch any potential outbreak “early enough so we can put a lid on the spread.”

To get a free test, those interested can visit portal.ri.gov or call 222-8022 to schedule an appointment at one of the National Guard sites.

The governor and State Director of Health Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, in separate remarks Monday, both noted testing to date hasn’t been as accurate for those who don’t have immediate symptoms of COVID-19, but the governor said, “Some information is better than no information.”

She continued, “Nothing is perfect, but we have to use every tool we have at our disposal in order to keep the virus in check.”

Protests

The governor lauded both protesters and members of law enforcement for their actions during most of the demonstrations held over the last week following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis, Minnesota, police.

She said she was “very proud” of the Rhode Islanders who gathered peacefully to express their first amendment rights and public safety personnel for their “professionalism” and “restraint.”

On showing up late Friday evening, June 5, to the protest held in Providence, when she was spotted not wearing a mask, Raimondo said, “Clearly it was a mistake on my part. I shouldn’t have done it.”

She added, though, her appearance wasn’t planned and was made at the behest of high-ranking public safety officials. “In that moment of urgency, I forgot,” Raimondo said of appearing sans mask. “No excuse.”

The governor urged those who attended protests in the last week to get tested and also use extra caution when being around older family members or those with underlying conditions. She added she and her family will follow that advice this week as well.

Crush COVID RI app

The governor said new technological improvements are available to download for the Crush COVID RI app, called version 1.5.

Some 46,000 residents are utilizing the app as of Monday. The state is seeking to have 50,000 users by the end of the week.

Briefings schedule

The governor’s briefings will no longer be daily, but every other day during the week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m.

Residents can visit gov.ri.gov to sign up for daily COVID-19 email updates.

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