COVID-19 CRISIS

THE LATEST: State's first walk-and-drive thru testing site announced in Providence

13 more deaths, 230 new cases reported in RI

Posted

Editor's note: This story appears on our websites as part of a new 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.

The first walk-and-drive thru coronavirus testing site, located in the parking lot of the Bailey Elementary School in Providence, was announced during Gov. Gina Raimondo’s daily briefing Sunday afternoon.

Developed in partnership with the Providence Community Health Center, the new site – chosen for its central location within the city – will be available for all residents, Raimondo said, “regardless of income or immigration status.”

“It’s an important step, and I want to thank everybody who worked extra hard to make that possible,” she said.

While the testing site may be accessible by foot, Raimondo reminded everyone that they still need to call their healthcare providers first and have them setup an appointment.

“You still need an appointment; you can’t just walk over,” she said.

For a comprehensive list of health care clinics available to residents, Raimondo pointed them to the Rhode Island Department of Health’s website in order to access that information.

COVID-19 and the Latino community

During Saturday’s briefing, Raimondo said she and Department of Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexandra-Scott had shared that 45 percent of all positive cases throughout the state were found to be amongst the Latino community – something that is “not unique to Rhode Island,” but concerning nonetheless.

“We need to do more, we need to do better, and we are committed to doing that,” Raimondo said.

To that end, she announced on Sunday that she would be working with numerous advisors and stakeholders – specially thanking Dr. Pablo Rodriguez, Central Falls Mayor James Diossa, Rep. Grace Diaz and Providence City Councilwoman Sabina Matos – to get a better understanding of what is happening and how to better get the state’s messages across. Gov. Raimondo added that she will be launching an advertising effort across Latino radio and other Spanish media outlets over the course of the next few days.

“None of it’s perfect, but they’re all important steps,” she said.

A note on masks

Saturday was the first day Raimondo’s executive order regarding masks went into effect, which required employees of businesses and nonprofits to wear cloth face-coverings at work, as well as customers of retail, grocery stores, and similar establishments to do the same. After the Department of Business Regulation visited over 200 retail stores, unannounced, throughout the state, Raimondo said she was happy to report “terrific compliance” from both employees and customers.

“The cloth mask will not protect you from getting the disease, but it will go a long way in preventing you from spreading it,” she said.

Still, Raimondo said there were two ways Rhode Islanders could improve moving forward, the first being that everyone wear their masks properly — meaning that both the nose and mouth have to be covered (visit commerceri.com or the Mask Up RI Instagram page for any guidance in this). Secondly, customers going through drive-thru also need to make sure they are wearing masks, too.

“You’re not six feet away from somebody when you’re at a drive-thru,” she said.

The numbers

Filling in for Alexander-Scott Sunday afternoon, Dr. James McDonald reported 13 new deaths and 230 more cases of coronavirus that day, bringing the state’s total death toll to 150. Of those deaths, he said two were in their 60s, four in their 70s, four in their 80s and three in their 90s. Currently, Dr. McDonald said 254 people are in the hospital, with 70 in the intensive care unit. Of those 70 people, 43 are on respirator machines.

Funerals and visiting loved ones

Though it was “heartbreaking” for her to have to say it, Raimondo reminded Rhode Islanders that there was still a law in effect forbidding social gatherings of more than five people – including funerals.

“We’ve seen in other states that funerals can be a vector for the virus,” she said.

Raimondo also acknowledged that it was difficult during this time to refrain from visiting loved ones in hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. 

“It doesn’t feel human, it doesn’t feel right, it doesn’t feel loving — and yet, it’s the way we’re forced to live right now so we can keep everyone safe,” she said.

Some friendly reminders

Raimondo took a few moments to remind everyone of the safety guidelines that have been issued over the last few weeks, including:

  • Wearing cloth face coverings when out in public
  • Writing in contact tracing notebooks every day
  • Staying six feet away from each other
  • Avoiding gatherings of more than 5 people
  • Working from home when at all possible

Though she acknowledged that these restrictions were an “unnatural way to live,” Raimondo encouraged residents to “hang in there” as their compliance was helping to flatten the curve.

“It’s tough, but it’s working, and I want to say thank you,” she said.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here