20 RI Communities Double Coronavirus Cases in 2 Weeks or Are 4 Times State's Safe Standard

20 RI Communities Double Coronavirus Cases in 2 Weeks or Are 4 Times State's Safe Standard

A diverse group of Rhode Island’s cities and towns are seeing an explosive increase in the number of new coronavirus cases.

Ten communities ranging from the most affluent to the poorest are seeing massive growth -- doubling the number of cases in just two weeks.

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And, many of the state's cities and towns have blown by Governor Gina Raimondo’s “safe” standard of 100 cases per 100,000 residents.

Now, a record 16 communities across Rhode Island are running four-times or above the “safe” standard.

Those cities and towns predominately are clustered in the so-called urban corridor, but not exclusively. Smithfield has seen cases more than double in two weeks and jump to more than 600 cases per 100,000.

Dr. Michael Fine warns that this fast increasing trend is likely to continue.

“I’m going to look really hard at what happens in a week when we get next week's numbers because I'm really worried that some of this will will quicken and we'll be doubling in a week,” said Fine the former RI Director of Health.

 

Partial Shutdown

Rhode Island on Monday enters into partial shutdown -- one that includes gyms and recreation, but does not include schools or restaurants.

Restaurants are allowed to continue to operate but at one-third capacity and some other limitations. READ ABOUT THE CLOSURES HERE

 

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