UPDATED: 200 in RI Are Now Self-Quarantined As Coronavirus Exposures More Than Quadrupled

UPDATED: 200 in RI Are Now Self-Quarantined As Coronavirus Exposures More Than Quadrupled

The number being self-quarantined due to potential exposure to the coronavirus in Rhode Island has quadrupled in the past 72 hours. According to the Rhode Island Department of Health, about 200 are now being self-quarantined -- up from 38 individuals on Sunday.

In an email from St. Ray's officials to parents they outlined some of the additional exposures.

Saints,

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In light of the news that one of our faculty has received a "presumptive positive" result for the coronavirus, this faculty's class rosters were provided to RIDOH, and they began making phone calls to student's families on Tuesday evening, March 3. The students who were in contact with this faculty member will be under self-quarantine from now until the end of the day on March 12, 2020. 

RIDOH stresses that the quarantine is only for the SRA student who was in direct contact with the faculty member. Parents, siblings and other household members are not impacted and may go about business as usual. Students who are not self-quarantined are allowed to be out in public.

At this time, RIDOH is not requiring that the school remain closed, but SRA administration has decided to continue online coursework through March 13. Although transmission risk is still low, we prefer to take a conservative approach. Presently, we expect normal operations to resume on Monday, March 16. We know that this is unconventional, and we ask for your continued patience and cooperation as we work to safeguard the well-being of the community.  

It has recently come to our attention that one of the other chaperones who was undergoing testing has come back negative. We are very relieved for her and the school community.

We are working with the appropriate agencies to determine how extra-curricular activities (including sports and drama) will be conducted during this school closure.

Saints Strong!!

Dan Richard

DATA UPDATES:

Globally there are now more than 95,000 cases and 3,200 deaths.

Number of Rhode Island COVID-19 positive (including presumptive positive) cases: 2

This number does not include a Massachusetts resident who the Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported as having a presumptive positive test result. This individual went on the Saint Raphael Academy trip to Italy in mid-February.

Number of people who had negative test results at RIDOH’s State Health Laboratories: 11
Number of people for whom tests are pending: 7
Number of people who are currently instructed to self-quarantine in Rhode Island because they had direct contact with a person with COVID-19: approximately 200 (RIDOH is sharing an approximate number because this number is subject to change regularly)

Testing in Rhode Island is being done at RIDOH’s State Health Laboratories. Confirmatory testing is being done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Results are considered ‘presumptive’ if they still need to be confirmed by the CDC.