BREAKING: Health Officials See Spike of New Coronavirus Cases in Central Falls

BREAKING: Health Officials See Spike of New Coronavirus Cases in Central Falls

The coronavirus is spiking in Central Falls, according to new data.

In the past two days, there has been a sudden spike of cases in the city.

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“We have known all along that COVID-19 wasn’t gone,” said Chief Health Strategist for the City of Central Falls, Dr. Michael Fine. “This outbreak reminds us all of the need to be vigilant, wear a mask, social distance, wash your hands, and to call your primary care clinician or 855-843-7620 at the first sign of symptoms.”

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Fine is the former Rhode Island Director of Health and appears daily on GoLocal LIVE.

Central Falls has been per capita one of the hardest-hit communities in the United States.

The increase in COVID-19 positive cases at the Dexter Street site, although not all from Central Falls, are believed to be related to 4th of July weekend activities.

The City’s testing site noted 130 to 140 people a day at the site which is ten times what the rate of testing was about a month ago at the same site. Due to celebrations in Rhode Island and across the nation, many people came into contact with more people than they had previously, sometimes without masks, which is what is believed to have caused this sudden increase in positive cases.

Uptick in Testing and Cases -- and Response

“We are seeing a quadrupling of positive cases in the last few days, although it was associated with a huge increase with demand for testing at the Dexter Street site,” said Fine.

“The percentage test positive has doubled.  This suggests vigorous community spread in the city and close by communities,” he added.

The city is responding to this increase in positive cases with the continuance of their initiative with police cruisers playing COVID-19 notice messages in English and Spanish throughout the Central Falls.

The message will include reminding residents that COVID-19 is still present and prevalent in the city, to wear masks, wash hands frequently, and to call a primary care clinician or the BEAT COVID-19 hotline at 855-843-7620 as soon as you are feeling ill. City personnel and Central Falls Police will be enforcing the masking requirement in the city by reminding people of the Executive Order still in place, along with passing out masks to those in need.

Continued Precautions

On Monday, July 20, the City of Central Falls will recognize Colombian Independence Day with a flag raising ceremony at City Hall and, as part of that ceremony, will be reminding those in attendance of the importance of continuing COVID-19 precautions. The City of Central Falls is in close contact with the Rhode Island Department of Health about this outbreak and will continue to monitor the situation.

“The City of Central Falls is deeply committed to the health and safety of all its residents,” said Mayor James A. Diossa. “We ask everyone to join with us to protect each person and the community as a whole during this difficult time.”

For those who do not have a primary care clinician and are looking for a test at the Dexter Street site, they are encouraged to call 855-843-7620.