EDITORIAL: With Raimondo’s Departure, Time to Hit Reset Button on RI's Coronavirus Response

EDITORIAL: With Raimondo’s Departure, Time to Hit Reset Button on RI's Coronavirus Response

Here are the facts:

- The New York Times ranked Rhode Island #1 for most cases per 100,000 residents on Monday.

- Covid ActNow reported that Rhode Island has the highest number of new cases it has ever had per 100,000 residents. Rhode Island is ranked as being in an “extreme outbreak.”

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- The Wall Street Journal on Monday reported that Rhode Island has the second-lowest vaccination rate per 100,000 in New England.

- The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) reports that through Monday, 35,649 vaccine doses have been administered. The CDC reports that they have delivered 80,225 to the state. Rhode Island has only used 44% of its vaccine.

- A GoLocal investigation found that the existing vaccination plan is riddled with serious errors. The plan outlines that a priority for the state is to vaccinate children. But, there is no vaccine approved by the FDA and CDC for children.

- After a month, the Rhode Island Department of Health is still vaccinating fewer than 2,000 Rhode Islanders a day. At this pace, it will take 2 years.

- RIDOH seems to be confused about what constitutes “herd immunity.” RIDOH says it is between 50% and 70% of the population. Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to President-elect Joe Biden, says it is 75% to 85% — the difference of the number of doses that would need to be used from Rhode Island's low estimate to the federal policy’s high is approximately 700,000.

- RIDOH cannot answer the most simple question -- how many people need to be vaccinated? 

As Governor Gina Raimondo leaves Rhode Island behind for DC, she also leaves a coronavirus response that is disjointed, confused, lacks transparency and desperately needs new leadership.

Governor Dan McKee has the opportunity to transform the state. If he wants to energize Rhode Island's economic recovery, then he must lead the most efficient, safest and fastest vaccination program.

Let's line everyone up and jab them in the arm, and then 21 days later do it again.

This is the opportunity to use Rhode Island's size as a competitive advantage to win the vaccination race.

For the first time, Rhode Island can be the first out of the recession. We can be the first to beat the virus.

But only if things change. And fast.