Neronha to Quarantine for 14 Days After Household Member Tests Positive

Neronha to Quarantine for 14 Days After Household Member Tests Positive

The Office of Rhode Island Attorney General Neronha announced on Tuesday that he has been directed by the Rhode Island Department of Health to quarantine for 14 days after a member of his household tested positive for the coronavirus on Monday. 

According to the office, Neronha will carry out his responsibilities remotely until he is able to return to the office on December 22.

The Attorney General will be tested for COVID-19 today and the results of that test will be made publicly available.

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Shorter Than State Recommendation

The Rhode Island Department of Health recommends a 24-day quarantine, however.

As GoLocal reported on November 4, RIDOH clarified that it should be 24 days. 

"Call the employers and schools of everyone in the house to let them know people will not be at work or school. Plan on 24 days home for everyone living in the house. (This is because symptoms can develop up to 14 days after your last exposure.) RIDOH will give you the exact dates when they call. Watch for symptoms of COVID-19 in everyone living with you," writes RIDOH.

On Tuesday, RIDOH said that language was just "for planning."

"If someone is a household contact of a person who tests positive, the contact should plan on being home for an extended period of time because you need to quarantine for 14 days since your last exposure to the positive person. In some instances, it is challenging for someone to isolate from other contacts in the same household. The language...also says that RIDOH will provide you with exact dates on how long you should quarantine for, based on the ability of the person who is sick to isolate," said RIDOH spokesperson Joseph Wendelken. 

Latest Coronavirus Developments

GoLocal reported on Tuesday:

As Rhode Island continues to score the highest rate of infection in the United States, former RI Director of Health Michael Fine is warning that it is critical that Governor Gina Raimondo’s administration change policies.

Fine said on GoLocal LIVE on Monday, "What we are doing now simply is not working."

For the second consecutive day, Rhode Island has the highest number of cases per 100,000 of all states. RI's rate of 110 cases per 100,000 is five times higher than Maine's rate of 19 new cases and more than 50% higher than Connecticut's rate of 60 and Massachusetts' rate of 66 respectively.

Updated Tuesday 12:16 PM