The transmission rate has nearly doubled to 196.2 new cases per 100,000 persons in the past seven days. The state’s action level is 100 cases per 100,000.
Even more distressing is that Rhode Island is experiencing the fastest increase in hospitalizations of all states, a 24% increase over the past two weeks (and even faster over the past week, a 55% increase in hospitalizations):
None of these are good trends as families begin to gather for Thanksgiving.
Dr. Michael Fine urges home testing before going to holiday gatherings PHOTO: GoLocalThanksgiving Guidance
Dr. Michael Fine, the former Rhode Island Director of Health, gives guidance for families who are getting together for Thanksgiving.
"I think basically everybody who's got unvaccinated and vaccinated people together should get a bunch of the rapid tests that you can do at home -- you can get them from the local pharmacy and everybody should test twice the morning of Thanksgiving," said Fine
"If you do that, then the likelihood of somebody who's [then] transmitting disease to someone else is next to nothing and that will protect everybody," said Fine.
It will be a busy Thanksgiving.
According to AAA, airports and roads will be jam-packed this year as AAA predicts 53.4 million people to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, up 13% from 2020.
This brings travel volumes within 5% of pre-pandemic levels in 2019, with air travel almost completely recovering from its dramatic fall during the pandemic, up 80% over last year.
“This Thanksgiving, travel will look a lot different than last year,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president, AAA Travel. “Now that the borders are open and new health and safety guidelines are in place, travel is once again high on the list for Americans who are ready to reunite with their loved ones for the holiday.”
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