RI COVID-19 Deaths Rise to 56, Raimondo Warns RI to Stay Home on Easter
GoLocalProv News Team
RI COVID-19 Deaths Rise to 56, Raimondo Warns RI to Stay Home on Easter
Currently, the state now has 2,348 COVID-19 cases, with 183 hospitalizations.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAhead of Easter Sunday, Raimondo warned Rhode Islanders not to visit nursing homes, or bring -- or send -- deliveries, or even go up to windows to see loved ones.
"Every time a new person comes into a nursing home, that is a potential new exposure," said Raimondo. "Given the situation, we want to give every measure we can to limit the risk of infections."
Raimondo warned that going up to windows to see loved ones will not be allowed.
"We know some of the windows are being opened -- It is not safe, it is not allowable," said Raimondo. "You must find creative ways to [remotely] be in contact with loved ones."
Auxiliary Hospitals in Focus
"If you get sick, we’ll be able to take care of you. We have people working 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Because Rhode Island has done a great job of closing down public spaces and restaurants and obeying social distancing, it has given us time to get ready for a surge," said Raimondo.
"I’ve been touring the hospitals in construction at the Convention Center and in Cranston. What is happening is nothing short of truly extraordinary and heroic," said Raimondo. "I don’t want you to think it’s going to be cops in a gym - they’re going to be top care healthcare facilities. It was good to see hundreds of Rhode Islanders working."
"We need to prepare our existing hospitals to take on more patients," said Raimondo. "I signed an executive order to give our hospitals critical flexibility — they have taken every step to safety accommodate coronavirus patients in their hospitals. It gives them the ability to operate alternative hospital sites. LIfespan and CNE will be operating at those alternative sites."