UPDATE: RI Dept. of Health's Alexander-Scott Tests Positive for Coronavirus, Raimondo to Quarantine

UPDATE: RI Dept. of Health's Alexander-Scott Tests Positive for Coronavirus, Raimondo to Quarantine

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo's office announced Saturday night that her top medical expert has tested positive for the coronavirus. 

The state currently ranks number one in the United States for number of positive cases per 100,000.

Raimondo will quarantine for 7 days.

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“Earlier today, Rhode Island Department of Health Director Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, tested positive for COVID-19. This was identified through routine testing. She is asymptomatic and will continue working from home. In accordance with Department of Health guidance, Governor Gina Raimondo and several members of her senior leadership team will be self-quarantining. The Governor tested negative today and will continue to be tested during her quarantine,” said Raimondo spokesman Josh Block.

The Governor's office did confirm that Raimondo did eat dinner in a Providence restaurant on Friday night. "She had dinner at a local restaurant with her husband, removed her mask when eating/drinking, and had her mask on when not eating/drinking and when anyone from outside the household approached the table – all of which is consistent with the current guidelines," said Block.

The restaurant is beleived to be Barnaby's in Providence.

Earlier in the week, Raimondo's Director of Adminstration admitted he tested positive. And GoLocal had reported an earlier outbreak in the Governor's office in late November.

The press conference planned for this Thursday, 12/17 will be moved to Friday, 12/18 at 1pm. Raimondo last saw Dr. Alexander-Scott in-person at last Thursday’s press conference. Rhode Island Department of Health guidance provides for a seven-day quarantine from the date of exposure if accompanied by a negative test on day five. That seven-day period will conclude on Thursday, 12/17.

This story was updated on 12/13/2020 at 6:00 AM