RI Reports More Than 600 New Coronavirus Cases - Colleges 30% of Testing, Just 4.6% of Cases

RI Reports More Than 600 New Coronavirus Cases - Colleges 30% of Testing, Just 4.6% of Cases

There appear to be more problems with Rhode Island’s testing program — according to the state, just 9,709 tests were conducted on Monday, and of those 2,840 were asymptomatic tests conducted by the colleges and universities.

The universities had just 28 positive cases of the state’s 605 positive cases as reported by the RIDOH on Tuesday. The colleges did 30% of the tests but had just 4.6% of the cases.

Thus, not counting the colleges, the state had a net of 575 cases on 6,869 tests for a positivity rate of 8.4%

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Rhode Island was also hit with one of its highest daily death toll with 8 deaths on Monday.

Hospitalizations 

Maybe most concerning is that hospitalizations increased again to 265 — just a month ago there were just 124 coronavirus patients in Rhode Island hospitals.

GoLocal first reported earlier today, that Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo's office is being impacted by coronavirus.

"Three employees who work in the Governor's Office of Constituent Services recently tested positive for COVID-19," said spokesperson Audrey Lucas. 

"Four employees in the Governor’s Office are under quarantine, per the Department of Health’s orders," she added. 

According to Lucas, the office has subsequently been deep cleaned. 

Nationally, the U.S. suffered 166,581 new cases and over the past 14-days has seen an 82% increase.

Raimondo Press Conference Delayed

Raimondo was expected to update  Rhode Islanders on Wednesday   as to the state’s next steps in trying to slow the spread of the virus, but that briefing has been now pushed to Thursday at 1:00 PM.