Testing Data Shows Maybe NY Should Be Blocking RI Residents

Testing Data Shows Maybe NY Should Be Blocking RI Residents

According to the most recent data from the Rhode Island and New York health departments, it may be Governor Andrew Cuomo who should be stopping Rhode Islanders at the border.

Governor Gina Raimondo’s executive order ordering law enforcement to intercept NewYorkers coming to Rhode Island fearing the spread of the coronavirus may be unfounded and a waste of resources.

Anyone coming from New York to Rhode Island is now under an order to self-quarantine for 14 days.

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A GoLocal review of populations, number of tests, and the number of positive findings show that New York may be feared only because they have implemented a more comprehensive testing program.

Cuomo tweeted Thursday, "New York is doing more tests, now up to 18,650 tests per day. 25% of all tests in the country have been done in New York. We need to find the positives to help stop the spread."

On Thursday, Rhode Island only completed 220 tests -- just 1.17% of New York's testing Thursday. If Rhode Island's program was testing a proportionate number of tests, the state would have completed 1,234 tests on Thursday. 

Rhode Island officials have lagged behind other states. In Massachusetts, per capita, more than twice as many tests have been conducted than in Rhode Island. 

New York’s population is approximately 18 times larger than Rhode Island's and the Empire state has far more positive tests because New York has implemented a far more effective testing program.

According to data, New York has tested more than 122,000 residents while Rhode Island has tested less than 1,700.

Per capita, the state of New York has tested four times as many residents as Rhode Island has.

More Positives, Percentage of Positives

New York has 38,997 positive findings, but on a per capita basis, New Yorker’s ranking positive is just 0.20 — only a third higher than Rhode Island’s 0.15 percent based on just 165 positive cases.