VIDEO: More At-Home Rapid Tests Coming to RI, National Guard Going to Butler, Says McKee
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VIDEO: More At-Home Rapid Tests Coming to RI, National Guard Going to Butler, Says McKee
He also announced that the National Guard is going to be deployed at Butler Hospital in an effort to ease the strain on the state’s healthcare system.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTMcKee’s remarks come two weeks after he last held a coronavirus press conference — and in a week in which Rhode Island regained the distinction of being the number one state in cases per capita in the country since the start of the pandemic.
McKee took the opportunity to point out that in his recent visits to hospitals, he was told the majority of COVID-related patients are unvaccinated.
“[We were told] 50 to 75% of the patients were unvaccinated,” said McKee of speaking with staff at Rhode Island Hospital.
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On Wednesday, McKee announced that Rhode Island recently received another shipment of 100,000 at-home rapid tests — with more tests expected soon.
He did, however, urge people not to contact their cities and towns - which will be largely responsible for distribution — until the state and municipality plans have been finalized.
“Do not call your cities and towns — for now,” said McKee, who said that an announcement of how the tests will be made available will be forth coming.
McKee also announced that National Guard resources will be deployed to Butler Hospital in Providence.
“We are deploying national guard to Butler as part of an initial strategy to relieve other hospital emergency departments,” said McKee, who added it would “allow other hospitals to send non-critical patients to Butler.”
McKee noted that last week the state already announced the deployment of 180 Rhode Island National Guard to assist at Rhode Island hospitals.
“Today we’re expanding that to 200…[with] 60 for the Butler hospital strategy,” he said.