Coronavirus: Barrington Schools Cancel Events

BARRINGTON, RI — Barrington Public Schools canceled three events Wednesday night ahead of a statewide conference call Thursday night on best practices for Rhode Island schools amid the coronavirus pandemic. Barrington Superintendent of Schools Michael Messore said more information will be provided following the call.

The Girls' Puberty Night at Hampden Meadows, PTO Bingo night at Sowams and Arts Night at Primrose were canceled.

Amid the ever-changing situation surrounding the new coronavirus in Rhode Island, Governor Gina Raimondo laid out "aggressive, radical" policies aimed at keeping residents safe. For the next two weeks, she asked that all events with 250 or more attendees be canceled, to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Earlier this week, the governor declared a state of emergency, which she said made more funding and resources available to help with the containment effort. So far, there have been 94 negative tests in the state, and eight are still pending. The first case, a man in his 40s, is improving at the hospital, said Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of health at the Rhode Island Department of Health, while all other patients are recovering at home.

"We only have one chance to contain this," Raimondo said. "If we do this now, we'll all be better off in the long run."