2 Weeks Into RI's Pause, Coronavirus Numbers Slightly Improved

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island is in the second week of the now-three-week coronavirus "pause," and the weekly data trends show that it could be having an impact. Over the past week, all three of the indicators — percent positivity, new hospital admissions and cases per 100,000 people — all declined slightly.

All three categories are still above their respective safe thresholds. Percent positivity saw the greatest decrease, dropping nearly 1.2 percentage points from 9 percent to 7.8 percent. Cases per 100,000 people also saw a significant drop, falling to 790 from last week's 851.

New hospitalizations decreased slightly, down by eight from the week prior. Hospitalizations are a lagging indicator, meaning that they tend see significant decreases a week or two later than others.

All of these indicators could mean that the pause is working, and Rhode Islanders are "following the rules," Gov. Gina Raimondo's frequent refrain.

At last week's new conference, she extended the pause another week, saying more needed to be done to slow the increase in hospitalizations before the health care system became overwhelmed.

"We cannot stay at this pace," Raimondo said. "Hospitals and field hospitals will be overfilled."

While the pause is set to expire Dec. 20, Rhode Islanders shouldn't expect too many changes. Certain businesses will be allowed to reopen, and capacity will be slightly raised in restaurants, social gatherings will remain limited to single households only until at least the beginning of the new year.

"You should plan to have a small Christmas at home, and not travel," the governor said.

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