'Cautiously Optimistic': RI Coronavirus Trends On The Decline

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island's coronavirus data trends took a promising turn in the past week, with all three of the key data indicators on the decline. For the first time in months, the weekly percent positivity rate fell below 2 percent, and both case numbers and hospitalizations saw significant declines.

Dr. Philip Chan, who stepped in for Rhode Island Department of Health Director Nicole Alexander-Scott this week, said he was "cautiously optimistic" after seeing this week's data.

"Things are trending in the right direction, but unvaccinated people are still at risk," Chan said. "My message today is 100 percent still to get vaccinated."

Over the past week, Rhode Island's average percent positivity rate was 1.9 percent, a slight drop from 2.3 percent the week before. Hospitalizations saw a pretty significant decrease, falling from 130 from 163 the previous week, well below the safe threshold of 210 or fewer.

Cases per 100,000 people, meanwhile, saw the largest decrease over the past week: falling from 257 to 190. While that figure is still above the safe threshold of 100 cases per 100,000 people, it's still the lowest weekly number the state has seen in months.

Coronavirus vaccine appointments are available to eligible Rhode Islanders at state-run and retail locations around the state, now without the need to make an appointment in advance. State leaders are working to set up vaccine clinics in communities that need them, working with churches, schools and other organizations to make vaccine appointments as accessible as possible.

Read more:

• Rhode Island Enters '3rd Phase' Of Vaccine Distribution
• A Regular Summer In RI: State Beaches To Open In May