Rhode Island Coronavirus Death Toll Hits 1,500; Cases Cross 70K

PROVIDENCE, RI— The Rhode Island Department of Health reported 11 new coronavirus deaths Friday, bringing the state's death toll to 1,509.

Health officials also announced 1,216 new infections, bringing total cases to 70,818 since the pandemic began.

The state has provided 1,717,567 coronavirus tests, with 18,317 tests administered Thursday, according to the health department's COVID-19 Response Data Hub. Out of those who tested positive, 466 remained hospitalized, with 48 in the intensive care unit and 25 on ventilators.

As of Friday, Rhode Island's daily positive test rate was 6.6 percent, a decrease from Monday's high of 10.7 percent. The weekly rate is 8.9 percent, an increase of 2 percentage points from last week.

To prevent further spread of the virus, Gov. Gina Raimondo on Thursday extended the state's economic "pause" for an additional week, prolonging restrictions and forced closures until Dec. 20 at the earliest.