No New RI Coronavirus Deaths, But Positivity Rate At 2.5 Percent

PROVIDENCE, RI — While the Rhode Island Board of Health reported no new coronavirus-related deaths on Thursday, there were some concerning numbers when it came to new hospitalizations and positivity rate.

The state reported 107 new hospitalizations and a positivity rate of 2.5 percent after it was 1.8 percent on Wednesday.

The slow, but consistent, surge continued one day after Gov. Gina Raimondo announced she was extending phase 3 of the state's reopening amid recent bumps that she said were traced back to large social gatherings such as baby showers, baseball parties and oversized family events.

"We're partying too much," Raimondo said during her weekly Wednesday news conference. "Social gatherings are too large and people aren't wearing their masks."

Raimondo announced an executive order lowering the amount of people who can be at a social gathering from 25 to 15. She said residents had become too relaxed when it came to keeping track of the number of people at gatherings and who was there for contact tracing if there became an issue.

"If you are doing this I need you to knock it off because people are getting sick, people are dying and it's not necessary," she said. "Your right to have a party should not infringe on (other RI residents') right to live."

Raimondo said the goal is to remain below a 2 percent positivity rate.

There were 110 new cases of coronavirus reported in the state with 77 hospitalizations — both small increases from the day prior. As of Thursday, the Board of Health reported 13 people were in intensive care units in the state and five were on ventilators.

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