RI Reports 50 New Coronavirus Cases, 3 Deaths On Thursday

PROVIDENCE, RI — Nine days after the state opened most businesses and increased social gathering limits as part of phase 3 of its reopening, the numbers of confirmed coronavirus cases in RI remained relatively low, according to RI Department of Health statistics released on Thursday.

The state reported 50 news cases and three deaths on Thursday, after reporting 41 new cases and two deaths on Wednesday. The number of patients in intensive care dropped to four — a new low since cases began being detected in the middle of March — with the number of patients on ventilators at 3.

The positivity rate of new tests was 2.8 percent.

"I do think Rhode Island is a fantastic place because we do have a lid on the virus," Gov. Gina Raimondo said during her Wednesday news conference.

Raimondo stressed on Wednesday that all the gains residents have made in the state could be reversed quickly if residents stop "following the rules" or social distancing, mask-wearing and adhering to coronavirus business regulations.

"Remember this — at the blink of an eye we could be back where we were a couple of months ago — struggling and seeing our numbers surge up the line," Raimondo said. "Our destiny is in our hands."

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