Rhode Island reports 74 new coronavirus cases, 1 death

PROVIDENCE (AP) — There have been another 74 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Rhode Island and one additional death attributed to COVID-19, the state Department of Health reported Friday.

The new positive cases were out of 3,360 tests administered, a positive rate of about 2.2%.

There have now been more than 18,200 confirmed cases of the disease in the state and 1,002 deaths.

Out of the 50 U.S. states, Rhode Island remains near the top in deaths per capita, ranking behind only Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.

The number of people in the state’s hospitals being treated for COVID-19 was 66 as of Wednesday, the latest day for which the information was available, a number that has remained roughly the same for five consecutive days.

Six of the patients currently hospitalized are in intensive care.

BENEFITS OF SCHOOL

Gov. Gina Raimondo has enlisted the help of two pediatricians to reassure parents that it is safe to reopen the state’s schools as she has planned on Aug. 31.

Her reopening plan has received pushback from parents, teachers and administrators who don’t think the coronavirus will be under adequate control by that date.

Dr. Jim McDonald of the state Department of Health, and Dr. Elizabeth Lange, former president of the state chapter of the American Academy of Pediatricians, said during a live forum Thursday that while there is no way to make in-person learning risk-free, there are ways to minimize th risk.