R.I. positivity rate, hospitalizations on the rise

Providence ( AP) — Rhode Island’s coronavirus test positivity rate and the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 are continuing to climb, according to state Department of Health data released Friday.

The 198 new positive cases were out of about 6,600 tests, a 3% positivity rate.

The seven-day rolling average of the positivity rate in the state has now risen over the past two weeks from about 1.1% on Oct. 1 to nearly 2.1% on Thursday, according to the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

The state also adjusted the number of new confirmed cases on Wednesday to 279, the largest one-day total since early May.

The seven- day rolling average of daily new cases has risen over the past two weeks from 122 on Oct. 1 to 199 on Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins figures.

There were 137 people in the state’s hospitals with the disease as of Wednesday, up from 131 the previous day, and the highest one-day total since June 11.

The state also reported three new virus-related fatalities, for a total of 1,152.

Governor sued

Ten Rhode Island residents have sued Gov. Gina Raimondo in federal court for requiring them to test for COVID-19, denying them “air of best quality” by requiring them to wear face coverings, and denying them freedom of assembly.

Regulations in place to battle the pandemic have resulted in the plaintiffs “not enjoying normal events canceled by fear of said virus.”

The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday by lead plaintiff Peter Chafee Card Jr., of Middletown.

“Our whole way of life is being trashed,” Card told The Newport Daily News. “A way to stop a bully is to call the bully out. A lawsuit is a good way to call out a bully.”

A spokesperson for the Democratic governor called the restrictions necessary.

“The extraordinary circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the severe threat it poses to at-risk populations, including those over 65 years of age, has necessitated restrictions around in- person communal events and the implementation of critical public health procedures,” Audrey Lucas wrote in an email.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to issue a cease and desist order ending Raimondo’s state of emergency.