R.I. to get $1.25 billion from virus stimulus plan

Rhode Island is poised to receive about $1.25 billion in federal aid to help bolster state finances.

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed also said Wednesday that the $2 trillion economic stimulus plan announced by congressional leaders will, if approved, include direct payments to families, expanded jobless benefits, aid for struggling small businesses, and additional resources for hospitals, medical facilities and other public health institutions.

“The size and scope of this emergency funding is unprecedented, but so is the severity of this pandemic and the economic trauma that families, businesses, and communities are facing,” he said in a statement. “We’re making needed investments in people and our health infrastructure, and strengthening state and local capacity to effectively respond.”

The Rhode Island Democrat was among the leading lawmakers negotiating the bipartisan deal.

Gov. Gina Raimondo hailed the proposal as good news as the state faces a steep drop in revenue from the economic shutdown.

Retail restrictions

New restrictions are coming to grocery and retail stores still allowed to be open during the pandemic, Gov. Gina Raimondo said Wednesday.

The Democrat said the forthcoming guidelines by the state Department of Business Regulation will restrict the number of people who can be inside the establishments and require stores be cleaned more frequently.

She said far too many retailers still are seeing large crowds, despite the business closures her administration has imposed.

New cases

Rhode Island has confirmed eight additional cases of the virus, increasing the total count to more than 130, health officials said Wednesday.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

Virus testing

Rhode Island’s capacity to test people for the virus is getting a boost. Care New England, the state’s second largest hospital system, has received two machines that can test samples, officials said.