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Raimondo said she wants to see 30,000 downloads by Friday but that the initial response to the mobile app is stronger than anticipated.
“That’s awesome. That’s terrific,” she said. “I’m so pleased. That’s blown away all of our expectations.”
The app can be used to find grocery delivery services, virus information, and testing options. Users can also choose to have their movements tracked so state health officials can request access to the data should a person test positive for COVID-19.
“If you say yes, great. If you say no, then they’ll ask you to read it to them so they can know everywhere you’ve been and we can really pinpoint our response and go do contact tracing to the people who you’ve been in contact with,” Raimondo said.
Speaking at her daily briefing Thursday, Raimondo also unveiled more details about state guidelines for summer camps due to open at the end of next month.
Raimondo said campers and staff will need to remain in stable groups of 15 people every day in order to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. She’s asking camp providers to submit detailed checklists ahead of reopening, including plans for cleaning, drop off and pick up, and keeping campers in small “pods.”
Raimondo said the hope is to give parents confidence that they can sign up their kids for camp this summer.
“You should feel safe sending your children, because we’re going to make sure that they’re following the rules and that your children will be safe,” the governor said.
Raimondo has set a target date of June 29 for opening summer camps. She said detailed plans are being posted today on reopeningri.com.
On Thursday, the governor also gave Rhode Islanders a view into the work being done to help limit the spread of coronavirus in nursing homes.
She said a team made up of staff from multiple state departments and the National Guard has responded to calls from 44 nursing homes, made rapid assessments, and deployed special National Guard units when necessary.
“If you look all around the world, all around the country, the greatest crisis that we’ve seen is in nursing homes,” Raimondo said. “Relatively, Rhode Island has done a good job. But—relatively—if it’s your mom who’s in a nursing home, you don’t want to hear that…I understand that, and everyday we’re trying to do a little more, and we are getting better and we are getting smarter.”
