The number of positive coronavirus cases in Rhode Island surpassed 100 Monday, as Gov. Gina Raimondo imposed an order mandating two weeks of self-quarantine for travelers returning to the state through T.F. Green Airport.
Public safety and health workers are exempt from the order, which takes effect at 7 a.m. Tuesday.
The governor said she was not moving to close the state’s borders, in part since Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker ordered non-essential businesses to close. But she asked workers who commute between Rhode Island and Massachusetts to work from home.
Raimondo and state Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott announced 23 newly identified cases of coronavirus, bringing the state’s total to 106. Of all those cases, Alexander-Scott said, four are hospitalized.
Raimondo said teams of state officials are searching for ventilators and other forms of medical equipment expected to be needed due to a greater number of positive cases.
The governor said the state will get a better handle on the extent of the problem as testing expands, with a target at this time next week of testing more than 700 people a day.
Raimondo acknowledged the shutting down of most businesses statewide has been devastating, but she said it’s necessary to avoid the heavy casualties seen in places like Italy.
“We want to be able to test everybody who we think needs to be tested, quickly identify those folks who are positive or who’ve been exposed to somebody positive and then put them into an effective quarantine or isolation,” she said. “If we can get that system down, and if we have extra capacity for surge beds in our hospitals, then we can talk about letting people go back to work.”
In related news:
- Raimondo signed off on delaying Rhode Island’s presidential primary from April 28 to June 2 due to the coronavirus. Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea said the state will send all voters an application for a mail ballot, with a postage paid return envelope.
- The governor said Rhode Island will not run out of cash to operate state government, but she said an emergency line of credit will probably be necessary.
