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Governor Gina Raimondo announced her support for an agreement reached between the state Department of Corrections, the Public Defender, and the state Attorney General.
The early release could be extended to as many as 76 inmates, who were set to be released within the next three months. The details of any release are still being worked out with the State Supreme Court. As of Thursday, two Department of Corrections staff had tested positive for COVID-19.
The number of cases of coronavirus are expected to surge across the state. As of Thursday, there were 657 confirmed cases. There were also two new fatalities, bringing the number of COVID-19 related deaths to 12. The state is expanding testing to all people displaying symptoms, though residents still need an appointment. Previously the state was only testing vulnerable populations and frontline workers, like doctors and nurses.
Raimondo has said she hoped to increase testing to 1,000 people per day. The state now has three testing sites set up in Providence, Warwick and South County at the public colleges.
As the number of confirmed cases increases, so will the need for hospital beds. The governor says the state could face a severe shortage of space for patients.
“I have engineers and architects, the army corps of engineers, building new hospitals and making it so that we can have thousands of extra beds,” Raimondo said Thursday.
Raimondo spent her daily briefing answering questions about coronavirus from Rhode Island students. According to Raimondo, students submitted some 13,000 questions within a week. The questioners ranged in age from pre-kindergarten to high school seniors. For the last two, K-12 students have been “distance learning,” mainly in the form of online classes.
Students wanted to know how the Governor will make the decision to return to school, if they could still go out to play, and whether the Easter Bunny would be visiting.
“The Easter Bunny is an essential worker, and is not quarantined,” Raimondo said. “And also bunnies can’t get the coronavirus.”
She also hinted that schools would not return to a normal schedule anytime soon. In a statement directed to the high school seniors of Rhode Island, Raimondo said it is not likely that typical end of year activities will take place as usual.
“It’s really unlikely that we’re going to be able to allow you to have your proms in the same way that you thought you might have a prom — that you’re going to have the end of year sports banquets or award ceremonies or even graduations,” Raimondo said.
Schools are currently closed through April.
The governor reiterated her call for students to work diligently on their classwork, wash their hands regularly and not gather in large groups. She also acknowledged how stressful the current situation may be on young people.
“This is kind of a weird time,” Raimondo said. “Sometimes you might be scared or confused, or sad. I want you to know it’s totally normal.”
The state, in partnership with Bradley Hospital, has expanded a tele-health service for young people with mental health needs called Kids’ Link. The hotline is: 855-543-5465.
