Block Island has announced its first positive case of COVID-19. The news comes not long after the town of New Shoreham passed an ordinance limiting travel to the island in an effort to protect residents from the coronavirus.
Alex Nunes
Alex oversees the three local bureaus at The Public’s Radio, and staffs the desk for our South County Bureau. Alex was previously the co-host and co executive producer of The Public's Radio podcast, Mosaic. The show explored the history of immigration in Southern New England through the stories of individual immigrants and their descendants and received an Edward R. Murrow Award for best podcast in the New England region. Alex previously worked as an editor at The Westerly Sun and The New London Day.
Posted inArticle, Health
What Are You Cooking During The Coronavirus Pandemic?
The COVID-19 crisis has many people embracing ambitious, do-it-yourself cooking projects. Are you someone who’s dusted off the recipe book? Have you started baking bread? Are you planning your own vegetable garden for spring?
Posted inArticle, Health, South County Bureau
How One RI Town Got It Right During The Spanish Flu Pandemic
The COVID-19 crisis has drawn comparisons to the Spanish Influenza of 1918 and warnings about the risks of responding to a pandemic by doing too little too late. But the town of Westerly serves as a different kind of historical lesson. Officials there took bold and quick steps in 1918 and prevented deaths.
Posted inArticle, Health
National Guard Spreads Out Across RI Coastal Towns
The Rhode Island National Guard says it’s already visited about 600 homes as soldiers help enforce the governor’s new executive order requiring a two-week quarantine for all people coming in from out-of-state.
Posted inArticle, Health
Remote Block Island Wants To Stay That Way
Rhode Island’s efforts to crack down on out of state visitors pale in comparison to what’s happening on Block Island. The small community off the southern coast of the state is enforcing a new ordinance that’s trying to keep almost everybody who is not a permanent resident off the island.
Posted inArticle, Business
What’s An Essential Retail Business?
Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo has ordered all non-essential retail businesses closed, beginning March 30. Here’s a list of essential businesses, as outlined in her executive order.
Posted inArticle, Health
Welcome To Rhode Island, Now Go Quarantine
Under usual circumstances, New Yorkers are welcome in Rhode Island. A lot of them own homes here, and more people means more business. But with the New York City region now a coronavirus epicenter, all those orange and Navy blue license plates are becoming reason for alarm.
Posted inArticle, Health
RI 12 Step Meetings Go Online To Adapt To COVID-19
Twelve step group meetings are critical for many people in recovery. Now that community spaces have closed because of coronavirus, members are turning to streaming video meetings through services like Zoom.
Posted inArticle, Health
Superintendent: No New Cases Reported At Westerly School
The superintendent of public schools in Westerly said state health officials have not notified him of any new cases at the elementary school where a student tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month.
Posted inArticle, Health
It’s “A Critical Time” For RI Food Pantries
People losing their jobs today because of the COVID-19 crisis could be people in need of food assistance tomorrow. And that has food pantries in Rhode Island bracing for a wave of new clients.
