RI Reports Highest Coronavirus Day to Date - Fine Issues Strong Warning to Rhode Islanders
Saturday, October 24, 2020
Rhode Island reported its highest number of positive coronavirus cases to date on Friday — and former Rhode Island Director of Health Dr. Michael Fine issued a strong warning to Rhode Islanders to act now.
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) on Friday reported 449 new cases on 14,073 tests the day prior.
Fine, in an appearance on GoLocal LIVE, urged older Rhode Islanders to isolate — now.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTVIDEO: See Fine’s Friday Appearance on LIVE — BELOW
“This isn’t the time to worry — this is the time to act,” said Fine. “Anyone after 50 needs to stay home and isolate. Everyone needs to wear a mask when you go outside the house."
“The biggest danger that it will spread widely and we don’t have a way to check its spread,” said Fine. “I fear at these numbers it will exceed RIDOH’s ability to do contact tracing — they’re working as hard as they can but there are just not enough bodies to get the contact tracing done.”
This week, COVID Act Now put Rhode Island in its highest risk category for an imminent outbreak — and said the state's insufficient contract tracing abilities is particularly problematic.
Hospitals — and Fallacy of Testing
“We didn’t get sophisticated enough at isolating people and getting them out of their houses,” said Fine. “The danger is if we don’t do that we’ll have widespread disease. We won’t be able to run our businesses, our schools — we’re going to start pushing on our hospital capacity in two to three weeks.”
“I think it asks the question whether the strategy of investing all this money in testing has worked,” said Fine. “We have to look really hard at whether our strategy of putting all our effort into testing is working, and the evidence is it’s not. “
“Make sure you’re precise about masking. Don’t visit your in-laws if they’re over 50,” said Fine. “Over the next couple of days it’s time to make sure everyone has what they need to not go out for the next six to eight weeks.”
Editor's note: This story was first published 10/23/20 12:50 PM