RI Covid Cases Spiking: “If We are Serious About Our Economy Let’s Put This to Bed,” Says Fine
Friday, April 02, 2021
Dr. Fine voices frustration about rollbacks potentially jeopardizing summer economy in RI. Photo: Richard McCaffrey for GoLocal
In the past two days, Rhode Island has recorded nearly 900 new coronavirus cases, which is more than any two-day period that occurred in the first wave.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTNearly all virus measures are increasing -- hospitalizations, cases per 100,000, and percent testing positive -- although testing positive data is less valuable as Rhode Island officials mix asymptomatic testing with symptomatic testing -- thus, underreporting the true count.
In the past two days, Rhode Island has recorded 883 new cases and in the past two weeks, and hospitalizations have begun to climb again -- now up to 131.
Dr. Michael Fine, the former Rhode Island Director of Health warns that the relaxation of restrictions in the past 45 days by outgoing Governor Gina Raimondo and incoming Dan McKee has helped to allow the infection to spread.
"Let’s do it right. Get it done it will take a couple of weeks," said Fine on Thursday on GoLocal LIVE. "Let's get the numbers to where we can control them. Let’s get everyone vaccinated."
Fine says the state continues to risk its economic recovery because of prematurely removing restrictions and the unwillingness to have the discipline to push the amount of virus down far enough.
"And then we can portray ourselves as the safest state in the union when it comes to the summer. But instead, we are being short-sighted, pennywise, and pound foolish and that seems to be our mantra since the beginning," said Fine.
"We have this summer that is so important to our economy -- if we are serious about our economy, let's get this put to bed and get done right and done right and have a big party," added Fine.
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