COVID Transmission Rate Explodes in RI — Now Over 1,200, Over 3,000 New Cases
Thursday, December 30, 2021
The transmission rate in Rhode Island jumped again to 1,282 cases per 100,000 residents over a seven-day period.
The state’s action level is 100 cases per 100,000 over a week-long period.
The transmission rate is the indicator that the virus continues to rage across Rhode Island.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe Rhode Island Department of Health also reported that Rhode Island had more than 3,000 cases and has jumped in the past week to number two in the United States per capita since the pandemic has begun.
Rhode Island now trails only North Dakota for number of cases per capita.
The state also reported four confirmed COVID-related deaths on Thursday. Rhode Island ranks 15th per capita for deaths since the virus hit the U.S. in early 2020. The state has now suffered 3,066 COVID deaths.
Rhode Island Hospital Fraying
One thing is clear -- Rhode Island is facing weeks of elevated cases and stress on a failing healthcare system.
Megan Ranney of Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital said this week her emergency room is on the brink.
“Our level one trauma hospital — the state’s only one — will be performing only emergency surgical procedures, starting today, to try to preserve our ability to provide high-quality care to acutely ill patients,” Ranney told the Washington Post.
“Our absences are through the roof. And the patients are so sick — not just with covid but with everything. It’s so, so bad,” Ranney said. “The next few weeks are going to be terrifying for patients and families and providers.”
