“RI Hospitals Will Be Overwhelmed” — 97 New COVID-19 Cases, 93 Hospitalizations
Saturday, April 04, 2020
Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo announced three additional deaths due to coronavirus in the state on Saturday, bringing the fatality total to 17 -- and said that hospitals will be "overwhelmed" in the coming weeks.
At a press conference at the Rhode Island State House, Raimondo said there have been 97 new cases for a total of 806 cases — with 93 in the hospital.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“We’ve more than doubled our rate in hospitalizations this week,” said Raimondo. “Were that to continue, you can imagine very quickly going from 97 to 2000 or more. I’m not saying we will, but we have modeling we could go much higher.”
“I do foresee using 2000 field beds,” said Raimondo when asked. “Our mission is to prepare for the worst. Our hospitals will be overwhelmed. That’s what we know will happen."
“There will be thousands of people in the hospitals in Rhode Island in the months to come. Whether that’s 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, or 6,000 depends on whether the people of Rhode Island continue to obey the social distancing rules,” said Raimondo.
“We’re all exhausted and chronically behind — but on last night’s call there was a sense of gratitude,” she said. “It’s bad and getting worse. Please take some comfort in knowing that thousands of people in Rhode Island working around the clock.”
Face Coverings
On Saturday, Raimondo was not wearing a face covering, but said she will be — as well her staff and State House employees.
“We’re wearing face coverings. I thought about coming out in a face covering,” said Raimondo. “I absolutely plan on wearing them.”
“We were reluctant to give that guidance for a while. It’s not a magic bullet,” said Raimondo. “Social distancing, staying home if your sick, are every bit as important if not as important.”
“We’re doing this to prevent the spread of particles in the air when they speak, cough, or breathe,” said Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander Scott. “We’re talking about homemade face coverings. These are for situations when you go out in the public and don’t have symptoms.”
Palm Sunday
Raimondo addressed not allowing churches to hold services — or hand out palms — on Palm Sunday.
“I want you to know how hard this is. I’m making a very serious note to every parish, priest, and family,” she said. “As the Bishops have said there should be no church services tomorrow at churches. Certain people were sneaking into churches to try and go to mass.”
“There will be no distribution of palms. We know this virus sticks to surfaces and lives on surfaces for many days. So if we have lots of people — especially older people — we could have a huge disaster on our hands,” said Raimondo. “Tomorrow is a day to celebrate, worship, and be with your faith community virtually. It is not a day to go to physical church and find palms. Right now…it would be too dangerous.”
Paying Remote Hospitals
On Saturday, state officials said they will be paying the facilities — the Rhode Island Convention Center and in Quonset — for use of the space for auxiliary hospital beds.
