RI Worst in the World and Likely to Get Worse - CNN Broadcasts Live From Providence

RI Worst in the World and Likely to Get Worse - CNN Broadcasts Live From Providence

The amount of infection on Rhode Island is, literally, the highest in the world, and yet the numbers are likely to get worse over the next few weeks.

Top U.S. scientist Eric Topol found that Rhode Island leads all other U.S. states and all other countries in the world for coronavirus cases per capita.

Topol, Professor of Molecular Medicine at the Scripps Research Institute tweeted, "For the third day, Rhode Island continues to have the highest number of new COVID-19 infections per capita at 122.6 new cases per 100,000 population per day (compared to 116.4 in the Republic of Georgia, and 104.4 in Serbia). This increased from 110 in just one day. Rhode Island is now averaging 1,299 new cases each day." 

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Alexandra Field of CNN broadcast live from Providence’s Convention Center on Wednesday morning reporting on the exploding level of infection and hospitalizations in the state.

Governor Gina Raimondo's office refused to comment on Rhode Island's new ranking.

 

 

Watch Dr. Fine each weekday on GoLocal LIVE at 1:30 PM

 

Going to Get Worse

Rhode Islanders should expect things to get even worse in the next few weeks.

First, the impact of the Thanksgiving gatherings are only beginning to be active cases. In Rhode Island, about 5% of cases require hospitalization.

And about 1+% of all cases end in death. On Tuesday, the RI Department of Health reported that 22 Rhode Islanders died from the virus. That rivals the record number of deaths of 24 that happened twice in May. Dr. Michael Fine warns that the deaths are likely to rise to 25-30 daily.

Second, despite the dramatic increase in contamination over the past weeks, Raimondo has not changed strategy. Rhode Island's increase in infection has been a near straight up arrow since the second week in September.

Raimondo decided to delay any restrictions until after Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

Presently, the state has a partial shutdown, but the vast majority of businesses continue to be open, most schools are open, and factories continue to be fully operational.

Raimondo continues to advocate for the schools to remain open, but in recent days Cranston, East Providence, and other school districts have announced they are shifting to online learning due to infection among their staff.

Raimondo has recently as two weeks ago appeared on MSNBC's Morning Joe to cite what she says has been a successful testing program.

Due to the increase in number of deaths that are outpacing much of the country. Rhode Island moved into 6th for the highest number of deaths per capita.