Thanksgiving May Take RI’s Coronavirus Cases and Deaths Even Higher - “400 to 500 Deaths” in Dec.
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Tuesday’s numbers from the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) paint a dark picture for Rhode Island’s winter.
Deaths increased to 16 for the one day and the state has lost 47 Rhode Islanders in the past week alone.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe 16 deaths were the highest single-day loss since May.
Dr. Michael Fine, former Rhode Island Director of Health, warns that the increased cases and hospitalizations coupled with significant Thanksgiving travel may be the recipe for a significant rise in infection and increases in deaths.
SEE FIVE MAJOR CORONAVIRUS DEVELOPMENTS BELOW
“I expect 400 to 500 deaths in December alone,” said Fine. "Don’t hang out with ten others over Thanksgiving.”
Fine on Tuesday was named technical advisor to the new House task force analyzing the state's vaccine distribution strategy.
Hospitalizations - One Day Net Increase 38
On Tuesday, RIDOH reported a one-day net increase in new cases of 38 hospitalizations. Hospitalizations have now hit 323 — the highest level since the first week in May.
Fine says the one piece of good news is that the length of time in the hospital for the average coronavirus case has dropped substantially. “The good news is the average length of stay Is down from 12 to five days,” said Fine.
More Testing Struggles
Despite repeated claims by Governor Gina Raimondo that her administration was making improvements to RI’s testing program including increased accessibility, the state’s testing program continues to lag.
While there was increased spread and demand for testing prior to Thanksgiving, on Sunday, which is generally a lower testing day, and on Monday, Rhode Island conducted fewer than 16,000 tests over the two days when the college testing numbers are deducted — an average of just 8,000 tests per day. Raimondo had repeatedly promised since May that testing would increase to 20,000 tests per day.
SEE FIVE MAJOR CORONAVIRUS DEVELOPMENTS BELOW
Related Slideshow: 5 Major Coronavirus Developments — Hospitalizations Reach New U.S. Record
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