RI Test Numbers Getting Better, But Not Good Enough For MA

Scott Souza
·4 min read

WOONSOCKET, RI — While Gov. Gina Raimondo said the Rhode Island coronavirus testing picture is a little brighter this week than it was when the state was placed on the travel-restriction list for a trio of surrounding states earlier this month, it is not bright enough to meet the guideline of the state's hard-line neighbor to the north.

The state said it recorded 79 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday — down from the numbers topping 100 it experienced for a stretch in recent weeks — which has gotten RI off the hook when it comes to travel barriers to and from Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. But testing requirements and quarantines for Massachusetts remain in place as state Department of Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott said on Wednesday the state is coming in at 14 positive tests per 100,000 residents and a 3.0 test-positive rate average over seven days.

"We are barely too high for Massachusetts to lift their travel restriction," Raimondo said during her Wednesday news conference. "They are staying firm on that rule and I respect that. So we have to get better so we can travel more freely to and from Massachusetts."

Raimondo said she has spoken to Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker about being just on the wrong side of the stringent limit — adding that she is not sure Massachusetts meets its own guideline it sets for outsiders — but said she does accept that the rule is the rule and it's up to Rhode Islanders to meet it.

"I hear from a lot of business owners who say: 'You know, Gov, 20 percent of our business is from Massachusetts,'" she lamented. "It's really hurting their business. So if you are asking what you can do about that, you can follow the rules.

"It is heartbreaking to hear from small businesses that they are barely getting by, and now it's even harder because of this Massachusetts travel ban," she added.

Overall, she said both the numbers and the reports from monitors out at beaches, parks, stores, restaurants and bars have improved in the past week — even if bars remain in the "needs improvement" category of compliance.

RI has not had a day of more than 100 new positive cases in more than a week, with 82 patients hospitalized in the state as of Tuesday, and eight in intensive care.

"We are doing a little better and I want to thank you," Raimondo said. "Our compliance has increased a bit, so I thank you. You should feel good about yourselves because this is the result. Seventy-nine (new cases) is certainly better than 100."

More than 1,000 businesses received compliance checks over the weekend with 96 percent of staff and customers wearing masks, and 98 percent of businesses following capacity restrictions.

"That is the best we've seen," Raimondo said. "So good job, Rhode Island. Keep it up. That's where we want to be.

"That's what's going to keep us going, and our economy open, until there is a vaccine."

She said compliance was also strong at parks and beaches where — partially due to the cloudy and cool weather — crowds were down and masks were up and covering the nose and mouth when it came to common areas.

Where the state has continued to struggle, she said, is bars and bar-areas of restaurants where customers are too close to other parties, and too close to the bartender.

Fifteen percent of bars checked did not have sufficient social distancing between tables and 17 percent did not have distance or barriers between customers and bartenders.

"Bars are closed as of 11 o'clock," she said. "If we keep seeing 17, 18 percent, we will have to do more. So I will continue to say: 'Keep the customers away from the bartender.'"

One other area where officials asked for compliance was when it comes to social gatherings. The state has linked many small outbreaks back to single boat trips, birthday parties and backyard cookouts where large groups of friends and relatives get together, do not wear masks and do not socially distance.

Raimondo said her office receives many calls asking for exceptions to the "15" rule — with the answer generally: "No."

"It's just 15," she said. "Please, follow the law. There are penalties in place (where each person can be fined $500) even if it's just on your back porch.

"Fifteen is fifteen."

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This article originally appeared on the Woonsocket Patch