Rhode Island's COVID-19 Numbers Fall To Start October

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island's coronavirus pandemic numbers saw some improvement in the first week of October. All three key indicators — new hospitalizations, percent positivity and cases per 100 people — fell over the past week.

The total number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in the state fell below 100 for the first time in about two months, down to 97 as of Tuesday. New hospitalizations also fell over the week, decreasing to 96 over the past week, compared to 132 the week before.

The state's weekly percent positivity rate continued its months-long, slow decline. The latest data from the Rhode Island Department of Health shows a steady decline since mid-August. This week, the percent positivity was 1.8 percent, down from 2 percent the week before.