RI's COVID-19 Cases Explode In Another Record-Setting Week

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island headed into the new year amid a record-breaking COVID-19 surge, with case numbers the highest they have been to date. Over the past week, case numbers and the percent positivity rate both more than doubled.

Tuesday's weekly data update from the Rhode Island Department of Health painted a grim picture of the state of the pandemic. Since last week, the weekly percent positivity rate surged from 7.1 percent to 16.7 percent. The number of positive cases, meanwhile, also more than doubled from 793 per 100,000 people to 1,949 per 100,000 people.

Daily numbers have been similarly concerning. Since Christmas, there has been day after day of record-breaking case numbers. Monday was close to another record-setting day new COVID-19 cases, with 4,141 coming close to last week's all-time record of 4,237 cases in a single day.

In response to the surge, Gov. Dan McKee remobilized approximately 180 members of the Rhode Island National Guard to help with vaccination and testing efforts. The governor is also working to use the National Guard to address staffing shortages in hospitals.