Mass Vaccination Site Reopening At RI Convention Center

PROVIDENCE, RI — State officials and the Rhode Island National Guard will reopen the mass vaccination site at the Rhode Island Convention Center, Gov. Dan McKee said in a news conference Thursday.

The mass vaccination site at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence has been closed since June, but will reopen at the convention center the week of Jan. 10, McKee said.

In addition to providing first-time vaccines and booster doses, the center will also offer testing as part of the state's efforts to shorten lines. McKee said state health officials also opened a second PCR testing lab and will have a third one open next week, with the goal of ensuring residents get their test results within 48 hours.

McKee said municipal governments will also play a key role and begin offering more vaccines and testing.

"Local government is a key factor in addressing the current surge we're having," McKee said. "I believe we're on a path to do just that."

The news comes amid a surge in new COVID-19 cases in the state. According to data the Rhode Island Department of Health released Thursday, the state is averaging more than 1,281 new COVID-19 cases per day over the last seven days. Public Health Director Nicole Alexander-Scott said there have been three days this week with more than 3,000 new cases.

Alexander-Scott said the vast majority of the cases are still coming from the delta variant. Health officials expect the omicron variant to continue to spread in Rhode Island, but as of Thursday, Alexander-Scott estimated about 10 percent of the state's cases are the new variant.

"If you're going to do just two things to keep your loved ones safe, they should be these two things," Alexander-Scott said. "Wear your mask and get vaccinated, particularly get boosted."