The coronavirus outbreak has forced us all to change how we do things, including here at Eyewitness News, and the flood of information may be difficult to keep up with. This month’s 12 on 12 Digital Original — Coronavirus: 12 Things to Know — has been crafted to help you navigate all of our coverage and highlight important facts, available resources, and how people are coping. Be sure to share and save this page and check back often as we continue to provide updates throughout the crisis as this special section is updated regularly.
TABLE OF CONTENTS (click or tap to jump to the section):
- Medical – Experts Leading the Way
- Social Distancing – The New Critical Normal
- Data & Testing – Information Tells the Story
- The Economic Fallout – Out of Work and Closed for Business
- Unemployment – How To Access Benefits
- Remote Learning – A New Experiment
- Neighbors & Businesses – Helping Neighbors
- Community Focus – Status Updates from Local Leaders
- Politics – Not As Usual
- Track Local Cases – Where COVID-19 has Spread
- In This Together – Sacrifices Being Made
- Life Goes On – How We’ll Get Through This
1. Medical – Experts Leading the Way
RI Health Dept: Call (401) 222-8022 | MA Health Dept: Call 211 | Track Cases | CDC
Rhode Island Coronavirus Response: Daily Briefings from Gov. Gina Raimondo & Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott »
MORE Medical – Experts Leading the Way:
- Coronavirus: Your questions answered by Dr. Dani Hackner, Southcoast Health’s chief clinical officer
- How the coronavirus pandemic compares to other viral outbreaks
- Women & Infants: Pregnancy care is safe during coronavirus outbreak
- What self-quarantine looks like in Rhode Island
- Providence-based EpiVax developing 2 coronavirus vaccines, needs more funding
- RIResponds.org – Retired, part-time medical professionals can sign up to volunteer
2. Social Distancing – The New Critical Normal
RI native recovering from coronavirus stresses importance of social distancing
‘We need to take this seriously’: Sister of H1N1 victim stresses importance of taking precautions
MORE Social Distancing – The New Critical Normal:
- Trump adds 30 days to distancing guidelines as virus spreads
- Coastal communities order seasonal residents, out-of-towners to self-quarantine upon arrival
- 25 safe, fun and productive things to do in RI during coronavirus outbreak
- ‘Shamrock hunts’ keeping kids busy while also promoting social distancing
- Workout apps and virtual classes to try
- Local musician performs live on Facebook amid social distancing order
3. Data & Testing – Information Tells the Story
Go here to use this full interactive projection model and other data visualization tools »
All the latest visual data on cases of coronavirus in RI, MA, CT, U.S. & Worldwide »
MORE Data & Testing – Data Tells the Story:
- CHARTS: COVID-19 tests, quarantines, jobless claims in RI
- RI, MA, CT finding coronavirus in 40- to 60-year-olds most frequently
- Limited access to testing could leave RI ‘blindfolded’ in the fight against COVID-19
- Why RI leaders don’t know how long the COVID-19 shutdowns will last
- Low testing capacity frustrates RI patients worried about coronavirus
- ‘It’s not a level playing field’: Freetown parents struggle to get sick daughter tested for COVID-19
- RI’s unemployment rate on track to top Great Recession levels
4. The Economic Fallout – Out of Work and Closed for Business
Q&A: Here’s how your federal coronavirus relief check will work
MORE Economic Fallout – Out of Work and Closed for Business:
- Q&A: Here’s how the expanded federal unemployment benefits work
- Reed: $1.25B, rebate checks coming to RI as part of huge virus rescue bill
- US jobless claims hit 3.3 million, quadruple previous record
- Hundreds of RI small businesses seeking financial assistance amid COVID-19 closures
- Mattiello: Casino shutdown likely costing RI over $25M a month
- New website helps Rhode Islanders support small businesses affected by coronavirus outbreak
- Layoffs hit Sun Chronicle as coronavirus hammers newspapers
- Why RI leaders don’t know how long the COVID-19 shutdowns will last
- Raimondo on price gouging: ‘Don’t do it, it’s illegal’
- RI’s unemployment rate on track to top Great Recession levels
- Increased N95 mask manufacturing to bring 500 new jobs to RI
5. Unemployment – How To Access Benefits
Out of work in RI due to COVID-19? Here’s what you’re eligible for
The Full Story & Resource Guide »
6. Remote Learning – A New Experiment
RI teachers, students embark on remote learning experiment
MORE Remote Learning – A New Experiment:
- Glitches mar Barrington’s first day, reflecting a statewide challenge
- Remote learning prompts fears for parents of kids with disabilities
- Day one of remote learning: ‘Be patient with your kids’
- Westport teachers miss their students, and they’re not afraid to show it
- Photos: Remote learning begins for local students, teachers
7. Neighbors & Businesses – Helping Neighbors
Child care help in RI during the COVID-19 crisis
MORE Neighbors & Businesses – Helping Neighbors
- ‘Shopping Angels’ delivering basic needs to RI’s most vulnerable
- New website helps Rhode Islanders support small businesses affected by coronavirus outbreak
- Nonprofit creating ‘coronavirus kits’ to help needy Rhode Islanders
- Photographer hopes free family snapshots can give small businesses a needed boost
- Amid pandemic, Wakefield distillery makes its own hand sanitizer
- Starbucks giving free coffee to first responders during coronavirus pandemic
8. Community Focus – Status Updates from Local Leaders
We’re checking in often with local municipality leaders for the latest updates
Go to the Community Focus Section »
9. Politics – Not as Usual
Rhode Island presidential primary moving to June 2
MORE Politics – Not as Usual:
- Senate unanimously passes massive coronavirus aid plan
- Elections board wants governor to move R.I. primary to June
- ‘Bigger than any one of us’: Biden, Sanders take on pandemic
- Coronavirus response: GOP senators want last-minute fix on $2T relief package
- ‘Help is on the way’: Senate leaders reach agreement on $2 trillion stimulus bill
10. Track Local Cases – Where COVID-19 has Spread
All the latest visual data on cases of Coronavirus in RI, MA, CT, U.S. & Worldwide »
11. In This Together – Sacrifices Being Made
Coronavirus crisis leaves high school seniors wondering about prom, graduation
MORE In This Together – Sacrifices Being Made:
- STREET STORIES: A 3,400-mile journey through a country in crisis
- URI nixes in-person commencement ceremonies, seeking alternative celebrations
- Baseball stadiums remain empty on MLB Opening Day
- UMass Dartmouth postpones commencement ceremonies due to coronavirus
- CCRI cancels commencement, extends remote learning for rest of semester
- PC postpones commencement, reunion weekend due to coronavirus pandemic
- Brown, RISD move classes online, direct students to vacate residence halls
Submit a high school senior here and we will aim to recognize them on WPRI 12, FOX Providence, The CW Providence, myRITV, or WPRI.com!
12. Life Goes On – How We’ll Get Through This
Party not an option, family surprises 92-year-old with birthday parade
25 safe, fun and productive things to do in RI during coronavirus outbreak
The Full List of 25 Things to Do »
Grab & Go Lunch Locations | Senior Shopping Hours | Out of work? What You’re Eligible For | Vital Hotlines
ReportIt!
Share your experiences — what do you know that others may not, or what do you need to know?
Show us how you and your family are passing the time »
- PHOTOS: Staying busy during the coronavirus outbreak
- PHOTOS: Remote learning begins for local students, teachers
- PHOTOS: Local impacts of the coronavirus pandemic
MORE Life Goes On – How We’ll Get Through This:
- How to help ease kids’ anxiety during coronavirus pandemic
- Liquor stores? Gun shops? Here are the essential businesses that can stay open in RI
- ‘It’s more important than ever’: Local tradition shines bright amid dark times
- Closed due to coronavirus, yoga studio goes virtual
- Expert: Check on senior citizens, but from a safe distance
- Pandemic forces recovery groups to go virtual
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