RI reports 11 more COVID-19-related deaths, 1,032 new infections

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Rhode Island’s reported death toll from the pandemic climbed to 1,391 on Wednesday with 11 more people having died after contracting COVID-19.

New data from the R.I. Department of Health shows a daily positivity rate of 8.3%, with 1,032 new infections reported and 12,380 tests administered on Tuesday.

In addition to the 1,032 new infections reported Wednesday, the Health Department added 67 newly disclosed cases to prior-day totals over the past two weeks.

The state updated its weekly data which shows increases in percent positive by week (from 6.0% to 6.9%) and new hospital admissions by week (from 326 to 384) but a decline in new cases per 100,000 people (from 629 to 563). All three metrics, however, are above the thresholds the state had sought to remain below.

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Hospitalizations dipped slightly to 408, according to health officials. Of those patients, 45 are currently in intensive care and 23 are on ventilators.

Revised data for Tuesday shows there were 414 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, which builds upon the state’s all-time high. (Health officials reported 410 hospitalizations on Tuesday, which was the first time Rhode Island eclipsed the 400 mark since the start of the pandemic.)

Earlier on Wednesday, Lifespan President and CEO Timothy Babineau said the hospital group is ready to start vaccinating health care workers as soon as the FDA approves the COVID-19 vaccine being developed by Pfizer.

Rhode Island is now in the third day of a two-week pause set up by Gov. Gina Raimondo in hopes of mitigating the spread of the virus. The pause involves new restrictions at certain businesses and the outright closure of others until Dec. 13.

The Maxx Fitness Clubzz locations in Warren and Lincoln received citations and compliance orders from the state after electing to stay open during the pause.