Governor Gina Raimondo and Department of Health Director Nicole Alexander-Scott will host their daily press briefing today, April 7th, at 1 pm.
What’s Up Newp will carry the press briefing for you live here as it happens and will continue to update this story with the latest information from the press briefing.
Updates as they happen;
Governor: RI Commerce with be hosting a Facebook Live with SBA official at 8:30 am on Wednesday to discuss programs for small businesses.
Governor reports three more fatalities due to COVID-19, total fatalities now up to 30. There are 147 new positive cases of COVID-19 in Rhode Island. Brings total to 1,229 cases. 123 are now hospitalized.
Director of Health: Fatalities include one person in their 70’s from Oak Hill Nursing Center, and tow people in their 70’s and 90’s from Golden Crest Nursing. Nursing home-related deaths is now 19 (of 30).
Governor: Testing could potentially be conditioned on keeping a daily log of contacts, so keep track of where you go and who you come in contact with on a daily basis.
Gov: Nobody should be going to work if you’re sick.
Governor: About 1,800 tests done on Monday. Wants to see that number go up. If you feel sick, schedule an appointment to get tested.
Governor: Signed an Executive Order directing hospitals to provide daily updates on equipment usage, COVID-19 cases.
Governor: Attempting to clarify Executive Orders and when they expire. The following orders are extended until May 8th;
- All social gathering of more than 5 people are prohibited.
- No dine-in service for restaurants, cafes. Restaurants can continue to sell beer and wine to-go.
- Entertainment, recreation, and close-contact businesses (theaters, barbershops, salons, gyms, museums, zoos) closed.
- Domestic & International Travel – Anyone coming into Rhode Island by any means must self-quarantine for 14 days.
- Open Meetings Act extension extended.
- Gun permit background checks remain 30 days (instead of 7)
Until further notice/indefinitely;
- State House closed.
- No visitors to hospitals, nursing homes, ACI.
- State Parks and Beaches closed.
- Telehealth must be covered by insurance providers.
- DMV open for appointment only.
- State based services will be online only.
- Casinos closed.
Gov: Announcements about schools and child care centers coming in coming weeks.
Gov: As of today, unemployment insurance is available to all workers who have been laid off. State has processed more than 70,000 of the 105,000 unemployment claims received since March 9th. State is working on improving, and some claims take longer because they were incomplete. Says State is working on speeding up the 7-14 day waiting period.
Gov: Sign up for Nextdoor.com, visit the help map to see who might need help in your neighborhood.
Governor: In response to a question about reopening economy, shays that she will be making announcement “probably early next week”, it “won’t be a flip of the switch”.
This story is developing and will be updated as more information is received throughout the day.
More info and updates – COVID-19 Daily Update – April 7: Governor extends restrictions on gatherings, restaurants, businesses, and travel to May 8th