Governor Dan McKee and Rhode Island Department of Health Director Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH today announced “a comprehensive set of actions to address an increase in COVID-19 cases and alleviate pressure on our hospital system while at the same time keeping schools open for in-person learning and preventing economic disruptions to small businesses”. Press Release Governor McKee’s office released […]
COVID-19
Posted inCOVID-19, News
Governor McKee, RIDOH to announce ‘Comprehensive Actions’ to address the increase in COVID-19 Cases on Wednesday
Governor Dan McKee and Rhode Island Department of Health Director Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH today announced that they will announce a comprehensive set of actions to address an increase in COVID-19 cases and alleviate pressure on our hospital system while at the same time keeping schools open for in-person learning and preventing economic disruptions to small businesses. The press briefing […]
Posted inCOVID-19, Health & Fitness, News
Rhode Island’s first case of COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant has been identified
Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) today announced that Rhode Island’s first case of COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant (variant B.1.1.529) has been identified. The case was identified through the ongoing genomic surveillance program coordinated by RIDOH’s State Health Laboratories. Governor Mckee’s office says in a press release that […]
Posted inCOVID-19, News
COVID-19 Booster Dose eligibility expanded in Rhode Island
Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) on Friday announced that they are now encouraging 16- and 17-year-olds who have completed the primary COVID-19 vaccine series to get booster doses in Rhode Island. This announcement comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced yesterday their updated recommendation for […]
Posted inCOVID-19, News
RIDOH: State transitioning to community located COVID-19 vaccination sites
A press release from the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) today announced that Rhode Island will be running approximately 100 COVID-19 vaccination clinics in settings such as schools, churches, senior centers, and many other community sites over the next month. RIDOH says that the decision is in response to the public request for COVID-19 vaccination […]
Posted inCOVID-19, News
Rhode Island nonprofits on the frontline of responding to COVID-19 can apply for $4.5 million in federal Coronavirus Relief Funding
Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Foundation today announced that nonprofits on the frontlines of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for $4.5 million in federal Coronavirus Relief Funding. “Nonprofits have had an immeasurable impact on our communities during this pandemic, and we must make sure they get the support they deserve,” said Governor McKee. […]
Posted inCOVID-19
Governor McKee and RIDOH urge COVID-19 Boosters for adults
Reiterating their encouragement from earlier this week for all eligible adults to get COVID-19 vaccine booster doses, and following the announcement from federal health officials today formally expanding eligibility to all fully vaccinated adults, Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) are urging all fully vaccinated adults who plan to gather […]
Posted inCOVID-19, News
COVID-19 vaccine eligibility expanded to children 5 to 11 in Rhode Island
Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) today announced that Rhode Island is expanding eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination today to children 5 to 11 years of age. Last night, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended vaccination for children in this age group with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. More […]
Posted inCOVID-19, News
Governor McKee, RIDOH: 90% of adult Rhode Islanders at Least partially vaccinated against COVID-19
Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health today announced that the State has reached an important vaccination milestone: 90 percent of Rhode Islanders age 18 or older are now partially vaccinated against COVID-19. This ambitious goal was set by Governor McKee during the early months of the State’s vaccination campaign. The 90 […]
Posted inCOVID-19, News
AARP Analysis: COVID-19 deaths and cases in Rhode Island nursing homes increased from August to September
Story provided by AARP Rhode Island COVID-19 continued to take a deadly toll on nursing home residents and staff in Rhode in the four weeks ending September 19, according to the latest data from AARP’s Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard. Resident deaths from COVID-19 increased from a rate of .02 deaths per 100 residents in mid-August to […]
Posted inCOVID-19, News
Governor McKee, RI Department of Health outline plans for COVID-19 vaccination for 5 to 11-year-olds
As federal health officials continue their review of Pfizer’s request for an emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11 years old, Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) today outlined plans to get Rhode Island kids in this age group vaccinated once authorization is announced. The plan […]
Posted inCOVID-19, News
RIDOH: Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine boosters available for 65+, high-risk individuals at least six months after second vaccination
Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) announced today that Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine boosters are now available and recommended as follows: People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings (regardless of age) should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech […]
Posted inCity & Government, COVID-19
Vaccinate the Ocean State: Mini-grants available to nonprofits, organizations to support vaccine promotion
Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) today announced an additional round of Vaccinate the Ocean State COVID-19 Mini-Grants are available to community-based organizations and faith-based communities looking to do COVID-19 vaccine promotion. The grants will also support work to get community members access to COVID-19 testing, masks, and expanded COVID-19 […]
Posted inCOVID-19, News
Synagogues take COVID precautions as Jewish High Holy Days begin Monday night
For weeks, months, leaders of Jewish Congregations have struggled to find a way to deliver meaningful and spiritual services on the holiest of Jewish holidays, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Each Congregation, including many in Rhode Island, has tried to strike the right balance between safety and spirituality. Congregation leaders have not only been developing […]
Posted inCOVID-19
What does full FDA approval of a vaccine do if it’s already authorized for emergency use?
Jennifer Girotto, University of Connecticut Thirty percent of unvaccinated American adults say they’re waiting for the COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for emergency use to be officially approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA has since granted that approval for those age 16 and older for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Aug. 23, 2021. […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID-19, News
Study: COVID-19 cost Rhode Island’s hospitality and tourism industry $2.2 billion in 2020
A Salve Regina University study commissioned by the Rhode Island Hospitality Association (RIHA) on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the state’s hospitality and tourism industry in 2020 reveals a loss of $2.2 billion last year, representing a 30 percent overall drop from the previous year. “Rhode Island’s hospitality industry was one of the […]
Posted inCOVID-19
FDA grants full approval to Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine in people 16+
With the announcement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has full approval for use in people 16 and older, Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health are urging all eligible Rhode Islanders who have not been vaccinated yet to get vaccinated today. Full authorization […]
Posted inCity & Government, COVID-19
Masks will be required inside public school buildings to start the 2021-2022 school year
Governor Dan McKee, joined by Department of Health Director Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH., and Department of Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, on Thursday announced that all students, teachers, school staff and visitors will be required to wear face masks inside public school buildings at the start of the 2021-2022 school year. Ensuring that students can safely […]
Posted inCOVID-19
RIDOH to require immunization against COVID-19 for all licensed healthcare workers
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) today announced that all employees, interns, and volunteers in RIDOH-licensed healthcare facilities and all RIDOH-licensed healthcare providers must receive their final dose of COVID-19 vaccine by October 1, 2021, effective August 18th. “The most effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including the Delta variant, is vaccination,” […]
Posted inCity & Government, COVID-19
State officials announce a full schedule of back-to-school COVID-19 vaccine clinics
Governor Dan McKee, the Rhode Island Department of Health, the Rhode Island Department of Education, and community partners today announced that they have coordinated more than 100 back-to-school and community-based COVID-19 clinics between early August and mid-September. With the rise in the Delta variant of COVID-19, which is found to be several times as transmissible as […]
Posted inCOVID-19, News
Third dose of COVID-19 vaccine will soon be available for immunocompromised individuals in Rhode Island
Governor Dan McKee and Rhode Island Department of Health Director Nicole Alexander-Scott, M.D., M.P.H. issued the following joint statement on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announcements regarding a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine for immunocompromised individuals: “The announcements from the U.S. Food and Drug […]
Posted inCOVID-19
RIDOH: Most fixed, state-run COVID-19 testing sites now requiring appointments
To make the COVID-19 testing process as streamlined and efficient as possible, most fixed, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) announced today that State-run testing sites are now requiring appointments. Rhode Islanders can schedule a free test online at portal.ri.gov or by calling 401-222-8022. Insurance is accepted but not required. Making an appointment ahead of time reduces long […]
Posted inCOVID-19, News
VIDEO: Governor McKee, RIDOH host COVID-19 Briefing
Governor McKee, Lieutenant Governor Matos, and officials from the Rhode Island Department of Health provide an update on COVID-19, the Delta variant in Rhode Island, and the State’s continued response, recovery and vaccination efforts.
Posted inCOVID-19
Governor McKee, RI Department of Health to host COVID-19 Update on Tuesday
Governor Dan McKee’s office today announced that Governor McKee, Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos, Rhode Island Department of Health Director Nicole Alexander-Scott, M.D., M.P.H., and Executive Director of the COVID-19 Response Tom McCarthy will provide on Tuesday, August 10 at 2 pm an update on COVID-19, the Delta variant in Rhode Island, and the State’s continued […]
Posted inCOVID-19, News
Vax Challenge: Newport Community School and Conexion Latina among nonprofit recipients of $150,000 in grants
Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Foundation announced on Tuesday that they will award another $150,000 in grants to nonprofits on the frontlines of responding to COVID-19 as part of the RI Gives Vax Challenge. With this third round of grants, more than 15,000 people have now gotten their first dose of the vaccine […]