The new coronavirus has claimed another 13 lives in Rhode Island, bringing the state’s death toll from the pandemic to 215, the state Department of Health reported Saturday. There were 430 news cases of the disease, for a total of more than 7,100 positive cases, the agency said.
Thirteen more people have died in Rhode Island due to the coronavirus, matching a record high announced Friday.
Gov. Gina Raimondo made that announcement Saturday in a news conference. There are also another 430 cases of COVID-19, Raimondo said.
The total number of people who have died in Rhode Island is now 215.
There are now more than 7,000 cases reported in the state. Providence and Pawtucket have the highest concentration of cases.
The governor expressed concern over the way the virus is overwhelmingly affecting the Latino community. More than 45% of cases in the state are within that community.
“This is, to say the least, deeply concerning," Raimondo said. "We’re working hard, we’re doing a lot to reach the community, but clearly, this is an alarming statistic.”
Raimondo has been increasing availability to tests in Rhode Island for weeks and said Friday the state plans to increase mobile and walk-up testing sites in communities across the state.
Though Rhode Island has been praised for testing more people per capita than any other state, there is a need for more testing in harder-hit neighborhoods, she said. Next week, walk-up diagnostic testing sites will open in densely populated neighborhoods and places where many residents do not have cars.
Raimondo also announced that rent assistance will be made available for low-income residents of the Ocean State. That will start next Thursday.
"While we've all been cooped up in our houses, and struggling financially, we've seen a big increase in 911 calls on the account of abuse happening in homes," Raimondo said.
The state's stay at home order remains in effect until May 8 as cases continue to rise in the state.
