Governor Gina Raimondo announced today that she has ordered the closure of all of Rhode Island’s state parks and beaches beginning April 3 due to fears of spreading the coronavirus.
She announced some statistics for these additional measures. There were 4 additional deaths due to coronavirus deaths overnight and Rhode Island now has a total of 8. There were also 86 new cases which brings RI to 488 in total and there are currently 59 hospitalizations.
“By any measure, going from 41 to 59 in one night is significant and serious jump. We’re in a rapid spread phase of this disease. It’s going to get much harder before it gets easier. We’re readying for a couple hundred more beds. We’re calling up extra doctors and nurses (and) we’re working with hospitals on their surge plans.”
She added “buckle down like you never have before.” and “Listen to the directions that I provide and the Department of Health provides.”
She also asked residents to write down each day, where they’ve been and who they’ve been in contact with.
She said “It will give us the resources we need to fight the virus.”