Free COVID-19 Tests Provided to High-Contact Workers

WARWICK, RI — Gov. Gina M. Raimondo and Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health unveiled RI’s COVID-19 Early Warning Testing System, providing no-cost infection tests to high-contact workers at RIC and CCRI’s Knight Campus.

The asymptomatic workers who can schedule tests are:

• Hair professionals
• Nail artists
• Gym employees
• Tattoo artists
• Massage therapists
• Child care workers

According to RIDOH, the system is intended to inform the state’s immediate response efforts and inform data modeling and forecasting as Rhode Island Health officials continue organizing the state’s response to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, for which there is no effective treatment, no cure and no vaccine.

The testing will be provided at the Rhode Island National Guard testing site at Community College of Rhode Island or Rhode Island College. To schedule a test, someone who is in one of the groups can go to portal.ri.gov. Alternatively, people can call RIDOH at 401-222-8022 to schedule a test.

In addition to people in these groups, any Rhode Islander who attended a large protest or demonstration this weekend can (and should) get tested, even if they do not have symptoms. People who attended a large protest or demonstration can schedule a test by going to portal.ri.gov or calling 401-222-8022.

The Early Warning Testing System is the third of three facets to Rhode Island’s approach to testing:

1. The first facet is Symptomatic Testing. Anyone with symptoms in Rhode Island can get tested, regardless of their profession or work situation.
2. The second facet of Rhode Island’s approach to testing is Outbreak Rapid Response. This entails using testing as a tool to respond within hours of multiple cases discovered in places like congregate care settings, workplaces, and other high-density areas.
3. Early Warning Testing System.