RI Counties at High COVID Risk, Masks Indoors Advised

PROVIDENCE, RI — COVID-19 community levels in Bristol County, Kent County, Providence County, and Washington County are now designated high COVID risk by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with high-quality masks indoors recommended indoors.

Following a switch away from percent positive measures in the state April, 20, the state and CDC have instead been providing assessments of COVID-19 risk for each county. Each week the CDC identifies the COVID-19 community level in every county in the country as “low,” “medium,” or “high” using case rates and data on hospital admissions and percentage of hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients.

In counties designated as “high,” the CDC recommends people wear high-quality masks while in indoor public settings. The full recommendations by community level from the CDC are available online.

Rhode Island has seen increases in cases and hospitalizations over the last several weeks, the Rhode Island Department of Health reported Thursday. That data is still considerably lower than at prior points in the pandemic, the RIDOH said in an announcement warning the public about the increased risk.

“Given the availability of COVID-19 tools and resources in Rhode Island, such as vaccines and treatment, these numbers are not expected to reach the levels of Rhode Island’s January surge,” RIDOH noted in its announcement.

“With COVID-19 now an endemic disease in Rhode Island, we should expect moderate increases and decreases in our COVID-19 levels over the coming months. However, serious illness from COVID-19 is now largely a preventable, treatable disease because of the tools and resources we have,” said James McDonald, MD, MPH, the Interim Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH). “Taking a few simple prevention steps when more COVID-19 is circulating, such as wearing a mask in public indoor settings and getting a booster dose, can help keep you and your loved ones safe.”

When you wear a mask you protect the people around you, and a high-quality mask also provides the wearer with protection. Booster doses significantly increase your protection against COVID-19. If you are boosted, you are 55 times less likely to be hospitalized because of COVID-19.

In addition to these recommendations from CDC by community level, RIDOH has unveiled “7 Tools for Protection Against COVID-19” (see image file attached). Using a Prevent, Detect, Treat framework, this simple guide will help all Rhode Islanders limit or prevent the spread of COVID-19 at home and in the community.

7 Tools for Protection Against COVID-19

Prevent

• Vaccination – Stay up to date with your vaccines and recommended boosters.
• Ventilation – Outdoor or well-ventilated areas are safest.
• Masking – Wear a high-quality mask in crowded indoor se­ttings.

Detect

• Symptom screening – Watch for symptoms after travel or large gatherings.
• Testing – Get tested if you have symptoms or were exposed.

Treat

• Isolation – Stay away from others if you test positive.
• Treatment – Ask a healthcare provider about treatment if you test positive.

Detailed data about COVID-19 in Rhode Island is available online. Additional information about booster doses, treatment, and other COVID-19 tools and resources are also available online at covid.ri.gov.