RI Starts 1,000 Daily COVID-19 Tests Thursday

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PROVIDENCE, RI — Gov. Gina M. Raimondo announced two new COVID-19 deaths Tuesday, 77 new confirmed cases totaling 566, and the ability to begin 1,000 daily COVID-19 tests on Wednesday.

“I’m very proud to tell you that by tomorrow we’ll be at a capacity of 1,000 tests a day,” Raimondo said.

The governor has set that capacity of COVID-19 tests as the first benchmark in the state’s methodical move away from business closures and toward what Raimondo has begun referring to as Rhode Island’s “new normal,” an economy altered by precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The return of commerce will have to be industry by industry with new rules, regulations and standards for each, Raimondo said. Restaurants and offices, for instance, she said, will have different requirements to ensure the public’s safety.

In the meantime, “Primary care providers, start sending us folks,” Raimondo said, telling them to begin making appointments for people who needCOVID-19 tests to be sent to the the six testing centers set up throughout the state, which will send people’s swab samples to six labs throughout the state.

Raimondo reminded people that testing at those sites will be appointment-only, which can be arranged through your doctor or at an urgent care center.

The testing sites include Kent Hospital, Rhode Island Hospital, CCRI, URI and RIC.

Soon, Raimondo said, she hopes the state will be able to perform same-day testing.

State food delivery, visit RIDelivers.com or Call 211

“For you to stay home, you need a hand getting groceries,” which the state will provide with a food delivery service, RIDelivers.com, which quarantined people can use by visiting the site or by calling 211.

Roch’s Market will be performing most of the food delivery

“Wherever possible I want to use local talent and local businesses,” Raimondo said, noting that, “In this case, Roch’s was really hit hard, they’re not as large as other chains, and so this is a way for them to work with us, to help their business a bit and they’re being terrific in stepping up to help the community.”

Raimondo also thanked the hundreds of volunteers helping to make the program work.

Small business bridge loans tide over till SBA loans arrive

Within a few weeks, Raimondo said, the state will receive $1.2 billion in federal stimulus money, most of which will go to aid small businesses.

However, she said, many small businesses can’t wait that long, so Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, partnering with the SBA, LISC and the RI Hospitality Association

Short term, bridge loan program for biz with 10 or fewer employees designed to provide immediate cash.

To receive one of the state loans, Raimondo said, businesses need to call the SBA and begin the process for a stimulus business loan and get that process in motion.

Then, she said, the contact the state at 401-521-HELP to apply for the state bridge loan, which you can use to secure small loans of a few thousand dollars to hold a business over until the SBA money comes in.

The bridge loan program was created through the partnership of the RI Commerce Corporation, LISC, and the RI Hospitality Association. The loan fund has $2 million in it now, $1 million from RI Commerce and another $1 million from bank Newport.

Raimondo urged other banks to make their own $1 million contributions to the fund.

Small businesses can’t wait, Raimondo said, and if the state lets let them wait, they won’t recover.

“If you’re a bank and you heard that, pick up the phone and call me or Stephan Pryor and tell me you’ll put a million bucks into this,” Raimondo said.