Rhode Island moves from low to medium COVID levels – CDC & RIDOH

Early Friday morning we received an email from the RIDOH spokesperson, after data from the CDC had been updated on Thursday night – noting RI’s uptick in COVID cases. CDC and other COVID statisticians note Rhode Island has the fastest growing number of cases in the US. Considering most tests are now done in the home, the trend could be even higher than can be calculated.

As gatherings happen throughout the country, so much information has been given for people to determine their risk tolerance level, so they can decide what steps they need to take to be smart about exposure to large groups, whether they need to test before gatherings, and how to protect young children.

Some new developments: A vaccine for those 5 to 12 is expected within days to weeks. A new test, much like a breathalyzer should also be available for group settings and screenings.

Information from RIDOH & CDC, specific to Rhode Island.

Last month, Rhode Island transitioned to the CDC’s new framework for measuring community level risk for COVID-19. Rather than using case rates alone, the CDC’s new framework also incorporates hospitalizations and hospital capacity. This is in line with the national shift toward managing COVID-19 like an endemic disease. Our focus is on preventing serious illness and hospitalizations.

The CDC updates their data at the county level on Thursday evenings. As a result of the more contagious BA.2 Omicron variant, states throughout the country have seen a moderate increase in cases. Bristol, Kent, Newport, and Washington Counties have moved from the “low” tier to the “medium” tier in the CDC’s data update this week. These counties are “medium” because more than 200 new cases per 100,000 people were identified there in the last seven days. Our hospitalization numbers and hospital capacity numbers are still considered low throughout the state. (For example, we have 57 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized, compared to more than 600 at prior points during the pandemic.) However, having more than 200 new cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days automatically puts a county into “medium.”

For people in counties in the “medium” tier, CDC provides recommendations, including:

• If you are immunocompromised or high risk 
  • Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you should wear a mask
  • Have a plan for testing if needed
  • Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you are a candidate for treatment
• If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease 
  • consider self-testing before contact
  • consider wearing a mask when indoors with them
• Get vaccinated

CDC’s full set of recommendation is available online.

Rhode Island’s very high vaccination rate and the availability of treatment have helped us keep hospitalizations relatively low. As Dr. McDonald has shared repeatedly, these tools have made serious illness from COVID-19 largely preventable and treatable. The key is getting vaccinated and taking advantage of treatment. If someone has not been vaccinated or boosted yet, now is the time. Vaccination significantly reduces your risk of hospitalization. Additionally, if you test positive for COVID-19 and have mild to moderate symptoms, call your healthcare provider right away and ask about treatment for COVID-19.

Dr. Philip Chan of RIDOH said that he will now be wearing a mask while indoors.