COVID levels increase to ‘medium’ in four Rhode Island counties

4 Rhode Island counties – Bristol, Kent, Newport and Washington – have moved from low to medium COVID concern this week, in keeping with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

“On account of the extra contagious BA.2 omicron variant, states all through the nation have seen a average improve in circumstances,” the state Division of Well being mentioned in saying the Thursday evening replace.

Rhode Island’s solely remaining county – Windfall, the state’s largest – stays within the class of low concern, in keeping with the CDC classification. The CDC has three ranges for rating COVID in communities: low, medium and excessive.

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“Our hospitalization numbers and hospital-capacity numbers are nonetheless thought of low all through the state,” the Well being Division mentioned, noting that 57 COVID-19 sufferers are at present hospitalized in Rhode Island, in contrast with greater than 600 at prior factors through the pandemic.

The 4 counties have been reclassified as medium as a result of greater than 200 new circumstances per 100,000 individuals have been recognized there within the final seven days, in keeping with the Well being Division.

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In accordance with the Well being Division, the CDC gives the next suggestions for residents of counties within the medium tier:

• If you’re immunocompromised or in any other case excessive threat, discuss to your well being care supplier about whether or not it’s best to put on a masks.

• Have a plan for testing if wanted.

• Speak to your well being care supplier about whether or not you’re a candidate for therapy.

• When you have family or social contact with somebody at excessive threat for extreme illness, think about self-testing earlier than contact; think about sporting a masks when indoors with them.

Further suggestions can be found on the CDC’s web site.

The CDC switched to a brand new framework for measuring threat final month, in keeping with the Well being Division. “Relatively than utilizing case charges alone, the CDC’s new framework additionally incorporates hospitalizations and hospital capability,” the division defined.

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Regardless of Rhode Island’s “comparatively low” hospitalization charge, having 200 new circumstances per 100,000 individuals during the last seven days mechanically places a county into the medium class, the Well being Division mentioned.

The Well being Division credited availability of therapy and the state’s excessive vaccination charge for serving to to maintain hospitalizations low. In accordance with the CDC, 85.6% of Rhode Island residents over the age of 5 are vaccinated.

jperry@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7614

On Twitter: @jgregoryperry

COVID by the numbers

Instances in R.I.: 365,880 (332 reported Friday)  

Destructive checks in R.I.: 7,295,159 (5,895 reported Friday; 5.3% optimistic charge) 

R.I. COVID-related deaths: 3,527 (0 reported Friday) 

Rhode Islanders hospitalized with COVID: 56 (4 in intensive care) 

Totally vaccinated in R.I.: 826,683 (946,986 no less than partially vaccinated) 

Instances in Mass.: 1,721,642 

Mass COVID-related deaths: 20,169 

Instances in U.S.: 80,600,080 

U.S. COVID-related deaths: 988,402 

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