There were 10 new deaths in Rhode Island Wednesday from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, bringing the death toll to 181, according to the Department of Health. The total number of positive cases has reached 5,841, an increase of 365 from Tuesday.
The number of people who have been tested for COVID-19 is 41,722 with 35,881 negative tests, according to the state's data tracker.
During her Wednesday news conference, Gov. Gina Raimondo said although the numbers were slightly increasing, the state was "hovering at a bit of plateau."
More on the Coronavirus in Rhode Island
She said compared to other states, Rhode Island was in a decent place "relative to where we could have been."
The state continues to do well with testing, Raimondo said, and a new walk-up site at Bailey Elementary School in Providence is seeing 50 people a day. She said that number is expected to double by next week.
There is another testing site at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket but people need an appointment.
The governor said a plan to open Rhode Island's parks and beaches will be the first phase of reopening the state.
Working with the Department of Environmental Management Director Janet Coit, Raimondo said they hope to have them opened slowly with new restrictions sometime in May.
Raimondo announced a new web tool called the "Rhode Island COVID-19 Self Checker" which aims to help people make decisions about seeking appropriate medical care.
The website is available in English, Spanish and Portuguese and is based on guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The governor said with plans to reopen the economy in the works, special attention will need to be paid to those 60 and older and immune-compromised.
"The older you get, the worse this disease is," Raimondo said.
She said older residents should continue to work from home and employers should think about how they can accommodate those employees.
