Gov McKee addresses COVID-19 in RI, mass vaccination sites returning

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE)- Governor McKee and Dr. Alexander-Scott held a joint COVID-19 briefing Thursday afternoon.

The Governor acknowledged the issues Rhode Islanders have waiting for testing and results as the state continues to test 200,000 people per day.

McKee announced that the mass vaccination site will be returning to the Rhode Island Convention Center on January 10. The National Guard are being called in to assist with the site.

A second lab is being brought in to help manage testing. A third lab will be added next week, hoping to return test results in their usual 48 hours.

Providence schools recently announced they will be having a staggering return to school after winter break, with different grades returning between January 3 through January 5.

Governor McKee explained that the plan is still for students to return to in-person learning, the state has no plans for remote learning but some districts may have plans in place.

Dr. Alexander-Scott explained that with holiday gatherings and the usual winter season, “It’s going to be a difficult month from a COVID standpoint.”

Officials point out that just before Thanksgiving the state was implementing a ‘ramp down’ strategy before the winter surge and omicron brought an unexpected rise in COVID cases.

Just this week, there have been three days where RI surpassed 3,000 new COVID cases, the majority variant being Delta, Omicron still making up 10% of cases.

Rhode Island will also follow the new CDC guidance for quarantine and isolation periods.  The isolation period for someone COVID positive, regardless of vaccination status, has been shortened to five days if asymptomatic.

Those who are exposed, but have had either the two vaccination shots within six months, the booster dose, or all three, do not have to isolate if they are asymptomatic.

This article will be updated as information becomes available.