A clearly frustrated governor told residents “to get more serious” about keeping at least 6 feet away from other people -- the “social distancing” recommended by epidemiologists -- as the highly contagious disease continues to spread in the state.

During her daily media briefing, Raimondo also said she is shutting down recreation and entertainment facilities, barbershops, hair and nail salons, and spas as of 5 p.m. Monday until further notice.

PROVIDENCE – Governor Gina Raimondo announced Sunday that 17 more Rhode Island residents have tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the state’s total to 83.

She warned that if people don’t stop gathering in groups larger than 10 people, the state will be forced to move to a “statewide lockdown.” Other governors have ordered residents to stay home except for essential errands and activities.


“This isn’t a joke,” Raimondo said. “It’s really not a joke. People will die.”

Raimondo offered her strongest warning yet that residents should not be getting together in groups, echoing comments made about people in New York City earlier in the day by Governor Andrew Cuomo.

“What we do in these next two weeks will determine our collective future,” Raimondo said.

The 17 new cases represent the biggest single-day jump since the state revealed the first two cases March 1, and was the fifth consecutive day that at least 10 additional residents tested positive for the disease. Raimondo has repeatedly warned that the state’s numbers will rise as more tests are conducted.

Worldwide, more than 328,000 people have tested positive for the coronavirus; in the US, the number has surpassed 31,000, with close to 400 deaths.

Raimondo said she remains opposed to requiring residents to shelter in place the way California has done, but she made it clear she believes most adults should work from home this week. The state’s public schools will begin “distance learning” programming for at least two weeks on Monday.


In addition to the new closures, Raimondo announced that a unit of the Army Corps of Engineers will be deployed in Rhode Island to begin readying buildings in the event that hospitals see a surge in infected people. She said the state has been preparing its “surge capacity” for weeks.





Dan McGowan can be reached at dan.mcgowan@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter at @danmcgowan.