PROVIDENCE, RI — There are nine new positive cases of the new coronavirus in Rhode Island, Governor Gina Raimondo announced on Friday, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 14. All public schools will be closed next week, the governor said.

"I know tensions are rising. The tone of this crisis has changed, even in the past few hours," Raimondo said. "It's time for us to take collectively take a deep breath. Panic is not helpful. Spreading misinformation is dangerous."

Previously scheduled April vacation will be moved up to next week, the governor said, allowing school leaders to create at-home learning plans in the event that the closure needs to be extended beyond one week.



Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the Director of Health at the Rhode Island Department of Health, said it is extremely important for teachers and school leaders to remain in the state during the week off to develop plans for at-home learning, cleaning protocols in school facilities and other preparedness plan. Childcare facilities are asked to stay open next week. As much as possible, parents should keep their children at home with them, but the governor acknowledged that not everyone can stay home from or work from home, making childcare a necessity while schools are closed.

"The last thing we can afford is to have parents ask their parents and grandparents watch children right now," Raimondo said. Private schools are strongly encouraged to follow in the state's footsteps and close their schools next weeks, Alexander-Scott said, as a statewide effort, rather than closing schools individually, will be more effective at containing the spread of the virus.

The announcement comes less than a day after Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green asked school leaders to draw up plans for at-home learning by next Thursday in the event of a closure. Several schools have already submitted these plans, Alexander-Scott said, and state officials are working with other districts to develop plans.

Of the nine new cases, four are males and five are females. Of those, three are children. All of the patients are recovering at home, except for one who is in a nursing home. That person has been placed in isolation, Alexander-Scott said. While the department is still working to determine the causes of transmission, they are believed to have come from four unrelated trips to Jamaica, Europe, the Bahamas and another state within the U.S. One of the children attended daycare in Stonginton, Connecticut.