BREAKING: CDC in RI, Urging Travelers to Critical Countries Should Self-Quarantine

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo announced Thursday at a press conference that officials from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) are now embedded in the state to address coronavirus.

Raimondo has ordered all Rhode Island state employees who have recently traveled to five hot spot countries to immediately self-quarantine for the next 14 days.

Raimondo urged private employers to take the same steps with employees who have traveled to these key countries.

The countries in question are China, Iran, South Korea, Japan or Italy to stay home.

On Wednesday, state health officials announced that in addition to the 2 presumed positive cases of COVID-19, 7 tests are pending — and 200 individuals are now self-quarantined.

“To ensure that we are coordinating as close as possible — we have a team of CDC officials here in Rhode Island— they arrived a few days ago,” said Raimondo

“This is an evolving situation,” said Raimondo. “The risk is low. I would ask that you call on us to support you — you should call the Department of Health."

Raimondo noted that hotline number is 401-222-8022

“Our number one goal is containment — every minute we can buy, every day we can buy containment, this is critical,” said Raimondo.



Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Schools, Colleges, and Employers



“Visitors to hospitals and nursing homes— we know from what’s happening in Seattle — this hits those who are the most vulnerable the hardest. The Department of Health has been working closely with hospitals and nursing homes,” said Raimondo. “If you are sick — if you are feeling sick or have been exposed to someone who is sick — do not visit a hospital or nursing home.”

“We do not want you to do is rush to the doctor’s officer, ER, or health clinic — call you physician, pediatrician,” said Raimondo. “We have to protect our healthcare workers. They are worried about being exposed to the virus and then themselves.”

Raimondo noted that additional testing sites will soon become available.

“[Those] additional testing sites — they’ll have the proper equipment, training, and tests to test you,” she said.

Raimondo said that a new policy has been put in place for state workers — that she is asking employers to consider.

“We have directed all state employees who have traveled to China, Italy, South Korea, Japan, and Iran, in the last 14 days, to stay home for 14 symptom-free days,” she said. “I’m asking all Rhode Island employers to implement a similar policy — I recognize its an extreme inconvenience, but I’m asking all employers to consider this if they’re able.”

“I’m calling on all high schools and colleges to cancel all organized trips abroad. For now, I think it’s prudent to cancel or postpone those trips. I have this week myself spoken more than once to Vice President Pence — we are in constant contact with the CDC,” she said.

“I’ve stopped shaking hands — wash your hands, use sanitizer, don’t go out and buy masks,” she added.



Dr. Nicole Alexander Scott spoke to the CDC being in the state.

“A full team of officials [from the CDC] is building our capacity to respond to this emergency event — contact tracking, decision making with schools,” said Alexander Scott. “It puts Rhode Island on the front lines getting the latest information from the state.”

“We do have enough tests here in Rhode Island,” said Alexander Scott. "I would not consider us a hot spot -- we're certainly at the forefront in terms of response."

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