Number of new coronavirus cases in Rhode Island drops

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The number of new cases of COVID-19 and the number of people in the hospital with the disease caused by the coronavirus in Rhode Island have dropped to levels not seen in more than two months, the state Department of Health reported Monday.

There were 51 new cases out of nearly 1,600 tests on Sunday, a positive rate of about 3%.

Gov. Gina Raimondo has said she wants see the rate of new cases in relation to tests at lower than 10%.

The 51 new cases was the lowest single-day total since March 27.

The department also reported that 146 people were hospitalized with the disease as of Friday, the most recent day for which the data was available. That was the lowest number of people hospitalized since April 3. Twenty-eight patients are currently in intensive care and 20 are on ventilators.

The state also reported 10 new coronavirus-related fatalities, bringing the state total to almost 800 deaths.