Rhode Island hospitals are full. Covid field hospital opening today. (11/30)
PROVIDENCE - As the demand for hospital beds rises with an increase in COVID patients, a field hospital in Cranston will begin taking patients Monday afternoon, according to a spokeswoman.
Care New England will operate the 353-bed field hospital on Sockanosset Cross Road in Cranston. The site is for COVID patients who aren't critically ill. If patients get more sick, they will be transferred to Kent Hospital in Warwick, also operated by Care New England.
On Monday morning, the Emergency Alert System was used and Rhode Islanders were sent the message, "RIGOV COVID ALERT: Hospitals at capacity due to COVID. Help the frontline by staying home as much as possible for the next two weeks. Work remotely if you can, avoid social gatherings, get tested. If we all decrease our mobility, we will save lives. Learn more about RI on Pause at reopeningRI.com/pause"
The Rhode Island Department of Health also on Monday reported 27 coronavirus-related deaths and 2,769 additional cases of COVID-19 over the last three days.
That brings the total toll in the state to 1,373 deaths and 56,723 known cases.
According to updated figures, the state reached a new high for COVID-positive hospital patients on Monday, Nov. 30, when there were 381 patients. That's up from 365 on Saturday.
Rhode Island has established two field hospitals meet the demand for beds as hospitals reach capacity for COVID patients. A field hospital has also been set up at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence.
https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/healthcare/2020/11/30/covid-field-hospital-cranston-begin-accepting-patients-monday/6461763002/
What happened in Rhode Island?
They appear to be the hardest hit state in New England as measured by daily cases and daily deaths per million population. They are a blue state, but they are often well up in the top 20 states list.
Was Rhode Island particularly lax in reopening after the first wave in the spring?