RI is only state doing enough tests to safely reopen, Harvard experts suggest https://www.wpri.com/health/coronav...sts-to-safely-reopen-harvard-experts-suggest/ Rhode Island is the only state conducting enough coronavirus tests right now to safely reopen the economy, according to new guidance from researchers at Harvard University. The Harvard estimates, published by The New York Times, say states should be administering a minimum of 152 tests a day per 100,000 residents in order to have enough data to detect whether the virus is spreading and who has contracted it. Rhode Island was conducting an average of 185 tests per 100,000 residents during the week ended April 15, making it the only state that had surpassed the minimum recommended by the experts at Harvard, according to The Times. Massachusetts was well below the threshold, at 92 daily tests per 100,000 people, while the country as a whole was even lower. Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute and incoming dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health, told the newspaper the rate of testing is a key metric “because the fundamental element of keeping our economy open is making sure you’re identifying as many infected people as possible and isolating them.” (More at above url)
I think it is more likely that it is because Rhode Island's population is so small (1.059 million) and it started with a low infection rate. So even a small number of available test kits set the state up to be ready to safely reopen. The population of Rhode Island is smaller than Wake County, North Carolina (1.112 million) or Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (1.11 million).
Yeah I figure it was small population but was joking that Harvard puts out a report on RI and the Head of the study is getting a new job in RI
Ah, so if they reopen and everyone from the surrounding states starts going there because they're suddenly the only game in town...
Even then it is mostly optional. It is pretty easy to skip up and down the east coast/New England without passing through Rhode Island. I guess that means it is more of a "destination." Who woulda thunk? As the joke goes: What do you call a pretty girl in Rhode Island? Answer: A visitor.