RIDOH said it is coordinating closely with the hospital where the person is being treated and that all infection protocols are being followed.
"The Rhode Island Department of Health has been preparing for weeks to ensure that we have a structure in place to, to the best of our ability, limit or prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Rhode Island. We fully anticipated having a first case of COVID-19," Nicole Alexander-Scott, director of the RIDOH, told WFXT. "We are not seeing widespread community transmission in Rhode Island, and the general level of risk for Rhode Islanders is still low.
"However, everyone in Rhode Island has a role to play in helping us prevent the spread of viruses, just like the flu. It is very important that people wash their hands regularly, cover their coughs and sneezes, and stay home if they are sick,” Scott said.
Officials have begun to reach out to people who recently had direct contact with the 40-year-old.
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