The numbers began ticking up in September. After a quiet summer, doctors at Rhode Island Hospital began seeing one or two patients with Covid-19 on each shift — and soon three. Then four.
Cases climbed steadily until early December, when Rhode Island earned the dubious distinction of having more cases and deaths per 100,000 people than any other state in the country. The case rate still puts it among the top five states.
Central Falls, Rhode Island – February 20: People line up outside the High School before the doors open on February 20, 2021 in Central Falls, Rhode Island. Central Falls High School was turned into a vaccine clinic. Central Falls is the smallest city in the smallest state in the US that’s been tackling one of the highest infection and hospitalization rates. Central Falls is the only majority-minority community in Rhode Island. (Photo by David Degner/New York Times)Cranston, Rhode Island – February 21: Eleanor Slater Hospital may be mentioned in the story February 21, 2021 in Cranston, Rhode Island. (Photo by David Degner/New York Times)East Providence, Rhode Island – February 21: A national map shows Rhode Island in the parking lot of Emma G Whiteknact School February 21, 2021 in East Providence, Rhode Island. (Photo by David Degner/New York Times)Pawtucket, Rhode Island – February 21: Immaculate Heart of Mary, a Catholic Church serving the Cape Verdean community, holds socially distanced services and afterwards Elizabeth DaMoura Moreira, Pawtuckets public health and equity leader handed out supplies and talked with people about Covid-19 February 21, 2021 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Churches in the Ocean State have been allowed to fill to 40 percent capacity, up from 25 percent as of Feb. 12. (Photo by David Degner/New York Times)Pawtucket, Rhode Island – February 21: Elizabeth DaMoura Moreira, Pawtuckets public health and equity leader, hands out supplies and talk with people about Covid-19 at Immaculate Heart of Mary, a Catholic Church serving the Cape Verdean community February 21, 2021 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Churches in the Ocean State have been allowed to fill to 40 percent capacity, up from 25 percent as of Feb. 12. (Photo by David Degner/New York Times)Pawtucket, Rhode Island – February 21: Elizabeth DaMoura Moreira, Pawtuckets public health and equity leader, prepares to hand out supplies and talk with people about Covid-19 at Immaculate Heart of Mary, a Catholic Church serving the Cape Verdean community February 21, 2021 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Churches in the Ocean State have been allowed to fill to 40 percent capacity, up from 25 percent as of Feb. 12. (Photo by David Degner/New York Times)Pawtucket, Rhode Island – February 21: Immaculate Heart of Mary, a Catholic Church serving the Cape Verdean community, holds socially distanced services and afterwards Elizabeth DaMoura Moreira, PawtucketÕs public health and equity leader, handed out supplies and talked with people about Covid-19 February 21, 2021 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Churches in the Ocean State have been allowed to fill to 40 percent capacity, up from 25 percent as of Feb. 12. (Photo by David Degner/New York Times)Central Falls, Rhode Island – February 21: Gary Berdugo and Jessica Lippe walk the streets as City Health Ambassadors February 21, 2021 in Central Falls, Rhode Island. They start by handing out free masks and then give information about testing and vaccines and can even sign up people for the weekly vaccine clinic. Central Falls faces specific challenges with its high density population so they opened up vaccinations to anyone over 18. (Photo by David Degner/New York Times)Central Falls, Rhode Island – February 21: Gary Berdugo and Jessica Lippe walk the streets as City Health Ambassadors February 21, 2021 in Central Falls, Rhode Island. They start by handing out free masks and then give information about testing and vaccines and can even sign up people for the weekly vaccine clinic. Central Falls faces specific challenges with its high density population so they opened up vaccinations to anyone over 18. (Photo by David Degner/New York Times)Providence, Rhode Island – February 20: An ambulance sits outside Rhode Island Hospital on February 20, 2021 in Providence, Rhode Island. (Photo by David Degner/New York Times)Central Falls, Rhode Island – February 20: At the end of the day a city employee rests, volunteers, city employees, pharmacists and firefighters staff the Saturday vaccine clinic on February 20, 2021 in Central Falls, Rhode Island. Central Falls High School was turned into a vaccine clinic. Central Falls is the smallest city in the smallest state in the US that’s been tackling one of the highest infection and hospitalization rates. Central Falls is the onlymajority-minority community in Rhode Island. (Photo by David Degner/New York Times)Pawtucket, Rhode Island – February 20: Portrait of Djini Tavares near Cabo Verde Way, the neighborhood she grew up in, and near the Jewelry factory where she and many Cape Verdeans worked when she was in high school on February 20, 2021 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Djini Tavares lives with her 86-year-old father but when she became infected in July, Ms. Tavares left her home and was prepared to spend about $120 a night to isolate in a covid hotel. (Photo by David Degner/New York Times)Central Falls, Rhode Island – February 20: People wait for about 15 minutes after receiving the vaccine to make sure there are no adverse effects on February 20, 2021 in Central Falls, Rhode Island. Central Falls High School was turned into a vaccine clinic. Central Falls is the smallest
city in the smallest state in the US that’s been tackling one of the highest infection and hospitalization rates. Central Falls is the only majority-minority community in Rhode Island. (Photo by David Degner/New York Times)
