PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island surpassed 25,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 Friday as Gov. Gina Raimondo prepared to extend her order mandating masks in public.
The state reached that grim milestone after officials announced another 133 people had tested positive for the virus. Health officials also announced an additional coronavirus death, bringing the state’s total death toll from the virus to 1,118.
Officials have warned of the possibility that cases could rise further this fall, and Raimondo told WPRI-TV that she anticipates people will have to wear masks until an effective vaccine for the virus is widely available.
“That’s a no-brainer to me,” she said of wearing masks to prevent the spread of the virus. “The science is clear on how effective it is. It’s an easy effective thing that everybody can do.”
The current order mandating mask wearing in public is set to expire on Saturday. Raimondo said her extension will renew the order for another 30 days.
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