All of Rhode Island Now Considered Medium-Risk Area

Providence, Bristol, Kent, Newport, and Washington Counties are now considered medium-risk areas according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID-19 Community Levels risk assessment. CDC determines risk level using three metrics: new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population in the past seven days, the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past seven days.

CDC determines risk level using three metrics: new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population in the past seven days, the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past seven days.

If you are in a medium-risk area, RIDOH recommends taking additional precautions, including:

• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.

• If you are immunocompromised or high risk, have a plan for testing and talk to your healthcare provider about protecting yourself.

• If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk, consider self-testing and wearing a mask when indoors with them.

• When indoors in crowded settings, consider wearing a mask regardless of vaccination status. This is especially important for people who are immunocompromised.

• Get tested if you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

If you test positive:

• Talk to your doctor about treatment

• Stay home and use this calculator to determine how long you need to quarantine or isolate

• Use the RIDOH COVID-19 Survey to let people you were with know you tested positive.

• If you test yourself for COVID-19 at home, report your result to RIDOH at portal.ri.gov/s/selftest.

CDC’s full set of recommendation is available online.

Resources for Undocumented Immigrants

Get healthcare: The following places provide access to healthcare regardless of immigration status. These places may ask about your status, but only to help determine your eligibility for coverage, and must keep this information confidential.
- Community Health Centers: Call 401-274-1771 or see the Rhode Island Health Center Association website to find a health center near you (for adults and children).
- Rhode Island Free Clinic (for adults only): Call for an eligibility appointment: 401-274-6374.
- Clinica Esperanza-Hope Clinic (for adults only): For patients who might have COVID-19, call 401-408-0238. For general questions, call 401-347-9093.
Get tested: There are ways for patients for people without health insurance to get tested for COVID-19. Learn more about testing
Hospital care:
- Seeking care: Anyone, regardless of immigration status, can seek healthcare at hospitals, emergency departments, and health centers If you have symptoms of COVID-19, call first before showing up at the facility.
- Charity Care: If you need care at a hospital, ask about the hospital ‘charity care’ program and request an application. The hospital may cover all or part of your bill if you are unable to pay. Charity care is available regardless of immigration status.
- Emergency Medicaid: If you are in need to of emergency services at a hospital (in-patient or emergency room), but are ineligible for Medicaid solely because of your immigration status, you may nevertheless be eligible to have Medicaid pay the hospital bills. The hospital will help you apply.
Health insurance: Medicaid coverage for undocumented pregnant women is available, regardless of immigration status, as long as income and state residency requirements are met. You can apply for Medicaid any time. Call 1-855-840-4774 or apply online at healthsourceri.com
Access to interpreters: All Rhode Island healthcare providers who receive federal funds are required to provide interpretation services for their patients, at no cost to the patients, regardless of immigration status. You can download and print wallet cards to request interpreters for multiple languages here.
Public Charge: USCIS has released a statement declaring that testing, treatment, and preventive care related to COVID-19 will not negatively affect any immigrant in a future public charge determination. As a reminder, WIC does not ask immigration status and is not included in public charge determinations.
Vaccination: Get answers to common questions about immigrants' access to the COVID-19 vaccines
Women’s Refugee Care vaccination clinic: Dinner | Playground
More information: The Economic Progress Institute has posted information online for undocumented immigrants, and for DACA, TPS, and DED holders.
The National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants (NRC-RIM) provides resources that support COVID-19 vaccine efforts among refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities.