R.I. health officials swoop into Providence neighborhood where 124 students now have COVID-19
PROVIDENCE — The number of students testing positive for the coronavirus on and around the Providence College campus soared to 124 in just three days, and state health officials have opened case investigations and ramped up contract tracing to try to halt the spread.
Officials also are strongly urging all students who live in that area, and the employees of businesses that serve them, to be tested immediately.
The outbreak was first revealed when Providence College said late Thursday that it had issued a stay-at-home order to all students and will have full remote learning until at least Sept. 26 because 84 of its students had tested positive in just two days. Of those 84, 23 lived on campus and the rest rent apartments in neighborhoods near the school.
College president the Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard also ordered all on-campus students to stay on campus and off-campus students to self-quarantine in their apartments, to not hold any gatherings indoors or outdoors, and to stay away from bars, restaurants, clubs, and neighborhood businesses — or they will be suspended.
Read more: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/09/18/metro/ri-health-officials-swoop-into-providence-neighborhood-where-124-students-now-have-covid-19/