RIC Campus Hosts COVID-19 Testing

Located in Parking Lot B, RING's secure testing site at Rhode Island National Guard began operating on March 31, enabling approximately 50 medical and security personnel to safely and securely test up to 300 people per day. Testing will run seven days a week between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Though testing will not be able to stop the spread of the virus, it will give the State of Rhode Island more accurate estimates of how many people are infected, how and where it is spreading in the community and the resources the state will need, said Christie Rishworth, interim director/nurse practitioner of the Office of Health Services at Rhode Island College.

RING's testing site at RIC is open to all Providence County Rhode Islanders with symptoms. However, it is important to stress that it is not a public "walk-in," she said. If you are symptomatic and believe you need to be tested for COVID-19, you should contact your primary care provider (PCP) to request a test. Your PCP will then make an appointment for you. If you don't have a PCP, call your local urgent care center, community health center or emergency department to ask about setting up a test.

"Our office communicates with the Department of Health every day with questions on behalf of Rhode Island College faculty, students and staff," said Rishworth. "We ask for guidance and then follow up on that guidance," she said. "I'm impressed at how everyone – the administration, the Rhode Island Department of Health and the entire campus community – is working to support each other through this crisis."

Please note that information on COVID-19 is constantly evolving. To stay abreast of the latest advisories, visit the Rhode Island Department of Health website at https://covid.ri.gov.