Everything You Need to Know About COVID-19 in Rhode Island
Updated booster shots now available in Rhode Island.

UPDATED BOOSTER SHOTS
- Rhode Islanders ages twelve and older are now able to get an updated bivalent COVID-19 booster to protect against the Omicron strain of the disease.
- The shots were specifically formulated to target the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of COVID-19 and were released in early September. People are eligible if it has been two months since their last dose of the vaccine.
- The new booster shots are available through retail pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens, as well as some primary care providers.
- Click here to find a location to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
VACCINES FOR CHILDREN
- Children ages six months and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
- The CDC recommends that children ages five and older receive a booster dose in addition to their primary vaccine series when eligible.
- As of September 27, only children ages twelve and older were eligible to receive an updated bivalent COVID-19 booster. The CDC recommends children ages five through eleven receive the original COVID-19 booster.
- As of September 22, 73 percent of children in Rhode Island ages fifteen to eighteen, 63 percent ages ten to fourteen, 43 percent ages five to nine, and 3 percent ages zero to four had completed a primary vaccine series.
- Visit the CDC website to learn more about COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children.
COVID-19 DATA
The Rhode Island Department of Health is updating its COVID-19 data weekly.
- On Thursday, September 22, RIDOH reported 162.2 new cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people in the previous week.
- There were 108 people hospitalized with COVID-19, including five people in the ICU and five on ventilators.
- 3,667 people have died from COVID-19 in Rhode Island since the start of the pandemic
- According to the CDC, 85.3 percent of Rhode Island residents had completed their primary vaccine series.
(Charts from the Rhode Island Department of Health)
TESTING
- Many urgent cares as well as CVS and Walgreens pharmacies offer COVID-19 testing by appointment. Sign up on their websites. Some pharmacies and retail stores also carry rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests for purchase.
- Most insurance plans cover the cost of up to eight at-home COVID-19 tests per person per month. You can apply for up-front insurance coverage while ordering tests here or submit for reimbursement later.
- Click here for a list of respiratory clinics that may also offer COVID-19 testing. Call first or go online to make an appointment.
- Report self-test results to the RIDOH at portal.ri.gov.
- The RIDOH no longer reports a percent positivity rate as part of its COVID-19 data. State officials say the data has become harder to interpret as more testing takes place at home or in traditional health care settings as opposed to state-run testing sites.
TRAVEL
- Travelers are no longer required to wear a mask in airports and on most public transportation, though the RIDOH is still recommending it.
- Regardless of vaccination status, travelers visiting or returning to Rhode Island are not currently required to quarantine or get tested. The RIDOH recommends travelers monitor for COVID-19 symptoms after travel and follow the travel guidance of the CDC.
- Departing travelers are advised to check testing requirements at their destination. Those leaving from Boston Logan International Airport can schedule a COVID-19 test at the airport.
COVID-19 in Rhode Island: FAST FACTS
- Symptoms include cough, fever, shortness of breath and loss of taste and/or smell
- Visit the RIDOH COVID-19 information portal for guidance on making coronavirus-related health care decisions based on CDC guidelines.
- If you’re showing symptoms, call your health care provider first; if you don’t have one, contact a nearby urgent care.
- Call 401-222-8022 with general questions about COVID-19 or visit the Rhode Island Department of Health website for the latest information
- Call Rhode Island’s BH Link at 401-414-5465 if you need mental health help or are struggling with substance abuse; for children, call Kids’ Link at 1-855-543-5465
Editor’s note: This story is updated frequently.