State reports 110 new virus cases; Mayflower visit canceled

The annual Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular will be turned into a drive-through exhibit this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Photo courtesy Roger Williams Park Zoo 

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — There have been 110 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus and two new virus-related deaths in Rhode Island, the state Department of Health reported Thursday.

There have now been more than 19,600 known cases and 1,014 deaths related to the disaese.

The number of people in the hospital with the coronavirus in the state inched up slightly to 83 on Tuesday, the latest day for which the information was provided. The number of patients in intensive care was down to 11.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Rhode Island has risen over the past two weeks from 60.29 new cases per day on July 22 to 97.29 new cases per day on Wednesday, according to the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

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MAYFLOWER II VISIT CANCELED

The Mayflower II, a replica of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to the New World 400 years ago, has canceled a scheduled stop in Rhode Island because of new travel restrictions required of people who visit the state.

The 64-year-old reproduction is sailing from Mystic, Connecticut, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, after an $11 million renovation project. The Mayflower II made an unscheduled stop in New Bedford, Massachusetts, this week to shelter during Tropical Storm Isaias. It had been scheduled to visit Newport, Rhode Island, on Thursday.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker earlier this week required people from Rhode Island or who have visited the state to quarantine for two weeks because of a rising number of coronavirus cases in the state.

“Due to Governor Baker’s recent change to the restrictions on travel to states including Rhode Island, Plimoth Plantation has decided out of an abundance of caution to keep Mayflower in New Bedford … until Saturday, August 8 when the ship will make its way to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy,” according to a press release from Plimoth Patuxet.

It is scheduled to arrive in Plymouth on Monday.

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DRIVE-THRU HALLOWEEN

The annual Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo is being converted into a drive-thru event this year to keep people safe during the pandemic.

The Halloween event that runs every night from Oct. 1 until Nov. 1 features thousands of intricately carved pumpkins.

Vehicles will be allowed to drive slowly through the zoo and families will see the pumpkins from inside the safety of their cars, the zoo announced Wednesday.

Tickets for the event must be purchased in advance.