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Your Coronavirus Update – Today, Sept. 19, 2020
Photo: Providence College iconic sculpture: The stainless-steel flame that rises 33 feet above the lawn. The flame’s height represents the number of years Jesus lived on earth before his crucifixion. Its three tongues of flame represent the Trinity. The back wall is 7 feet high, a significant number throughout Scripture. Illuminated at night, it is a physical representation of the Providence College motto, Veritas — Truth — symbolized by a torch.
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Mandatory mask wearing considered not constitutional – this is candidate Biden’s suggestion for what he would do on day one.
A new study has resulted in the authors recommend responsible vitamin D supplementation based on personal needs, risk factors, and advice from personal physicians in accordance with existing Endocrine Society Guidelines as a way to increase recovery and survivability from coronavirus.
The CDC now says anyone who has been within 6 feet of a person with documented infection for at least 15 minutes should get a test. The agency called the changes a “clarification” that was needed “due to the significance of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission.”
Oxford researchers feel confident that the patient with an inflamed spinal code did not get the condition from the vaccine trial – and the trial now moves on.
Australia gives $3.7M to its national news agency to help it due to coronavirus impact.
The Sorbonne in France worries about outbreaks, as over 20 have occurred on campuses in the country.
Moderna & Pfizer, in an unprecedented show of transparency, the two frontrunners in the race to develop a Covid-19 vaccine released detailed protocols describing the studies testing their vaccines.
Roger Williams University has one positive case associated with exposure to Providence College students.
University of Rhode Island has done 1,350 tests, with 41 positive, a 3% positive rate.
Roger Williams University has tested 5,175 people on campus, with over 30,000 tests in total (multiple testing). 15 tests were positive and 803 are still being processed.
Rhode Island School of Design has tested 2,776, with 3 positive cases.
Salve Regina University has tested 153 students, faculty and staff members, with one positive result.
RI College is saying they have 10 positive tests.
Bryant University reported 4,739 campus tests with a seven-day positivity rate of 0.13%
2 related students are positive at Providence Career and Technical Academy
1 student tests positive from Juanita Sanchez School, Providence
1 staff member at Sarah Barnes School in Johnson is positive
Warwick is looking at return to school in October, after receiving equipment and doing electrical work.
Unemployment rate tumbled 5% in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts still has RI on its list of restricted travel states.
Chinese researchers noticed that there “could be preliminary evidence that daily wearers of eyeglasses are less susceptible to Covid-19.” It may be that eyeglasses act as a partial barrier, protecting eyes from the splatter of a cough or sneeze. Another explanation for the finding could be that people who wear glasses are less likely to rub their eyes with contaminated hands.
860,000 Americans have filed for unemployment this past week, about 10,000 more than expected.
CVS will add 2,000 testing sites in US by mid-October, making for a total of 4,000
NYC delays opening of schools – will begin in phases in next two weeks starting Monday – then all in by first week of October.
Ford announced production of a new, “most powerful” pickup truck – an all-electric F150 – to be on the road in 2 years – and the addition of 300+ new jobs in Michigan. The car, in effect, can become a generator for the home or office, if power is lost.
According to CMS data, those who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid have some of the highest COVID-related infection and hospitalization rates.
NCAA season to start Nov. 25th.
Pine-Sol’s Original Multi-Surface Cleaner has been added to the Environmental Protection Agency’s list of disinfectants, as it’s proven to target coronavirus specifically.
British Airways to layoff as many as 10,000.
Inmates reported hiding COVID-19 symptoms to avoid being sent to Northern Correctional Institution, fearful of the isolation there. Now, the Department of Correction is moving the medical isolation unit to MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution.
Quantas Airlines sold “tickets to nowhere” for a flight that takes off, flies low, and returns to the same spot – they sold out in 10 minutes – ranging from $300 to $3,000.
Canada puts $19M towards film makers’ needs.
Nearly 60% of physicians report burnout since COVID-19 began
JP Morgan Chase no longer paying for employees’ Uber and ride-share rides to work.
Ukraine on Thursday strongly warned thousands of Hasidic Jewish pilgrims who have been stuck on its border for days that it won’t allow them into the country due to coronavirus restrictions.
Vaccine update – Ebola vaccine skipped Phase 3 trials because of proven efficacy.
NYC is short over 2,500 substitute teachers – they are now scrambling to emergency certify teachers.
CMS has revised visitation for nursing homes – recommendations about testing visitors, compassionate care visits at the end of life, entry of specialty medical personnel, purchasing tents, etc.
Kansas’ health department has suspended its reporting on individual businesses and locations where clusters of coronavirus cases have occurred after only a week, saying it wants to make sure the data does not include cases that aren’t current.
At least eight employees of the nation’s third-largest school district, Chicago, have died and another 250 have had COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
Carnival Cruise Line on Wednesday announced additional voyage cancellations into late spring of next year. Arkansas, Montana, North Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming had record number of cases last week, with a record numbers of deaths were reported in Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.
Moderna has 25,296 participants enrolled in their COVE Phase 3 Study as of Wednesday, September 16th
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
RI Data:
Deaths: 3 – Percent positives: 1.5%
Norwich, CT nursing home, Three Rivers Healthcare – shut down – 35 patients to be sent to other facilities – lack of staff, infection controls, and other safety problems. Will close 9/30. This follows 22 residents and 6 staff having gotten COVID-19, with as many as 5 dying.
48 Rhode Island public school students, in total, were identified this week as coronavirus positive. 3 reports are from Providence.
URI will hold a 3-part panel discussion series, URI Beyond: The challenges and opportunities of health care teamwork during a pandemic, Sept. 30, Oct. 7, Oct. 14 – more, here: https://bit.ly/3caSM6U
Trinity Rep Theater says there will be no performances in their building until the fall of 2021. The free, online production of A Christmas Carol announced in August will continue. The on-demand, streaming show will be available in late November and feature Joe Wilson, Jr. as Ebenezer Scrooge, directed by Curt Columbus.
Newport Chamber of Commerce is partnering with CCRI to provide free virtual courses.
A rapid testing site run by CVS Health located at 91 Dexter St in Pawtucket is now testing children over 12, and Pawtucket and Central Falls residents who have experienced symptoms, and/or have had recent contact with individuals who have tested positive, or work in high risk occupations.
RI has had at least 19 students and staff members test positive for the coronavirus since schools reopened for in-person learning this week.
Coventry students protest ban on sports.
Walmart has new wage ranges for the hourly team lead roles start at between $18 and $21 an hour and can go up to $30 an hour in Supercenters
Lifespan is looking for volunteers for vaccine studies. So far 9 have enrolled. If interested, go here: https://www.lifespan.org/centers-services/infectious-diseases/volunteers-needed-covid-19-vaccine-trials
Lifespan is looking for COVID-19 recovered individuals for plasma donations.
Raytheon, based in Waltham, to increase job cuts to 15,000 – Connecticut’s Pratt & Whitney division might see the most cuts.
A boarding student at St. George’s School has tested positive for COVID-19 and the student and classmates in the student’s dormitory are quarantined – the student was asymptomatic and felt fine. Approximately 520 tests of faculty and students were conducted in the past two weeks, all results came back negative except for the one positive test.
Johnson & Wales informs students of four cases in JWU students in the PC area and advises no contact with campus. All students living in that area are now required to be tested.
Brown University has 2 positive cases this week, 15 since beginning of school. They have tested 6,095 people.
Asymptomatic exposure is a real problem. College students are carrying Covid without symptoms and then spreading it to the general population, who are then getting sick at much higher rates than the students are. “When I talk to a lot of colleges and universities, the biggest concern is fear of downstream health in the general population…” said an MIT spokesperson.
Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival is set to go on this Sept. 17 through the 20th.. Rather than one event, the Festival will be collaborations with several local restaurants who will offer a diverse series of multi-course lunches and dinners paired with specially chosen wines and cocktails. Participants will need to buy tickets to any event they would like to attend. There will also be special wine and spirit tasting seminars at the mansions along with a festival-ending vintner dinner and elegant Sunday brunch at Rosecliff. Each event will have a very limited capacity to help maintain social distancing guidelines.
Jewish temples/synagogues are offering a variety of ways to celebrate the High Holy Days from outdoors to virtual only to limited seating/virtual – refer to Jewish Rhode Island, here: http://jewishrhody.staging.communityq.com/stories/ri-congregations-offer-options-for-high-holy-days-worship,12377?newsletter=12408
Massachusetts health officials reported 499 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Massachusetts college campuses over the past month. They will start with this report and update it every Wednesday: https://www.mass.gov/doc/weekly-covid-19-public-health-report-september-16-2020/download
The PTO at the Walter E. Ranger Elementary School raised $3,000 to buy tents for outdoor instruction, lunch and recess — but the fire marshals for the city and state said they don’t meet fire code. The Governor said she would intervene. But the fire marshal said he can’t approve and they are going for a variance now.
College of the Holy Cross in Worcester has 20+ students testing positive – it does mention an on campus party with more than 25 students as a possible causative factor.
Silent Lunch – Silent Snacks – Many public schools have received guidance that they cannot speak at lunch or at snack time – or on the bus. Dr. McDonald of the RIDOH said talking could more easily spread particles while masks are off and eating is taking place. RIDOH said this is not a state mandate, up to each school department.
100 Boston College students tested positive for COVID-19,
Providence College has over 100 students testing positive. All college is going remote. Students who live on campus can’t go off campus or leave their room. If they live off campus, they can’t leave apts. Those who are positive, should go home or go to a campus facility or hotel room. No student can go to bars, restaurants or anywhere in the community. Providence Police are stationed outside of off-campus housing locations. The college says that if spike continues they will close campus for semester.