Subscribe!
RI Coronavirus Update – Today, Jan. 2, 2021
Photo: Emory Univ. Medical Center staff get the first of two vaccine shots as medical workers worldwide step up first in line.
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Residents of Nantucket Island are angry with seeing fellow islanders breaking COVID-19 rules and guidelines, and have formed their own task force to “enforce” the rules and guidelines that are in place.
Attleboro Fire Dept. has a high rate of infection, yet vaccinations have not yet been set for them – they claim disorganization at the community level – Massachusetts firefighters say the need for them to get vaccinated is urgent. They want to know how and when they will receive their first shots.
The Boston Marathon date for 2021 has not been set.
Rep. Grace Diaz of Providence has tested positive
Festival Ballet‘s outdoor event planned after receiving a RI Take It Outside event was canceled and will now be filmed and offered online
Sage Kitchen on Federal Hill, had police response on New Year’s Eve, when they were found to be open after the mandatory 10pm closing time.
UMass medical experts are recommending the US build a Vaccination Corps to take on the massive logistics of vaccinations.
Gov. Baker signed into law provisions protecting telehealth services in Massachusetts
MassDevelopment awarded $4.5million in grants to taxis and livery services
In US, 3,169,818 doses of vaccine have been administered – approx. 25.5% of shots used as of 12/31/2020 data reports.
The RI DEM will begin taking reservations for picnic areas, covered shelters and recreational fields at state parks for the 2021 season on Monday, Jan. 4 by phone or in-person at the park – first come first served.
In RI, 49,000 shots were distributed to the state, with 17,020 doses administered, of 34.7%.
RI Cases by Community:
RI companies with business violations in December, through Dec. 31st.
The Centredale Revival Co. – 2025 Smith St., North Providence
The Art of Barbering – 640 Broad St., Commercial Unit 4, Providence
Auli’s Panda – 863 Broad St., Central Falls
Espinal Restaurante – 564 Plainfield St., Providence
Gas N Go – 717 Park Ave., Cranston
A1 Fitness – 179 Conant St., Pawtucket
The TOP Strength Project – 402 Walcott St., Pawtucket
Shogun Restaurant – 76 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick
American Martial Arts – 3 Commerce St., Smithfield
A-1 Pizza, 20 Commons – Little Compton
ACE Center Hardware – 156 County Rd., Barrington
Santo Domingo Market – Woonsocket
Governor Raimondo scheduled to give an update on January 7th.
RI Data will be updated on Monday, January 4th at noon.
RIDOH says there is no vaccine “waiting list” and they are still finalizing our full phasing plan for who will get vaccinated where and by whom.
From Dr. Chan at the RI Dept. of Health:
“Governor Raimondo asked me to provide you with an update on our progress thus far: This has been a challenging year filled with frustration and loss for so many of us, including me. I know first-hand how strenuous it’s been on our frontline healthcare providers, who are working around the clock to keep Rhode Islanders safe and healthy. But as we look toward 2021, I am filled with optimism that our vaccination efforts will turn things around.
We are currently using two COVID-19 vaccines in Rhode Island: one made by Pfizer and one made by Moderna. After weeks of scrutiny — extensive clinical trials with tens of thousands of participants followed by teams of FDA scientists examining the vaccine’s effectiveness, safety, potential side effects, and manufacturing process and an independent review by Rhode Island’s COVID-19 Vaccine Subcommittee — we’ve found that both vaccines are safe. Both are enormously effective (~95%). This is a huge step forward in the fight against COVID-19!
Because we began planning for this months ago, our vaccination campaign hit the ground running. Rhode Island currently has one of the best state-level immunization programs in the country. We’ve vaccinated nearly 13,000 people already and have 14,000 doses of the two vaccines coming into Rhode Island each week.
We started off vaccinating high-risk workers in hospitals, and this week started vaccinating residents and staff in nursing homes. We’re planning to administer initial doses of the vaccine at all nursing homes by mid-January. This week, we also started clinics for home health and hospice workers, EMS personnel, and first responders.
Once we’ve protected our healthcare workers, we’re going to move to additional populations who work or live in higher-risk settings. We have a major focus on equity. That means not only making sure that the communities and sectors hardest hit have access to vaccine first but also making sure that every person in every neighborhood in Rhode Island has access to a vaccine. Transportation issues or lack of health insurance will not be barriers for anyone. The vaccine will be available to all Rhode Islanders regardless of insurance status, and no one will have to pay out of pocket.
As the vaccine becomes more available in the coming weeks, we will continue to provide regular updates about who can get vaccinated and where. We plan to make vaccines as accessible as possible at local doctor’s offices, pharmacies, community clinics, and more. But we are all going to need to be patient. Rhode Islanders will be vaccinated over the course of months, not weeks.
The pandemic has truly been a marathon, and while we’ve come so far already, we still have a little ways to go. Marathons are the toughest right before the end, but soon the finish line will be in sight. Between now and then, we need to stay focused – wear masks, practice physical distancing – in addition to getting vaccinated when it’s our turn. So thank you, everyone, for your patience and diligence during this time. We are getting through this together!
Dr. Philip A. Chan, MD, MS
Medical Director, RIDOH
Video New Year’s message from Governor Raimondo:
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
As of New Year’s Eve data reporting, 10.3 million doses of vaccine were given in 29 countries. In the US, 3.17 million doses have been given, approximately 1% of population.
The USDA boxes of food for families in need program ended at the end of 2020 – continuation has yet to be brought up or mentioned by either administration.
Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told Yahoo Finance Live this week that we’ll likely see “many more hiccups” throughout the distribution efforts over the next several months due to a lack of adequate public health infrastructure.
The CDC is recommending teachers as a priority one group for vaccination.
More Americans turned their attention to life insurance, wills and trusts last year as the coronavirus pandemic made the reality of death unavoidable.
Congresswoman-elect Maria Salazar in Florida tests positive
In JAMA study, the self-reported likelihood of getting a COVID-19 vaccine declined from 74% in early April to 56% in early December 2020, despite the early November reports of high vaccine efficacy.. The study notes the importance of public education campaigns.
China reports first case of new coronavirus variant
A 30-bed Samaritans Purse field hospital with medical staff is going to Caldwell County, North Carolina to help with COVID-19 response.
As part of their contact tracing protocol, the NBA will now require that players and staff wear sensors at all team-organized events away from games.
Florida has seen its first cases of the new COVID19 variant – a male in his 20s with no history of travel.
Denmark says they expect April will be the turning point in COVID19
Britain says they will allow for mix and match 2nd vaccines.
Ohio Gov: 60 percent of nursing home staff elected not to take COVID-19 vaccine
Ontario, Canada got the first 50K doses of Moderna coronavirus vaccine Dec. 30th
India was being consumed by Covid-19, until nearly everyone started wearing masks.
AstraZeneca COVID vaccine set to become first one approved in India
75 percent of all counties in Kansas and Missouri don’t have a single ICU bed
Senator Perdue and his wife in Georgia are now in quarantine as they have been exposed to someone close on the campaign with COVID.
BioNTech is working with partner Pfizer to boost production of their COVID-19 vaccine, its founders said, warning there would be gaps in supply until other vaccines were rolled out.
Thousands of volunteers are stepping up across the country during the coronavirus pandemic, delivering supplies and helping the vulnerable. At Yale University, there are 2,700 students doing this for their community.
A very small number of Covid patients who have never experienced mental health problems are developing severe psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations, paranoia and violent impulses, weeks after contracting the virus.
Indonesia receives 1.8 million more doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine
UK military ready to deliver 100,000 vaccine doses a day
Israel could become the first country to be completely vaccinated against the virus. Almost 10 percent of its population has received the first of two doses of Pfizer’s vaccine. Israel has prioritized health workers and citizens in the 60-plus age group.
Israeli health professionals have attributed the success of the vaccination program to several factors, including the fact that Israel’s population is relatively small and young. In addition, all Israeli citizens, by law, must be registered with one of the country’s four H.M.O.s, a leftover of socialized medicine. Israel’s heavily digitized, community-based health system, together with its centralized government, have proved particularly adept at orchestrating the logistics of national campaigns such as this.
Sweden is recommending people wear masks during rush hour.
Bolivia signs its first major vaccine deal for Russia´s Sputnik 5
Russia to supply Algeria with Sputnik V vaccine
Italy rules out making COVID vaccine obligatory
New Mexico has issued $10,000 fines to two churches for holding Christmas Eve services
RI Lt. Gov. Dan McKee talks with Ted Nesi on Newsmakers: