Subscribe!
It’s been one year. Your Coronavirus Update – Today, Feb. 27, 2021
One year ago…
Our articles started. Within a few days we were doing regular features, “Your Coronavirus Update…” – and so it has been. 2,502 Rhode Islanders have died. An approximate 118,500 men, women and children have been ill or had asymptomatic diagnosed coronavirus. Here is the opening paragraph of the first story we wrote (along with the original photo at a Chinese train station in Wuhan):
A “novel virus”, originating in China, has captured the attention of infectious disease specialists around the world. Of particular concern to those who may have a compromised immune system, and the elderly, the CDC is issuing regular information updates. This particular virus has never been seen in humans before – hence the nickname, the “mystery virus”. The WHO has called an emergency meeting to discuss what is known – and next steps.
Links to a few others stories…
Charts and Data have been with us to tell the story of where we have been...
And on this day, February 27, 2021…we continue…Your Coronavirus Update…
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Boston’s Catholic schools, the state’s second largest school system, stretching from Plymouth to New Hampshire, reopened in the fall. It’s a stark contrast, one that’s made Catholic schools attractive to families
RI is recruiting staff to give coronavirus shots – from dentists to students in pharmacy programs, and others.
On Monday, March 1st at 10 am, Mayor Frank Picozzi will be joined by Lt. Governor Dan Mckee to tour the vaccination clinic at Vet’s Memorial Middle school where residents, 75 and older, continue to get vaccinated.
Cranston is expanding registrations of COVID-19 vaccination appointments at the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center. Effective immediately, Cranston residents ages 68 and older can visit CranstonRI.gov or CranstonVaccine.com to schedule an appointment for their first dose of the Moderna vaccine. Appointments are currently available for March 2nd, 4th, 9th and 11th. Residents will be scheduled for their second dose at that time, as well.
The Red Sox organization said it will continue to operate Fenway Park as a mass vaccination site even as fans will be welcomed back into the stands on Opening Day.
Boston Mayor Walsh will take a harder line on opening of entertainment venues, announcing a late March target – differing with Governor Baker’s guidance.
A vaccination site will open on Cape Cod, with capacity to do 750 shots per day, 5 days a week, pending vaccine availability.
The Diocese of Providence had a $1.7 million operational loss for the Catholic Charity Appeal.
Bishop Tobin tweeted two days ago: “Just received my first Covid vaccine. It’s a good, safe and moral thing to do. Sincere gratitude to the scientists, health care professionals, and public officials who are working hard to make it happen.”
Seniors needing transportation to vaccination: If you’re not able to drive yourself the following are transportation resources will help Rhode Islanders get to vaccination sites. After Monday, March 1st you can call 211, press option 6, and they will schedule free Lyft rides to the vaccination sites for vaccine eligible older adults and individuals with disabilities. Rhode Island’s non-emergency medical transportation provider is MTM; they will also provide transportation to any COVID vaccination site including local community based sites, the large scale sites at Sockanosset Crossroads in Cranston and the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, pharmacies, supermarkets, and community centers. They have waived the 48 hour urgency requirement for vaccination trips (although they do ask for as much lead time as possible) and launched a new member portal ( https://www.mtm-inc.net/rhode-island/ ) MTM at 1-855-330-9131 (TTY: 711).
If you are a Veteran and need to get to the Providence VA to get your vaccine the Veterans Transportation Network provides trips to the PVAMC by volunteer drivers in donated DAV mini-vans. Call 401-457-3387 M-F between 5:30am-7am. More info here: https://rielderinfo.com/transportation-to-get-the-covid-vaccine/
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
The House passed $1.9 Trillion COVID-19 relief package late in the night on Friday – it now goes to the Senate.
Cases attributed to the New York variant are on the rise, and the California variant now makes up more than half of the cases in 44 counties across the state.
The CDC issued caution for states, saying there was concern that this is a leveling off time – at a high concentration of virus – and states should maintain their mask and distancing – “things are tenuous – now is not the time to relax restrictions” – further explaining that if we level off at this high concentration level, any event could tip the scales back to an upward trend.
From Politico: Covid is still a big risk in most places around the country. Cases, hospitalizations and deaths are coming down from January peaks, but they are still high and might be rising again. The country is recording about 2,000 Covid deaths a day.
Cruise update: Disney has pushed its cruises to end of June – Carnival, Norwegian, Regent Seven Seas. Royal Caribbean, Azamara, P&O Cruises Australia, Holland America, Celebrity through end of April. Princess Cruises through May 14th. Silversea through end of March.
Univ. of Delaware has a spike in virus and is back on restrictions.
Connecticut – People have come to CT to quarantine, and this will increase the real estate and commerce of the state.
New Hampshire – a new program to help people with rent and utilities will start.
Utah: The governor of Utah said his prediction is that there will be gatherings by the 4th of July without masks.
Vermont is now vaccinating over 65.
In France, strolling along the beach in Nice will not be allowed, due to upticks in cases.
US will buy 100,000 doses of Eli Lily therapeutics – monoclonal antibody cocktail.
Single doses of Pfizer vaccine is shown to protect those who already have had the virus.
Expect to see and hear more about a new educational campaign called #IGottheShot. America’s leading employers will ramp up engagement with their employees, suppliers and customers to advance wider and consistent adoption of COVID-19 safety practices and vaccines.
Ford and The Gap will donate more than 100 million masks for free distribution.
Pro sports leagues will help set aside more than 100 stadiums and arenas to become mass vaccination sites.
Argentina receives first delivery of Sinopharm vaccines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can’t enforce a nationwide eviction freeze amid the coronavirus pandemic, a Texas federal judge ruled Thursday, holding that the agency lacks the constitutional authority to regulate private property rights.
A panel of medical experts on Friday unanimously recommended that drug regulators clear Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, setting the stage for the likely authorization of the third such vaccine in the United States.
Uber, PayPal and Walgreens will provide free rides for people to get to vaccination sites and more businesses will be encouraged to do so.
The country has a chance to crush the virus medical experts say, in the coming weeks, through a combination of vaccination, mask wearing and social distancing.
The Senate parliamentarian ruled that Democrats could not increase the federal minimum wage using the budget reconciliation process, potentially killing the measure from Biden’s pandemic relief plan. They are working to take it out of the relief plan.
German Chancellor Merkel says vaccine passport has unanimous support within European Union
Russian diplomats going back home from North Korea, where trains have been stopped.