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Coronavirus Update – Today, April 12, 2020
(Don’t miss the JOY moment at the end…)
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Andrea Bocelli will perform a live concert “Music for Hope” at 1pm ET – here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI6nH5-_J3c
Boris Johnson is making “very good progress” as he continues his recovery from COVID-19, Downing Street says
The not happening summer wedding season is a $74 billion business.
Pollution drops 30 percent in Northeastern US amid coronavirus restrictions
South Korea to Impose Tracking Wristband for Defying Quarantine Orders
Spain records lowest number of dead in 19 days
India to extend nationwide coronavirus lockdown
Researchers are seeing genetic matching of the Washington state area virus as originating from China; but the East Coast virus cases show origination from Europe.
New York City schools will remain closed for the rest of the academic year
Florida – schools closed through rest of academic year
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
NEW regulations for nursing homes/facilities – families may NOT visit outside windows, drop off gifts, pick up or drop off laundry, and this begins today, Easter. This is designed to limit contact of any kind for these most at risk loved ones. (The Health Dept. was made aware of this situation after RINewsToday posed the question at the day before’s press conference, having heard that Easter gifts of flowers, candy, Easter Baskets were planned at several nursing homes – and families picking up and dropping off food, laundry, and gifts was still happening)
Bishop Tobin will celebrate Easter mass at 11am – live-streamed on local television stations (10, 12)
Church bells will ring Sundays, 9am until the pandemic threat is over.
4th ACI guard tests positive
4 Bettelle mask sterilizing trailers are in MA and underway, working 24/7
RI is listed on national news as having a 189% increase – identifying it as a new HOTSPOT in the US – but that only reflects increase in testing; as testing numbers go up, numbers positive will also go up.
All of Masssachusetts being told to wear masks when out of the home
Massachusetts testing site at Gillette Stadium for first responders – and – grocery store workers. They need not have symptoms. There will be another one set up at the Big E.
Federal investigation into deaths at Soldiers veterans nursing home in MA
Governor’s Press
Data: 7 deaths – total of 56; 334 new cases – total 2,249 – 183 in hospital
Of 7 deaths: 1 in 50s, 1 in 60s, 5 in 80s.Had a call with nursing home leadership to not allow any visitors to facilities; and our traditions make us feel compelled to do more – but – no packages being sent or dropped off. Creativity: call, text, or video chat. Cannot go to windows in nursing homes. Absolutely no packages or deliveries of any kind such as flowers, etc. through the mail or UPS, Fed Ex, etc. We need to limit traffic at nursing homes. Reiterated to try to limit # of people entering patient’s rooms.
Easter – it’s going to be tempting tomorrow to get together. Please avoid this. Gov first Easter in her life away from her mother. We all hope this is the only one like this that we’ll all ever experience.
This is a critical period. Could make our numbers surge.
Still getting reports of crowds in big box stores like Lowe’s and grocery stores. If you find yourself in a line, you need to move – you are doing something wrong.
Plea for those with loved ones in nursing homes – do not go there and drop off presents – no plants, candy, baskets, etc – this will save the life of your loved ones.
Go for a walk, just stay with that small group of 5 or less – and socially distant – no crowds, etc. All mayors and Gov will be patrolling all weekend.
Don’t get isolated – 24 hour behavioral health hotline – BHLink – 414LINK is phone #.
Gov has toured 3 hospital overflow sites – they look good – TY to personnel who have helped.
Hospitals are in good shape – but need to prepare to take on more patient load. Executive order to allow hospitals to take on more patients. Lifespan & CNE will operate the alternative sites set up. Attracting critical healthcare workers to RI.
April Reading Challenge – preK through high school – read every single day in the month 3,500 students have logged 150,000 minutes of reading. End of month, Barnes & Noble will donate to schools with best numbers. #RIReadsAtHome.
RI Family Services is delivering food and cleaning supplies to families in need – Text Be Safe to 44321 to donate – or go to Family Service RI website – they need donations.
Dr. Scott wishes all a Happy Passover & Happy Easter
Employers being asked for doctor’s notes okaying them to return to work if isolated. Dr. Scott says you can return to work if it has been 7 days, no fever for 72 hours, and no symptoms.
Can someone come into RI to work on a boat or their house if they live in another state? No essential activities. Stay in your house. Quarantine for out of staters coming to RI to stay, they must quarantine.
Pandemic safe demonstration at Wyatt prison yesterday. Gov. said she supports banning private prison – Wyatt is a federal prison, no authority.
Business closings in place until May 8th. Extension is a possibility, depending on how well we comply with restrictions until then.
Where is RI’s model? We have a model. The worst is not behind us. All depends on how well we do.
3 new hospitals – 1 may be up and running in a couple of weeks – Convention Center hospital should be up and running soon.
Contact tracing. Case investigation begins with conversation with patient. Full landscape assessment of who they were in contact with. People within 6 feet of distance, more than 30 minutes. Can include work partners (why they strongly encourage working from home). Looking to expand team to better do tracing. 1 to few hours response to a patient situation. Rapid turnaround time.
Electric Boat & other essential businesses – concern for close contact work. Most manufacturers have completely redone their floor plans. Call RI DBR with unsafe manufacturing workplaces.
How many more health care providers we will need will depend upon how many cases we have. We have to ramp up our “model” to be able to fulfill the need, based on protocols.
Is RI allowing hydroxychloroquine as treatment? Rules to monitor it – must go before monitoring group of professionals due to concern for others who need it may not be able to obtain information due to shortages.
Because we are testing more, which is a good thing, we will be identified as surging. Everyone’s data depends upon local testing reporting, and they can have variables.
Hotspots comment – although we’re doing very well, we have two things working against us – RI is most densely populated state in country. We have high percentage of seniors in RI. Difficult to do state by state comparisons.
Governor does not want to release data on model – before she releases to the public.