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Coronavirus Update – Today, April 17, 2020
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
A resident at a NYC hospital: it feels like no matter what you do, what treatment you give, you are slowly watching someone die,”
The federal government is pledging up to $483 million to accelerate the development of Moderna’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine, an infusion of money that the Cambridge biotech says would allow it to manufacture the yet-to-be approved product around the clock, seven days a week.
Germany plans partial reopening of shops and schools
PGA to begin in June – no fans on the course
Boeing to resume plane production in Washington state
A hearing is set for Friday in a lawsuit seeking to block Republican Gov. Chris Sununu from spending federal COVID-19 relief funds without lawmakers’ permission.
Israeli weddings are now the couple and the officiant
Philippine president threatens martial law-style lockdown enforcement
Portugal is doing better than almost any other country in Europe.
Japan declares nationwide state of emergency amid rising number of coronavirus cases
Denver Broncos star Von Miller tests positive
4 million antibody testing units to be given by month end by Abbott
Increasing case #s being reported in Singapore, China, etc.
Dr. Oz on masks – need to keep them on until businesses are open, schools are open, restaurants are open, etc.
Scotland says another 3 weeks is needed before considering opening country
17 bodies found in a New Jersey nursing home morgue
Colombia‘s capital is asking men and women to leave the house on alternate days, creating a (nearly) all-male, or all-female, cityscape.
Michigan had banned the sale of American flags – and riding on a jet ski.
Hawaii, Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota reported no new deaths on Tuesday
Governors’ Conference Call on reopening was held with all 50 governors and the President to review the plan.
President’s Press Conference
President Trump and the task force debuted the Guidelines: Opening Up America Again, new federal guidelines for reopening the U.S. which puts the responsibility and decision making on states’ governors for when they are ready. A readiness platform was created to guide them in deciding “when” and the reopening is designed in incremental phases. It was acknowledged that according to these a few states may start right away.
Rhode Island is not yet ready – or having qualified to be “gated” into the process – but when it is, these would be the venues first targeted for “opening”:
Here is the full plan:
https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/6840714/Guidelines.pdf
Here is the press conference, in total:
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Connecticut has “paused” on setting up overflow hospitals.
Boston University canceled its fall semester.
Brown University cancels summer undergraduate on-campus program.
RI’s Sheldon Whitehouse has been picked for the Economy Reopening Panel to help implement the reopening of America
Brockton has instituted a curfew – 9pm to 6am, except for essential services.
Coronavirus spreads to 3 state-run Massachusetts facilities for those with mental illness, developmental disabilities
Ross-Simons has donated $25K to Meals on Wheels and $25K to the RI Food Bank
Providence Public Schools will hold a distance learning planning and professional development day for staff on Friday, April 17. No classes will be held today.
Rhode Island Legislative Black and Latino Caucus raise concern about the disparity among minorities – and ask for testing to be located within the target communities.
2020 Newport Flower Show postponed to June 18-20, 2021
Coyle & Cassidy schools will close and merge with a Catholic school in Fall River
All but 5% of the out of state cars driving through the RI checkpoints are “just passing through”.
9 Providence police officers test positive – 2 have recovered
Barrington has closed the tennis courts, parks, and beach parking lots, and now requires residents to wear a face covering in all commercial and government buildings – subject to a fine up to $500
RI Governor’s Press Conference
Data:
18 new deaths – 105 total deaths
309 new positive cases – 3,838 total
24, 226 negative cases – 28,064 total tested
245 hospitalized – 61 in ICU – 43 on ventilators – 182 hospital discharges
18 new deaths: 7 in 70s, 7 in 80s, 4 in 90s. All 18 lived in congregate care (nursing homes). 9 of the 18 occurred yesterday. Other 9 occurred during days leading up to yesterday that were not reported previously.
Total deaths in nursing homes: Golden Crest – 24; Oak Hill – 18; Orchard View – 20; Oakland Grove – 5. (10 new in Orchard View)
Rhode Island model is based on Johns Hopkins model. Governor says she has been reluctant to share the model, any model, as it is not a perfect predictor. Cumulative death 2,120 of RI model; 4,015 of blue national line.
Single most important variable is effectiveness of social distancing.
RI model (blue line) will peak around May 3rd, and need around 2,250 hospital beds, which is able to be handled by existing hospitals, without using overflow units. RI (red line) will peak around April 27th, with 4,300 hospital bed need. Governor doesn’t think we will be at the worst case scenario because we are – now – obeying social distancing order.
Schools update: Holding off until end of next week.
Unemployment: More loan programs, better benefits, access to benefits, more small business help.
EmployRI.org – has job openings
Designation of Oak Hill Center in Pawtucket as designated Covid-19 facility – will take discharged people from hospital.
All nursing homes will now have locations which are Covid-19 units within them. Designated staff who will not work at other facilities.
Dr. Scott acknowledged that she had had a conversation with Dr. Birx about RI and credited Governor with the introduction. Not entirely surprised at question – RI is nestled between 2 hotspots who are ahead of us on the curve. It’s not a surprise, but let’s remember we are testing 2 to 3 times as many per capita as Massachusetts is. She thanks Dr. Birx for her help in getting test kit strips, etc.
45% of cases are of Latino Rhode Islanders.
Working with League of Cities & Towns – they have to track what impact has happened in their areas – so we can see what fiscal need is for $$ coming in from federal govt.
Enjoy this poignant moment…
Janine Stange, after giving the keynote for a conference of Chiefs of Police, sang God Bless America – and over 400 Chiefs of Police joined in.