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Your Coronavirus Update Today – July 2, 2020
Photo: Casey Farm in RI says, “Keep THREE Chickens away from each other!”
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
The Grand Floridian, The Yacht Club, and The Gran Destino hotels have been rented out in Disney for the NBA. NBA to paint “Black Lives Matter” on all sidelines.
Australia steps up police patrols in Melbourne’s locked down coronavirus hotspots as authorities struggle to contain new outbreaks.
Havana, Cuba to ease lockdown as they move to phase 2.
Houston moves COVID-19 patients to other cities: “we don’t have capacity”.
More than 54,000 Americans living or working in long-term care have died of the coronavirus, representing 40% of all Covid-19 fatalities, according to a NYT article.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, warned the Senate that the number of cases could soon reach 100,000 a day if the country does not act quickly.
14 states have statewide mask mandates, and more than 20 others have mask-wearing requirements for business patrons and employees.
Banks around the U.S. are running low on coins – nickels, dimes, quarters and even pennies. And the Federal Reserve, which supplies banks, has been forced to ration scarce supplies. https://www.npr.org/2020/06/21/880958665/the-latest-pandemic-shortage-coins-are-the-new-toilet-paper
One third of the prisoners at San Quentin Prison in California are probably infected now with the virus – 42% of the prison’s population are considered “medically vulnerable”.
All MLB games are off for the season.
Space Camp has resumed at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center after shutting down because of the coronavirus pandemic.
operator of 1,200 Pizza Hut and nearly 400 Wendy’s restaurants in the United States, has filed for bankruptcy, according to the company.
Pizza Hut & Wendy’s, owned by the same company have filed for bankruptcy – they employ 7,500 full time and 28,500 part time workers throughout the US. This step is expected to help them restructure.
In Phoenix, Arizona: The governor ordered bars, nightclubs and water parks to close again for at least a month starting Monday night
Trenton, New Jersey: Gov. Phil Murphy said he’s postponing the restarting of indoor dining, possibly for weeks, because of a lack of compliance on face masks and social distancing
Philadelphia: The city is halting its plans to allow indoor dining, bars, gyms and fitness centers to reopen.
Quarantine rules for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut have added eight new states where travelers will be required to quarantine. Added to the list were California, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada and Tennessee, raising the total to 16 states under the quarantine orders.
Airbus says to cut around 15,000 jobs
NFL reportedly will cut preseason in half because of pandemic
Apple said it would re-close 30 stores, including 15 in its home state of California.
A temporary extension of a subsidy program for small businesses slammed by the coronavirus has been approved and will be signed by the president.
The New York Subway is now equipped with touch screen PPE vending machines distributing masks, sanitizer, and gloves.
The 2020 MTV Video Music Awards will go on, but without audience.
The CEO of Gilead, maker of remdesivir, estimated to cost over $3,000/dose, said, “We’re going to make sure that access is not an issue with this medicine”.
Lowe’s will up the pay of their staff as their business is booming during the pandemic.
Grocery supply chains tighten once again and prices rise.
Sports stadium designers are starting to re-imagine stadiums of the future with requirements for social distance seating, etc. See more, here: https://cnb.cx/2ByqFRc
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Kent Hospital endoscopy unit temporarily closed due to potential exposure to COVID-19 – employees are being quarantined for 14 days.
Gov. Raimondo is featured in Oprah Magazine‘s article “Meet the Rockstar Governors Who Came to our Rescue”
Massachusetts casinos could reopen as soon as next week, but in the face of reduced capacity, Encore Boston Harbor announced plans Monday to furlough a substantial portion of its staff. Approximately 3,000 employees and managers will be furloughed
Maine did not release the quarantine requirement for travelers coming from RI.
All Providence pools will be closed for the season – water parks are open.
Providence may reassign 40% of students to their neighborhood schools.
Kountry Clam Shack, a new addition to the menu at the Kountry Kitchen in Smithfield has opened, offering outdoor dining,
MA Governor Charlie Baker said Tuesday that he was relaxing the state’s 14-day self-quarantine guidance for visitors, exempting people arriving from seven other states in the Northeast that are making progress in the battle against the coronavirus. The update to the self-quarantine advisory, effective July 1, applies to people coming to Massachusetts from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire.
These campgrounds are open in RI:
• Burlingame State Campground, Charlestown
• Charlestown Breachway, Charlestown
• Fishermen’s Memorial Campground, Narragansett
• George Washington Memorial Campground, Glocester
Findings of a Fleming study for the Hassenfeld Institute:
*Sixty-six percent of Rhode Island voters said the Governor is opening the State at the right pace
*Almost two-thirds of Rhode Islanders said they are very or somewhat comfortable returning to work outside the home
*More than half of Rhode Islanders are somewhat or very uncomfortable dining in a restaurant
*Voters are divided if they are comfortable attending religious services
*Sixty-five percent of Rhode Island voters said they are very or somewhat comfortable going to a barber or hair salon
*Rhode Islanders are divided on if they are comfortable sending students in K thru 12 back to school in the fall
*Voters between the ages of 40 and 59, Republicans and people who earn over $200K are the most comfortable with doing things outside the home.
*Over three-fourths of voters said that unemployment is a big or moderate problem
Go here for the full study: https://hassenfeld.bryant.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Hassenfeld-Survey-Report-June-2020.pdf
PawSox 2020 season is canceled
This week Mass. reported 0 new coronavirus deaths one day for the first time in months
Woonsocket’s Autumnfest is canceled
Dragon Boat Races in Pawtucket canceled
King Richard’s Faire canceled
Showcase will reopen Friday and will run old movies.
Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market will reopened Wednesday.
Providence Libraries opened Wednesday. Brief visits, outdoor seating, no public computers yet (but coming soon). Wear a mask, wash your hands, maintain social distancing.
Oatley’s Restaurant in North Kingstown will not open.
Newport International Boat Show will not be held this year.
RI Data
Deaths: 6. 1 in 40s, 2 in 60s, 1 in 70s, 1 in 80s, 1 in 90s. (4 were in long term care)
Data will be updated Thurs & Fri, not weekend and not Monday – then again on Tuesday.
Gov’s updates won’t take place now until next Tuesday.
4th of July: We can have fun, but please follow the rules – masks, distancing, sanitizing. Don’t want to see a spike in 2, 3, 4 weeks. No more than 250 people at any events. 6 feet apart, or where your mask. Every city/town will get 1,000 masks to distribute. RIDEM will also distribute masks this weekend at masks and parks.
Inspections: More than 90% compliance with mask wearing by customers and employees. Not so good news is issue of congregating in lines at beaches, bars. 18% of bar inspections not adequate social distancing – we need to do better, don’t want to shut them down.
Senior care support from state: Continuing wage bonuses for front line workers. Immediate relief for costs with additional cleaning, PPE purchases. Increase nursing home inspections. High standards for infection control – hold nursing homes responsible for infection control.
NEW: Support and provision for nursing homes to totally reimagine care for seniors: How can they accommodate single rooms, single bathrooms, specialty units. Innovate, change business, change clinical and business model to be better and stronger – learn from lessons we’ve learned. Grow and strengthen our home based systems to have better options other than nursing homes. Hard to find home care community supports so RI will commit to make it easier for you to provide care and make nursing homes more innovative. Job training for home care. Options for nights, weekends, holidays, overnights. Working with hospitals so family can receive options at discharge of loved ones. Many direct care workers are women, and women of color – important we make these jobs good paying jobs, career jobs. Going to use Covid funds to support this.
ChildCare: 70% of childcare providers have opened their doors. Additional $5M from Cares for structural changes to help centers get open. DHS partnering with LISC to provide funds.
Questions:
Kathy Gregg story on BCG Contract – Gov says she has been transparent – expenditures are online – no? – I was moving fast and I’ll defend it all along. $2M pro bono work, we were impressed with them, and we gave them a contract to go ahead. They helped us figure out testing, contact tracing – they embedded in our teams and helped us figure it out. “It’s been excellent”.
Rental Assistance: WPRI’s Kim Kalunian asked about distribution of rental assistance money. “We partnered with Crossroads RI and it’s not going as fast as it needs to.” Said they are getting more involved to figure out how it needs to work faster. Housing Help RI – if you are behind on your rent call Crossroads or go to HousingHelpRI – there is money available – “we haven’t done a good job about getting the money out – we will do better”. Expect a spike in evictions in August – hope to have a mediation program to announce next week.
UI Boost: Will UI continue? This is what’s buoying the economy at the moment – what will we do? Economists are predicting bad consequences beginning in August. “I think it will be devastating if we don’t get another stimulus” – everything will be on the table – devastating cuts, massive layoffs, etc. Trump administration supports another stimulus as does every governor and our federal legislators. Looks like we will get another one in last week of July. Don’t know about PPP. Don’t know about extra $600. RI is preparing for everything.
HEZ – Health Equity Zones – how much money in budget? Gov. says she does not know, as it will depend on budget scenario. “It’s a priority of mine that we will continue to invest in.” But I don’t know the numbers.
Pawtucket stadium project – Tidewater Landing – with coronavirus problems – “It’s slower and harder” – company continues to raise money – Gov says, “no, we’re not even close to throwing in the towel on the development”. Re McCoy – we have to look at all options – single A and double A teams were interested, but the world has changed now. We need to get back to it.
Nursing Homes: Phase 3 – Can people see their loved ones now? We do have drive-by with some nursing homes. Closest way and safest way right now. Next week some more developments should be announced. Mental health assistance for those family members who have lost loved ones in nursing homes – Director Power has contacted nursing home team to offer behavioral health services.
RIPTA: Has state looked at giving out masks here? Dr. Scott: absolutely. And looking at more locations for masks, sanitizers and social distancing info.
Elderly deaths every day: Assisted living and nursing homes still experiencing deaths every day. Virus continues to be present – still targeted to frail and elderly for the most part – while cases are lower, deaths are lower, but are still occurring.
DEATHS: 720 Deaths have taken place in nursing homes; 45 in assisted living facilities. Total deaths are 956 – this means 80% of all deaths were people in nursing homes/assisted living facilities.
Hospital visitations: will announce next week
PPE Petition for release of funds by Lt. Gov. – you can look for info on transparency portal and it’s updated monthly.
Governor Raimondo’s address on Phase 3 in Rhode Island: