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Your Coronavirus Update – Today – July 21, 2020
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
President Trump announces he will resume his daily presidential briefings on Coronavirus at 5pm daily. Press Secretary’s briefing will continue daily at 11am.
The Marriott-owned W Hotel in lower Manhattan has permanently closed.
The Bahamas has closed its borders to most international visitors, including those from the US, citing a recent surge in COVID-19 cases.
Oxford University’s vaccine study is showing great response and the UK has ordered 100 million doses (https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-07-20-new-study-reveals-oxford-coronavirus-vaccine-produces-strong-immune-response)
Colombian cartels are executing people who break coronavirus lockdown.
President Trump said a payroll tax cut is very important to put through.
In New York, some cultural venues, such as zoos and botanical gardens, can open for outdoor activities at 33 percent of the venues’ total capacity. Four city zoos and the New York Botanical Garden have announced they will open to the public by the end of the month, while the Brooklyn Botanic Garden will open to the general public in early August. Still no indoor dining – and gyms, malls, movie theaters and museums remain closed.
Chinese officials declare a “Wartime State” to control spread of virus in Xinjiang capital city. (https://bit.ly/39cE4Lg)
Florida passed 5,000 deaths from coronavirus today.
University of Massachusetts freezes tuition rates for in-state students for academic year
The intensive care unit at Afghanistan’s capital city premier hospital for COVID-19 patients has family members, without protective equipment and only a few wearing face masks, helping to care for their patients due to lack of nurses and medical staff. Next-of-kin often guard their loved one’s oxygen tank, fearing it could be stolen because there is a shortage of supplies.
Southern supermarket chain Winn-Dixie will not require face masks in its roughly 500 stores, saying it doesn’t want to “put [its] associates in a position to navigate interpersonal conflict.”
Maine office of tourism issues guidelines for “when you’re ready to explore Maine again, we’re ready to welcome you back” – Residents of New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, New York or New Jersey, can travel to Maine without restrictions. For everyone else, to visit safely, you need to complete this Certificate of Compliance indicating you’ve either received a negative COVID-19 test or agree to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival (or the length of your visit, if less).
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RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
RI Data:
Deaths: 1 (3 the day before)
Governor’s address on Wednesday at 1pm.
Bristol, RI concert series canceled
Regular testing conducted by the Block Island Sewer Company for the presence of the coronavirus produced a positive result from a sample taken on July 5. The council and Interim Manager Jim Kern stressed that the science behind the testing was not yet exact. https://www.blockislandtimes.com/article/sewage-tests-positive-coronavirus/57621
ACI: 8 women inmates were identified as positive at the ACI – but the tests were inaccurate and they are not positive.
Mask use in the U.S.: high in the Northeast and the West, and lower in the Plains and parts of the South of the US, according to the New York Times.
Twin River to reopen sportsbooks, restaurants on limited basis in both R.I. casinos
Georgia’s Family Restaurant Central Falls violated the state Health Dept. rules, the owner wasn’t wearing a face covering — and refused to, saying he didn’t think it was mandatory, according to the Department of Health. He also said “he was too busy to listen to the inspector,”
The medical office of Daniel Hochberger, at 400 Pawtucket Ave. in Rumford, didn’t think it had to follow the COVID re-opening guidelines at all, because it was never closed during the pandemic.
A state inspector found problems at the medical office of Anthony Farina Jr., at 1830 Mineral Spring Ave. in North Providence. Of five employees, one wasn’t wearing a face covering, and three weren’t wearing them properly. Once they realized an inspector was there, they put on the coverings correctly, the immediate compliance order said. There were other violations.
Gina Raimondo said on Monday that she favors a call for students to return to in-person learning full time.
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