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Your Coronavirus Update – Today – July 23, 2020
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Photo: The ABQ BioPark in New Mexico has put their animals to work painting beautiful art that will be sold with proceeds to benefit zoo programs. “Artists” include penguins, elephants, gorillas, orangutans, alligators, arthropods, snakes, lions, hippos and more.
HHS has debuted its new national government coronavirus data dashboard: https://protect-public.hhs.gov/
WebMD is out with a poll about who is the most concerned right now about the coronavirus – The age group that expressed the most concern about getting COVID-19 was readers 65 and older. More, here: https://wb.md/30Fbtdz
In Maine, a virtual fundraiser held by the American Lung Association has raised more than $550,000 for coronavirus research.
In Tulsa, Oklahoma, hundreds of people camp out overnight and 24/7 in unemployment payment lines due to a failure in the system to handle the volume.
Shares of small UK biotech firm Synairgen spiked as much as 552% higher on Monday after the company revealed its experimental coronavirus drug was mostly successful in preventing the development of serious COVID-19 symptoms. The company’s SNG001 drug reduced the odds of a patient needing ventilation or dying by 79% compared to those receiving a placebo, the company said Monday. Patients receiving the drug were also more than twice as likely to recover and experienced a “markedly reduced” level of breathlessness.
The number of Covid-19 cases in the U.S. could be up to 24 times higher than what’s been reported thus far, according to new CDC data.
Student housing owners are seeing pre-leasing stall compared to prior years, as many universities march toward online classes and some students opt to live elsewhere
A zoo closed because of the coronavirus pandemic is trying to raise money by selling paintings – by the zoo’s animal – with artwork by elephants, snow leopards, etc.
Marriott hotels will require guests to wear masks in lobbies and public spaces starting July 27.
Disney World visitors will no longer be able to eat or drink while walking. According to the policy, visitors must be stationary while eating or drinking and must maintain appropriate social distancing.
KPMG is to cut more than 100 jobs and slash contributions to employees’ pension pots as part of a cost-saving drive accelerated by the #coronavirus pandemic
US told China to close its diplomatic consulate in Houston “to protect American intellectual property and American’s private information
The United States will pay $1.95 billion for Pfizer to produce and deliver 100 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate in the U.S. if it proves safe and effective in humans
Florida teacher groups sue to block reopening of public schools.
A physician television reporter, Dr. Mark Siegel, asked President Trump if he might take the first vaccine and he said he would take the first or the last – whatever the public wanted if it would help people think it was safe to do for themselves.
Researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System led a study where most of their patients took prednisone, and found patients with high inflammation levels were associated with a 75% reduction in risk of going on mechanical ventilation or dying.
More than one in five people in Delhi have been infected with the coronavirus – 22%
TODAY: Commerce RI is looking to speak with a handful of nail salons, estheticians, barber shops, hair professionals this Thursday, the 23rd, at 4:30pm. This will be about how Phase 3 has gone, and recommendations as we head into Phase 4. Send email ASAP to: [email protected].
Winn-Dixie – and Walgreens – now requires masks in all their stores.
Barcelona, Spain has faltered in their contact tracing, and is scrambling to put it back into place in round 2 of coronavirus.
Many Israeli workers say they can’t rely on state aid. Some see no choice but to take other positions, which usually pay less and for which they are overqualified.
The NYC subway is facing serious and dramatic cuts in staff, and service, due to budget issues.
Vaccine makers testify before congress, all saying they are “optimistic”.
Harvard’s first year will be totally virtual, and they are enforcing their policy that international students cannot come to campus, but must learn “from home”, and not return to the US during this time.
Masks are now mandatory at the New Hampshire State House.
LinkedIn to lay off 1,000 workers
More than 75 brands of hand sanitizer are on a list not to be used – look them up here: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-updates-hand-sanitizers-methanol
President’s Press Conference
50Million coronavirus tests – 8% positivity rate
Spiking cases in Sunbelt – with multiple reasons – crowded bars, young people after demonstrations, increase in travel, holiday gatherings (Memorial Day, etc.), beaches.
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Massachusetts has extended its statewide moratorium on evictions and foreclosures for another 60 days.
5 R.I. hospitals receive $71.3M for COVID-19 costs
It is estimated that 3% of RI COVID19 numbers are out of staters.
Lt. Governor McKee told RINewsToday that he shares the concern of many small businesses that the Governor’s small business funds are not enough and will be distributed too slowly. He is also concerned that sole proprietors were excluded from the program. The Lt. Governor and the RI Small Business Coalition are continuing to strategize on how to keep this issue front and center and encourage the Governor’s office to expand the grant program.
Massachusetts has an anonymous hotline for employees to report on companies with health violations
The Mayflower II has returned to Plymoth after its renovations and for its 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ landing
The Kent County YMCA Splash Park is open
90 people – mostly residents of Connecticut nursing homes and assisted living facilities recently receiving false positive tests.
Dr. Scott on WPRO: Working countless hours to prepare for a safe return to in-person school. Understands the fears of teachers and parents. We know through science that COVID19 does not impact children as it does adults. The small group setting allows control for some of these concerns. Guarantees that “we will do everything we can do to put our best foot forward” with strong program that is ready to respond to anything needed. On nursing homes: we did the best we could as the information evolved.
RI Governor’s Address
RI Data:
Deaths: 1 (in 60s) – 3 day hospitalization average: 65
We will reach 1,000 deaths this week and the state flags will be lowered to half mast in memory of the lives lost.
Mask Wearing: Referring to states that have mandated mask wearing. We were early in wearing masks in RI. And we are doing very well, with about 90% compliance. Let’s try for universal compliance, and not get lazy.
Social Gatherings/Bars: We need to focus on reducing our social gatherings. Limit is 25. It’s not 30 or 35. It’s 25 of the same people. Best way to go into the fall, school going, back to work, etc. is to get our numbers down as low as possible. Bars need to operate like a restaurant. Drinks ordered and served at a table – not at a bar. Big round of inspection this week and this weekend – considering further shutdown of bars. Dr. Scott also says gatherings are the one big problem right now – on boats, beaches, backyards, small events, restaurants, etc.
Testing: Goal is to be at 48 hours, gold standard; 2-3 days acceptable. It needs to get better. Trying to get less dependent on out of state labs. More people need to get tested. If you have symptoms, please call your doctor and get tested. For direct contact workers, asymptomatic – please go to portal.ri.gov and sign up and get tested. Gov says we are the leader in testing, having tested the equivalent of 30% of population.
We Are One: Philanthropic fund to help immigration challenged people – goal was to raise $3 million to distribute $400 debit cards. We’ve exceeded the goal. Thank you to those who gave. Money will be for food, gas, basic necessities. Give by texting to 27126 – WeROne
Nursing Homes: Visitation policies are going very well. TY to staff. $100K in grants to nursing homes to help residents connect digitally with families. Go to EOHHS website. Federal money. Also launching virtual community center with Age Friendly RI – to help older Rhode Islanders stay in touch with each other. Wellness programming, chats, online talks, tech training, education and entertainment programming. TY to Tech Collective.
Schools: Last month goal was set to return to school, in-person on 8/31. Plans were due for full in-person return to school; full distance learning; and hybrid program. All city/towns met deadline and has submitted plans. Some plans were overly creative and complete – others were minimal – we will help plans get to where they need to be. Huge amount of mis-information and fear-mongering out there about kids returning to school. “We are going to get our kids back to school – we’re going to make sure they are safe – we are going to follow the science.” We are going to do the painstaking, detailed work – “you will be safer in school than not being in school”. Every week we will talk about schools with the commissioner – fact based & transparent information. Starting tomorrow, every Thursday at 3pm, there will be a virtual meeting with different stakeholders on Gov’s FB page. Tomorrow it will be with two pediatricians. (Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Elizabeth Laing). Every Friday email on getting back to schools – go to: governor.ri.gov.
Dr. Scott:
New Testing Site: Moving to RI Convention Center to replace CCRI and RIC – it will be in parking garage – both symptomatic and some asymptomatic people.
Testing Wait Times: TY to RI State Health Laboratory for their involvement from beginning. This week we expand to Lifespan testing facilities for handling nursing home cyclical and outbreak testing.
Community Outreach Enforcement Program: will differ from one community to another. Teams will partner with other organized groups – churches, business groups, youth, beaches, etc. – to hand out masks, education, hand sanitizer, testing info.
QUESTIONS:
General consensus that the hybrid model of school will be most likely. Gov’s hope that once details are shared, there should be more comfort level. Thursday meetings, etc. Gov. doesn’t think the superintendents should say ‘we can’t figure it out’ so quickly. Need to work more on the plans.
Would state supercede local decisions? “I’m not there yet – have to look in to what our authorities are”.
Looking at rapid testing for every school and surveillance testing for teachers and children.
If 30 people gathered are unsafe, how are we going to be safe in a classroom with 30 people? Dr. Scott – creating a space for stable groups.
Small Business Grants: Question again about how long it is taking? Acknowledges it is a drop in the bucket. More than just money is given out – also advice and PPE, equipment, etc. Can’t just give all the money out – we have competing needs – schools, nursing homes, nonprofits, etc – needs are massive.
Nursing Home potential strike: Tough question. Those who have the toughest jobs are the ones with the biggest issues – “Now is not the time to go on strike – we really need you”.
Tests for Travel: If you can’t get your test results in time, how can people travel?
ZOOM meeting of the Meeting of the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education, with public participation – full video
