UPDATED 9:30am: Coronavirus Update – 3-1-2020

UPDATE: 9:15AM, 3/1/20 – The first case of presumptive case of Coronavirus has been announced in Rhode Island. The person, believed to be in their 40s, had traveled to Italy, and had not returned to work since coming back from Italy about 2 weeks ago. The person is in a hospital being treated and family members are self-quarantining at home. There are UNconfirmed reports that the person is from East Providence – again, this is unconfirmed. A press conference will be held by the RI Dept. of Health at 11:45am – we will update this article at that time…

Internationally

The Pope & the Church

There are unconfirmed rumors in Italy that the Pope and two of his aides have tested positive for Corona-19 and are self-quarantined. Nigeria has suspended the sprinkling of holy water and hand shakes at mass, with communion being placed in the hand, good changes expected to be widely adopted. In South Korea where coronavirus is more widespread, churches have been closed.

Japan is the first country to step forward and budget for subsidies for those who lose income due to measures like school closures, with money expected to be available in 10 days.

New cases continue in countries as coronavirus spreads in Ireland, Luxembourg, Ecuador – saying only Antarctica has no cases now. France and more countries are moving to cancel large public events.

Nationally & Locally

State of emergency Washington state due to first death from Covid-19 and a few people who are showing symptoms without contact outside the country – suspecting “community spread”. The cases may be connected to exposure at a long term care facility. There may be a nursing/staff shortage at the treating hospital as diagnosis was not immediate and some personnel have been sent home to self isolate.

Advice for the country remains to lead our lives in a normal way.

The Coronavirus Task Force is working on a $7-8 billion range towards fighting the outbreak, both in research, treatment, and preparedness.

Supplemental funding bills are being passed in congress for services from agencies, and state and local health programs.

We should not be surprised by more cases being announced – they will happen – and for 80% of people who get the virus, they will survive it with a likely bad cold. 20% may need more extensive medical care, and some who have compromised medical situations may die.

In the US, CDC estimates that (the regular) influenza has resulted in between 9 million – 45 million illnesses, between 140,000 – 810,000 hospitalizations and between 12,000 – 61,000 deaths annually since 2010. As comparison, over 100 people have died of the flu in Florida, alone, in the first 2 months of 2020.

If we had not prevented travel from China to US, this would have been worse than it is right now, so we are in better shape than most parts of the world.

Stock Market – when the President was asked about it he said he was not worried, that it will turn around – “this too shall end”.

Rhode Island has “opened” its Incident Command System.

Supply Chain

The world’s manufacturing hub for protective medical gear is China – this will be a wakeup call to have items “made in America”.

FDA test kits and testing processes have been approved to allow individual states to begin testing as early as this week. 

Supply chain companies will be meeting in the White House on Monday.

43 million masks are available – with orders for 35 million a month on the way. Average Americans do not need a mask, but health care providers need them available, and the Surgeon General has issued a “don’t buy masks” recommendation.

CVS Health said spiking demand for masks and hand sanitizer have meant some items are on back order. That is the situation with most retail outlets when it comes to consumer products like these.

This is not our first rodeo! SARS, MERS, other unique flus have all impacted the United States before.

Travel

The Travel Advisory level has been increased to a Level 4 – highest level.

Travel bans for foreign nationals from, or having been to Italy, Iran, South Korea, and the most severe caution has been issued against unnecessary travel to these locations.

United Airlines has suspended some service to Tokyo, Narita, Osaka, Singapore and Seoul. China and Hong Kong flight suspensions are extended through 4/30.

Cruises: Think about location, buy good insurance. Check out advisories, by destination, from the CDC, here: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list