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Coronavirus Update – Today, April 1, 2020
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
House Speaker Pelosi says she foresees Vote by Mail for the November election.
GE jet engine factory workers protest – want to make ventilators
Nydia Velazquez tests positive and US Capitol Sergeant at Arms says all members should work from home
Italy held a moment of silence today for the dead and the healthcare workers who are working so hard to save lives
California nail salons, now closed, are donating their masks and gloves
25,000 healthcare professionals volunteer to help California combat coronavirus
Maine is now under a stay at home order
The IHeart concert last Sunday night organized by Elton John raised over $8 million for Feeding America and Feed the Children
Federal prisons throughout US are now on lockdown
Wall Street just ended one of the worst quarters in stock market history
Walmart hiring 50,000 part time A DAY – with plans to transition to full time after crisis has passed. ALL 1 million employees will now be wearing masks, have cough screens – and will have temps taken each day…
Virgin Rocket, Richard Branson’s company, making masks.
Fifteen percent of the NYPD is out sick
Virginia has ended schools through June
LL Bean making masks and gowns
Chris Cuomo, anchor at CNN, and brother of NY Governor Cuomo has tested positive for the coronavirus and is “feeling fine” and working from home.
6 brothers came down with coronavirus after attending the funeral of another brother
At the 9-11 Memorial in NYC, the daily tradition of laying a white rose on the names of those deceased continues on – being taken over by the Memorial’s security guards, as volunteers are not allowed to continue this at this time
NY has ordered 17,000 ventilators at $25,000 each – but all orders are competing with each other – they hope to get 2,500
5 residents of senior living facility in Revere have died
President’s Press Conference
The next two weeks will be critical in saving lives
Dr. Fauci presented & Dr. Birx presented charts of data of where we could be if we do it the best which could still be 100,000 deaths – and if we don’t do well with mitigation it could be as high as one or two million.
The President reflected on if we only knew then if we know now – in a very extensive press conference.
California was praised for its controls at this point – but they still have to be careful
New Orleans and Mardi Gras was an issue and an example of social distancing
California’s homeless population – strategies are being developed, but it’s inefficient because of the sheer numbers.
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
The Rhode Island Public Defender’s office has filed an emergency petition with the RI Supreme Court that would have inmates whose sentences are set to expire in the next 90 days be released from the prison facility, in the face of the coronavirus. Massachusetts heard oral arguments yesterday on a similar petition.
Central Falls police are patrolling the streets of the city with message to stay at home over speakers
RI Beaches & Parks closed – blockades on parking, seawall in Narragansett, etc.
Trout Day opening – pushed back to a time not yet determined
North Kingstown has established a “hotline” for senior citizens to request assistance for food, prescriptions, or any necessary items. Pre-ordered boxed lunches are available. Orders must be placed 48 hours in advance. The boxed lunches will be delivered to residences Mon – Fri.
New England Tech 340 gowns, 300 sets of gloves, and 200 surgical face masks.
Rhode Island’s peak date as determined by IHME is April 20th
The Newport City Council will meet virtually tonight to discuss the city’s response to the coronavirus.
A cursory review of Block Island houses owned by New Yorkers showed 13 homes who had been here for weeks and abiding by rules to stay inside. They had their food as well.
Some Cape Cod residents are making a request to close the bridges to the Cape
Massachusetts – Holyoke Soldiers’ Home – 13 deaths at facility, at least 6 from Covid-19.
At least 28 spring breakers from the Austin, Texas-area tested positive for coronavirus following a spring break trip to Mexico,
Governor of Rhode Island Press Conference
Another 4 deaths, bringing deaths to 8. Increase from 41 to 59 people in the hospital. 86 new cases. 488 total. 6 people transferred out of state
Gov wants everyone to write down every day where you’ve been and who you have been in contact with.
Closing parks and beaches as of Friday-you can go for a walk, but no congregating and no parking.
All drive-thru sites will be fully operational tomorrow. Expect lines. Must call primary provider – tests will take a few days.
All evictions delayed until 4/17
State is in need of non-full-time working doctors, nurses, therapists, etc. – state is desperate for professionals – last time 400 signed up – need more – RIResponds.org
All healthcare workers, effective today, must wear surgical masks.
All facilities that are healthcare facilities must be appropriately cleaned every 4 hours with proper disinfectants – high touch areas such as doorknobs, counters, etc.
Homeless population – renting hotel rooms to decrease density of shelters such as Harrington Hal, Crossroads, etc. – putting together emergency shelters. Working with homeless advocates.
Mayors of Pawt & CF and Care New England want to reopen Memorial Hospital – mayors are free to make comments – but this isn’t very helpful. Memorial would be incredibly expensive to reopen.
Grocery shopping first of the month – do it responsibly – don’t worry about supplies, just shop safely
Nursing Homes – 3 nursing homes where deaths have happened. 2 at Golden Crest, 1 at Oak Hill. Also seeing groups of cases – both at Golden & Oak Hill. At another facility, 1 isolated case. Assuring that we are as careful as possible with our nursing home community. Possibly using CNAs to maintain staffing – also utilizing surgical face masks to protect themselves from having symptoms they are unaware of from transmitting to others.
Special education classes – providing education remotely. Challenge with spec ed and ESL – top priority of RIDE – we’ll get better over time.
Press Release from Governor:
State parks and beaches: As of this Friday, April 3rd, state beaches and parks in Rhode Island will be closed. Campground openings will be postponed until at least May 1st. More information about this announcement is available online.
Masking of healthcare workers: All healthcare workers in all hospitals and nursing homes (as well as home health workers) should be wearing masks at all times when engaged in direct patient care.RIDOH has been working, and will continue to work, with facilities on strategies to conserve personal protective equipment (PPE).
Expanded testing: Testing had previously focused on healthcare workers (including EMS), hospitalized patients, and people who live in congregate living settings (such as nursing homes). With three additional remote swabbing sites (“drive-through testing sites”) now operational Rhode Island is expanding testing to three additional populations:people who areolder than 65, people with underlying medical conditions, and critical infrastructure workers (such as police officers and firefighters). To be tested someone must have symptoms. If someone in one of these groups has symptoms that they think need medical care, they should call their doctor. Someone cannot be tested in Rhode Island without being directed to a testing site by their doctor.
Business help: The Rhode Island Superior Court is rolling out a new program to assist businesses that have been significantly disrupted by this virus. Normally, businesses that can’t pay their bills are sold and their assets are divided by creditors. This new program will enable attorneys and accountants to work with business owners so that they can continue to operate, access capital like disaster assistance, and pay their debts incrementally – all under Court-supervised protection from lawsuits. This program will give qualifying businesses vital protection so that they can get back on their feet after this crisis is over. More information can be found on the Court’s website.
The Governor also repeated her call for trained medical and behavioral health professionals not currently working full time to sign up as volunteers at www.RIresponds.org.
Data
Additionally, Dr. Alexander-Scott announced today that Rhode Island has 86 new cases of COVID-19. This brings Rhode Island’s count to 488. Dr. Alexander-Scott also announced four additional COVID-19 associated fatalities. One of these individuals was a male in his 60s, and one person was a female in her 80s. The two other people were a male and a female, both in their 70s.This brings Rhode Island’s total for COVID-19 associated fatalities to eight. A full data summary for Rhode Island is posted online.