Subscribe!
Coronavirus Update – Today, March 28, 2020
(Photo: Matterhorn, Switzerland – rotating messages – #stayhome, #love, etc)
INTERNATIONAL
In Tokyo, face masks are a must-wear for commuters
Pope Francis delivers blessing to empty St. Peter’s Square
French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted late Thursday that he had a “very good discussion” with President Donald Trump, and that they “are preparing with other countries a new strong initiative in the coming days.”
Panama Canal denies passage to Holland America ship
Domestic violence rises across Europe amid lockdowns
NATIONAL
St. Claire HealthCare in Kentucky announced it will furlough 300 employees not involved in direct patient care maintain its financial
NYC nurse dies of virus – he had been treating patients for weeks
Last night EMS in New York took 6,406 medical 911 calls, the highest volume ever, surpassing 9/11/01.
Alaska mandate bars in-state travel between communities
New Orleans turns convention center into makeshift hospital
33,000 Americans abroad struggling to get home
President Trump invokes Defense Production Act to force GM to make ventilators
Los Angeles County shuts down beaches and hiking trails
Biden recommends national lockdown
Utah issues stay-at-home order
Los Angeles partners with UPS to deliver, pick up COVID-19 tests
San Francisco to use convention center for homeless
NRA sues to block gun store closures
Hawaii locks down & prepares for phase 2, 1000 extra beds, quarantine areas
US to make 100,000 ventilators in 100 days
Fanatics sports materials firm in Pennsylvania – now making masks and gowns.
A teenager in Lancaster, California was turned away from an urgent care because he did not have health insurance
The US will send $274 million to provide resources to 64 of the world’s most at-risk countries
North Carolina residents ordered to stay home
Cincinnati Police will no longer respond to 911 calls ranging from assault to burglary property damage because of #coronavirus.
NYC – schools will remain closed – distance learning, food, day care will continue – reassess in 2 weeks
USNS Mercy has arrived in California
New Orleans is a big hotspot – thought do to Mardi Gras
President’s Press Conference
Signed $2.2Trillion- $6.2Trillion – largest bill ever signed – for emergency relief – by unanimous voice vote
Apple launched new tool – free Covid-19 app on iphone – answer questions on symptoms and risk factors – they will get recommendation about testing
Panera & MacLean Global Logistics CEOs spoke at press conference about delivering meals to American families
Testing 100,000 patients a day; capacity continues to grow
Rhode Island – New York initiative to stop people mentioned and supported at national level
Dept. of Education Sect spoke about transition to distance learning – and it should apply to special ed students & where there is no internet. This is an opportunity to learn how to do this by new venues.
RHODE ISLAND
Today, the RI National Guard will partner with RI coastal cities’ local police to go door to door looking for travelers from New York and informing them about a mandatory 14 day quarantine, and to gather contact info.
The RI State Police will continue to stop cars with New York plates to inform them about a 14 day quarantine and to gather contact info.
The RI ACLU files suit claiming police stopping cars by license plate is unconstitutional – RI AG supports effort as “reasonable” considering the threat.
Cumberland Library extends due dates to May 1st, though drop boxes are open
Adams Public Library in Central Falls is closed – but WiFi signal is open and accessible from the parking lot.
Jamestown & Little Compton requiring 14 day quarantine for those coming to stay
RI Real ID will be extended until Oct. 1, 2021.
Bristol, RI Police Dept. splits into north and south departments, operating independently of one another.
Lite105 Radio in RI will play Christmas music starting at noon today – round the clock
RI Hospital plans to open a testing tent at its entrance as tests become easily available
The Champlin Foundation will donate $1.6 million to help Rhode Island fight the spread of COVID-19, including money for hospitals to expand their coronavirus testing capacity.
Duffy & Sweeney law firm has opened a webpage to help companies navigate through assistance programs – attorneys are volunteering their time: https://www.duffysweeney.com/covid-19-resource-center/
Care New England Health System is in need of face shields, N95 masks or regular masks (surgical masks and procedure masks). Contact: Ken Bettez at 401-230-2502.
Lifespan has temporarily furloughed some employees because of “extremely low” patient counts and unit consolidations
The union representing East Greenwich firefighters said Thursday night that two members of the East Greenwich department are in a 72-hour precautionary quarantine after possible exposure to people with the virus.
Terramano Social Club in Providence was shut down for serving alcohol
One Providence Police officer tests positive -making 4 on the police dept and 7 on the fire dept -all in self-quarantine
CVS to hire 500 in RI, part of 50,000 nationally – store associates, warehouse positions, customer service roles, pharmacists, nurses and other health care professionals.
Anchor Recovery maintains support services via phone
Mayor Fung of Cranston tapes video as over 1,800 Cranston West students come off quarantine – in light of social media postings about corona parties, and in seeing groups of youth around town – closes parks, etc.
Red Stripe in East Greenwich is closed permanently.
Testing: New York has tested more than 122,000. Rhode Island has tested less than 1,700.
70 people from St. Kevin’s Church, including the priest, have come off quarantine when a church attendee became ill with coronavirus
Bishop Tobin has asked all Catholic church bells to ring on Sunday morning and every Sunday morning until the crisis has passed
ESPN’s Doris Burke, with family in RI, is recovering in Philadelphia, from coronavirus.
URI Students cannot move their items out of campus now. Rooms will be locked and kept for students. If an emergency, such as eyeglasses, etc., contact the school. URI says “please stay home”.
VA Boston Lowell clinic closed due to staff members testing positive
Boston – effort to keep social distancing increasing – taking down community basketball nets
All travelers arriving in Mass. to self-quarantine for 14 days
Two seniors die at Charlwell House nursing home in Norwood, MA
Governor’s Press Conference
People keep asking the Governor if they can go out or go to a dinner party – no, no, no.
April 13th extension for all orders on gatherings over 10; anyone who can work from home should work from home; if you have to work, can’t be sick, etc.; restaurant dine in, etc. closed until that date; entertainment and public park and close contact businesses closed;
April 25th extension of those returning to RI from any flight must quarantine for 14 days.
Anyone coming to RI from NY by any means, must be quarantined for 14 days. RI National Guard stationed at entrances to the state.
May 8th telehealth extended
Gun permits – extended from 7 to 30 – will continue until May 8th.
Casinos remain closed; State House remain closed – until further notice
Nursing homes, etc. no visitors until further notice
All customer service for state services online only. DMV by appt. only
Schools: special announcement on Monday about rest of school year. Very proud of distance learning.
New York travelers: pinpointed risk to RI of New York City. Police are at the base of the Newport Bridge, on the side roads in Westerly, etc. Starting today, Nat’l Guard will be going door to door if they have come from New York – will target those homes that we know about – rental properties, 2nd homes, etc. Asking for contact info, and order to quarantine. All hotels, rental companies will be notified in writing. This is unusual and extreme.
SNAP benefits – will add on extra money April 1st. Should benefit ½ of families – Average size should be $140.
Asking for trained behavioral personnel to sign up as volunteers www.RIResponds.org – retired nurse, doctor, social worker, CAN, etc. – we need to prepare for the surge.
Dr. Scott asking people to stay vigilant in abiding with guidelines.
Cranston West comes off quarantine tomorrow. Cautions about not getting together in groups.
There have been some staff positives among nursing home employees – state being extremely vigilant among that population.
Data
Rhode Island COVID-19 data is available online.
- Number of Rhode Island COVID-19 positive (including presumptive positive) cases: 203
- Number of Rhode Islanders who had negative test results: 2,306
- Number of people who are currently instructed to self-quarantine in Rhode Island: approximately 2,500
Distribution of Rhode Island COVID-19 by city/town of residence:
- Barrington – 5
- Bristol – fewer than 5
- Burrillville – fewer than 5
- Central Falls – fewer than 5
- Charlestown – fewer than 5
- Coventry – 5
- Cranston – 21
- Cumberland – 7
- East Greenwich – 0
- East Providence – 9
- Exeter – 0
- Foster – fewer than 5
- Glocester – 0
- Hopkinton – fewer than 5
- Jamestown – fewer than 5
- Johnston – 5
- Lincoln – fewer than 5
- Little Compton – 0
- Middletown – 6
- Narragansett – fewer than 5
- New Shoreham – 0
- Newport – 5
- North Kingstown – 8
- North Providence – fewer than 5
- North Smithfield – fewer than 5
- Pawtucket – 9
- Portsmouth – fewer than 5
- Providence – 57
- Richmond – 0
- Scituate – fewer than 5
- Smithfield – fewer than 5
- South Kingstown – 8
- Tiverton – fewer than 5
- Warren – fewer than 5
- Warwick – 11
- West Greenwich – 0
- West Warwick – fewer than 5
- Westerly – 5
- Woonsocket – fewer than 5
Number of Rhode Island COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized: 28
Over 1800 Cranston West students and staff come off quarantine this weekend…HOWEVER…the distancing of 6 feet apart from one another applies – and no groups over 10 should gather. Cranston remains the city with the 2nd highest numbers – 21, today. The Mayor, Allan Fung, took to Twitter once again….