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Coronavirus Update – Today – March 29, 2020
INTERNATIONAL
London prepares enormous temporary hospital, 4000 beds
Italy – 889 more deaths, rate of infection slows from 7% to 5%.
Spain – 832 more deaths, 2nd to Italy in deaths – deadliest day yet
Pope continues to pray daily, alone, in St. Peter’s Square
UK’s medical director says fewer than 20K deaths means nation ‘will have done well’
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife said Saturday that she has recovered
NATIONAL
CDC issues ‘non-essential’ travel advisory for N.Y., N.J. and Connecticut residents for 14 days at the request of President Trump, rather than issuing a rule at this time.
New York postpones presidential primary
Tennessee Nursing Home has been evacuated; 19 been taken to hospitals
Wisconsin is selling gas at $.99/gallon
Detroit auto show canceled, after FEMA commandeers convention center as field hospital
NYC first responders sleeping in cars for fear of infecting families
700 New Jersey police officers test positive
New Jersey governor cracks down on house parties– organizing a party in the middle of a pandemic is “illegal, dangerous, and stupid.”
Potential drugs are on the fast track – anticipating months, and not years
NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell recovering from coronavirus
The FDA has approved a new 5-10 minute test and expects to have 50,000 distributed next week.
Delta offers free flights for medical volunteers
3rd NYC Police officer/member succumbs to coronavirus – 1 in 12 are out ill
United Nations donated 250,000 masks for New York City from surplus storage
Miami – mandatory curfew from 10pm to 5am – vacation rental ban – 2 week quarantine to those from New Orleans and New York
Trump considering ‘enforceable quarantine’ for N.Y., parts of N. J. and Connecticut
The USNS Comfort launched for New York Harbor from Virginia today
RHODE ISLAND & REGION
RI’s first deaths – Two persons with underlying medical conditions are the first Rhode Islanders to die from COVID-related illness – one individual in their 80s died Friday, at night, and the other individual in their 70s died Saturday.
Massachusetts – asking all visitors to quarantine for 2 weeks
RI correctional officer tests positive
Massachusetts is moving and consolidating patients in nursing homes to free up some facilities to be set up as recovery centers – moves are often happening with little notice.
Cranston Mayor Fung said he does not care about politics at a time when residents have a “deadly virus,” hundreds are out of work and emergency workers need protective gear.
Big Brothers Big Sister of RI – lays off 30% of its staff
The Mental Health Assoc of RI has postponed May as Mental Health Month until a time when coronavirus is not a threat
Governor’s Press Conference
36 new cases – 239 cases – 29 in hospital (see Data, below)
Many places where large groups of people are still congregating – house parties, Narragansett seawall, big box stores, etc. Risking lives of everyone in the state. Estimates only 50% of state is cooperating.
Stay at home order for all people in RI – now through April 13th. Except for getting gas, going to work, getting food, going for a walk, etc. Sick in any way? Stay home. – see details, below
Testing – not yet ready enough to test properly. Hope to test 1,000 a day next week – but we do not know where we really stand. We do not know the true numbers.
All gatherings of more than 5 people are banned. Outside or inside. Conference tables at work. Try to limit interaction to the same 5 people – not new people every day.
Domestic travel – anyone coming to RI for any non-work purpose must quarantine for 14 days.
Realtors, hotel operators – include new requirements that any new people moving in must quarantine for 14 days.
Live in RI, work in MA? Ok, but when you come home you have to self-quarantine.
Monday – non-critical businesses must close until April 13th. Listing here:
Not worried about optics of what she is doing – more worried about outcomes. Basing on science. Says she is out of options.
Coastal town initiative with police “has gone very well” in the first few hours
Testing problem is not tests, themselves – it is supplies – we can’t get the supplies fast enough – every day is a fight to get the supplies – feels confident that by LATE next week we will be at 1,000 a day – putting together a triaged statewide testing system – high risk, healthcare workers, those who are sick, then after that… early next week there will be an announcement. We do not know how many have Coronavirus – we have not had a chance to test.
Food – prefer switching to delivery services – pick up if you MUST. Does not apply to grocery stores. Pick up food, go home.
Army Corps of Engineers looking for possible place for hospital overflow. Hospital CEOs working on surge plans. We want to provide thousands of hospital beds, with staff and equipment. Need a few more weeks to get system ready.
Penalties – fine, then imprisonment, if NY people do not quarantine.
All police officers are now issuing “penalties” for violating social distancing mandates.
For full list of expanded rules and orders, go here:
http://www.governor.ri.gov/documents/orders/Executive-Order-20-13.pdf
Press release:
Stay At Home: The Governor has issued a stay-at-home order until April 13. This means that all Rhode Islanders should stay home unless getting food, medicine, gas, or going to work.
Domestic travel: Earlier this week, the Governor ordered anyone coming to Rhode Island from New York by any mode of transportation to quarantine for 14 days. Today, the Governor expanded upon that order. Executive Order 20-12 entitled “Tenth Supplemental Emergency Declaration – Quarantine Restrictions on Travelers from New York State” is hereby repealed in its entirety.
Starting immediately, any person coming to Rhode Island by any mode of transportation after visiting another state for a non-work-related purpose must self-quarantine for 14 days. This restriction will not apply to public health, public safety or healthcare workers.
Realtors and hotel operators are directed to include quarantine requirements for any out-of-state renters in their rental agreements.
Commuters: Those who are able to work from home should do so, and anyone commuting in and out of the state for work should remain in their home when not at work.
Gatherings: Starting immediately, all gatherings of more than 5 people are banned. Individuals should be interacting with the same people every day to minimize the risk of spread. This order does not apply to healthcare workers in a workplace setting, public transportation or office buildings. However, people must practice social distancing at all times.
Businesses: Starting Monday, all non-critical retail businesses must shut down their stores. This includes clothing stores and gift shops. A full list of businesses that must close their in-person operations is here. This does not impact restaurants or bars, which are still allowed to open for takeout or delivery only.
Critical retail businesses include: Food and beverage stores (e.g. supermarkets; liquor, specialty food, bodega and convenience stores; farmers’ markets; food banks and pantries)-Pharmacies and medical supply stores, compassion centers-Pet supply stores-Printing shops, mail and delivery stores and operations, office supply -Gas stations-Laundromats-Electronics and telecommunications stores-Industrial, construction, agricultural/seafood equipment and supply stores, hardware stores, general power equipment-Funeral homes-Auto repair and supply -Banks and credit unions-Firearms stores-Healthcare and public safety professional uniform stores-And other stores and businesses identified as critical by the Department of Business Regulation.
Non-critical retail businesses include:-Arts & crafts stores-Florists-Furniture stores (by appointment only)-Car and other motor vehicle dealerships ( except for auto repair and by appointment only)-Music stores -Billiard stores-Sporting goods stores-Home furnishings stores-Lawn/garden supply stores (note that agricultural/seafood supply would be allowed to be open)-Book stores-Departments stores-Gift stores-Beauty supply stores-Second-hand/consignment stores-Shoe stores-Clothing stores-Jewelry stores
Data
Rhode Island COVID-19 data is available online.
- Number of Rhode Island COVID-19 positive (including presumptive positive) cases: 239
- Number of Rhode Islanders who had negative test results: 2,541
- Number of people who are currently instructed to self-quarantine in Rhode Island: approximately 2,500.
Distribution of Rhode Island COVID-19 patients by city/town of residence:
- Barrington – 6
- Bristol – fewer than 5
- Burrillville – 7
- Central Falls – fewer than 5
- Charlestown – fewer than 5
- Coventry – 5
- Cranston – 27
- Cumberland – 7
- East Greenwich – fewer than 5
- East Providence – 10
- Exeter – 0
- Foster – fewer than 5
- Glocester – fewer than 5
- 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 – 11
- Portsmouth – fewer than 5
- Providence – 59
- Richmond – 0
- Scituate – fewer than 5
- Smithfield – 5
- South Kingstown – 8
- Tiverton – 5
- Warren – fewer than 5
- Warwick – 14
- West Greenwich – 0
- West Warwick – 5
- Westerly – 5
- Woonsocket – fewer than 5
Number of Rhode Island COVID-19 patients hospitalized – 29.