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Coronavirus Update – Today, May 10, 2020
Happy Mother’s Day!
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Roy Horn, of Siegfried & Roy, has died at 75 of coronavirus.
Amtrak planning to restore Acela service June 1st.
J. Crew will declare banktrupcy
Head of the FDA is self-quarantining after coming into contact with someone who had the virus.
11 members of the Secret Service have tested positive
An aid to Melania Trump tests positive.
German towns bring back coronavirus lockdown measures after infections spike within days
Sweden reported more than 2,700 COVID-19 deaths and more than 23,000 infections. 1/2 of deaths were in nursing homes
South Korea orders bars and nightclubs to shut down again, for a further 30 days, after health officials tracked 13 new #Covid19 cases to a single person who attended five bars/nightclubs in Seoul.
NYC issue dealing with concerns about coronavirus impacting children – toddlers and school-aged children are presenting with Kawasaki-like disease/toxic shock syndrome. 73 cases now. 3 deaths.
JC Penney to file for bankruptcy, close 200 stores
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Pie in the Sky jewelry store on East Side of Providence closing permanently
Warwick Mall will be closed in Phase I – openingin Phase II
Connecticut will begin using remdesivir and will be getting its shipment soon.
Gov. Baker of MA said they are only a few days away from where we are in RI
In New Hampshire hair salons can open, but use of hair blowers is banned.
Massachusetts gun shops opened today.
Two Newport Stop and Shops close for cleaning after some staff test positive
Pawtucket City Hall will be open to the public by appointment only beginning Monday, May 11th
Pawtucket Public Library will begin offering contact-free pickup of Pawtucket Library materials beginning May 11.
Beginning today, Garden City Center says some of our local retailers will reopen their doors and resume service. Some may operate with modified hours or capacity restrictions in accordance with local regulations
Governor’s Address:
Data – 5-9-2020
19 deaths. 4 in 60s, 4 in 70s, 5 in 80s, 6 in 90s
7 people at the RI Dept of Health have tested positive. Dr. McDonald tested negative – Dr. Scott is being tested. Gov. says she doesn’t need a test because she has not been around anyone who has tested positive and has no symptoms.
Packages will soon be allowed to be sent at nursing homes – they will be held for 24 hours because of science showing the virus can live on cardboard for some hours.
No press conference tomorrow – but will leave a Mother’s Day address
First day of shopping, etc. – governor is encouraging us to go out and shop “if we have money”.
Companies will have to go through a check list to open up – go through and sign it and return – ideas can be sent to: [email protected] – website is: reopeningri.com
Happy Mother’s Day – enjoy, but no gatherings. Be creative. Phone calls, Face Time, etc.
To those who are struggling financially –
1. PUC will extend order not to shut off or send do collection activities through end of May. Residential and non-residential customers.
2. Financial relief to those struggling to pay off student loans. Partnering with organization called Summer Specialty. Enrolling borrowers into loan assistance programs – will offer to Rhode Islanders for free. Ties payments to income
3. Food relief – USDA approved application for 2 groups – Farm Fresh RI and RI Food Bank – 500 food boxes will be distributed to food insecure families every week – will ramp up to 4,000 a week through summer, and into the fall. Fresh, healthy, local foods. Farmers to Families Food Box Program will help farmers, too.
Family Service of RI – thank you to them for all their services. Home delivery of cleaning supplies and food to families who can’t afford them. To give: Text to 44321 BeSafe – and you can make a secure donation to support them.
Dr. Scott addressed nursing homes: masking and safety protocols in place for some time – yet we have had more cases in our homes. After one positive case in a nursing home, we found 6 other staff with positive cases. Canon Building will be closed for a complete cleaning. If anyone can work remotely, you should do so. Dr. McDonald tested negative but there is caution that he could be positive.
Questions:
10 to 15 deaths a day are not sustainable – what is the future?
Do those over 65 have to go back to work? Yes. Workplaces need to be made safer for them. State will not tolerate any discrimination.
Utility bills – will they be forgiven or carry over. Governors: Carry over. Thank you.
Average age of all who have died in MA was 82. What is average age in RI who have died? 24% were 70-79; 32% were 80-89 years of age. 23% were between 90 and 99.
Adverse health consequences – have not seen any trends of health consequences – but there have been nationally and internationally.
Older at risk Rhode Islanders – yes, they will be required to go back to work. They will have to work this out with their employer – make extra accommodation, so they are protected. No discrimination. Gig workers: pandemic unemployment insurance rules of federal government will apply and in her opinion the federal government should do something to make this permanent. Folks who have symptoms should not go into the workplace.
Press Release from Gov. Raimondo:
Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) provided an update on Rhode Island’s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
- Summer: Governor Raimondo announced today that Summer, a social enterprise that assists student loan borrowers, is partnering with Rhode Island to provide free student loan assistance for all residents financially impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. As a certified B Corp, Summer is the leading resource for borrowers to simplify and save on their student debt––offering cutting-edge tools and a dedicated team of student loan experts to find, compare, and enroll in dozens of loan assistance and forgiveness programs. Rhode Island residents can now access Summer’s digital platform free of charge to receive customized loan savings recommendations here. Summer and Rhode Island’s partnership is directed at borrowers who have been financially impacted by COVID-19.
- Utility: Earlier this week, the Public Utilities Commission voted to extend an order that all regulated utilities–electric, gas, water, sewer–cannot be shut off or sent to a collection agency through May 31. This applies to both residential and non-residential customers.