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Coronavirus Update – Today, Sunday, May 3, 2020
(Photo: Everyone carefully social distancing; following the rules at The Farmer’s Daughter in So. Kingstown)
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
$12 Billion and 3 Million jobs lost so far to sports – ESPN survey says if fall sports are lost the $12 Billion could double.
Triple Crown Virtual Kentucky Derby
Singapore to ease some restrictions as it reports lowest daily rise in two weeks
Florida deputies arrested a man who had been living out his quarantine on a shuttered Disney World island, telling authorities it felt like a “tropical paradise” and didn’t know it was private.
Protesters flock to Kentucky Capitol to demand state’s reopening
Census count will not reach its goals as door to door workers are unable to complete their work.
US Senate, House decline White House offer for rapid coronavirus testing, and accept congress MDs guidelines not to come back to congress as the virus could be a threat to their safety.
National Mall gatherers in Washington on Saturday watched the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds flyover, ignoring social distancing, not wearing masks.
Oklahoma mayor ends face mask rule about wearing masks in stores after employees are threatened.
India makes government tracing app mandatory for all workers
‘Extraordinary’ effort to disinfect NYC subways will include workers in hazmat suits
Spain’s death toll surpasses 25,000 as lockdown restrictions lifted
RHODE ISLAND AND LOCAL
ICE detainees at Bristol Co. House of Corrections caused extensive damage when they refused coronavirus testing after complaining of virus symptoms.
Providence Place Mall – concern about tenants not paying rent – can revert to “special services” collections on mortgages
Newport Gulls canceled season.
RI Governor’s Address
RI Data – 5-2-2020
17 New Deaths – 1 in 40s, 1 in 50s, 2 in 60s, 5 in 70s, 4 in 80s, 4 in 90s
YESTERDAY:
Notes: Hospitalizations are steady, and we have not started a decline. Stay at home order still in effect. Worried about the weekend. Don’t be tempted by good weather. MAY not be lifted on May 8th, if we do that this weekend.
Modeling: Hard to put faith in models because of the frequent changes. At the beginning we were showing really horrible modeling of devastation and death – but because people stayed inside, etc., we are able to change our trajectory. April 2nd we started to flatten, about 2 weeks after we shut down restaurants and bars; hospitalizations did continue to increase. April 14th we plateaued, two weeks after stay at home order. We know the virus runs its course in 2 weeks. At Passover and Easter, when people did congregate, we saw the uptick, so we know the effect getting together has. In 2 weeks if we see a spike it’s because we all went out this weekend.
Debuted new model of hospitalizations and 2 directions we can go in RI – one is a decline, but the plateau lasts longer. Second possibility is more of a traditional bell curve, we would decline more quickly. Not sure which will be RI’s direction. NOT likely to move upward again. What will happen when we begin opening the economy? This is why it needs to be slow.
To those struggling to pay the bills: Keep reaching out to Governor’s office and she will do the best to try to support you. Those who are low earners are struggling the worst. Rental assistance program coming – $1.5Million initiative for emergency rental assistance for low wage earners and those at risk for homelessness, possible evictions. Grants of up to $5,000 for past due rents and fees. Go to HousingHelpRI, or call 211 to apply TODAY. 20 financial institutions on DBR.RI.Gov – will give mortgage assistance – 90 day grace period.
Questions:
Herd immunity – will we get there? Need 60-70% of population to be vaccinated or immune – don’t know if RI will get there…a lot of information being assessed now.
Cleaning products – CDC website has a list of a variety of items you can use to keep surfaces clean. Pay attention to items multiple people touch multiple times. Minimum of once a day cleaning.
Close in contact businesses: Nail salons & hair salons/barber shops – beauty salons – all regulated at the same time, but very specific cleaning protocols and reservation systems to be developed.
Opening of libraries: Under consideration – no decision yet.
Restaurants: What might it look like – fewer people in restaurant, no menus, mask wearing…still much to be determined.
Beach: Fewer people in parking lot, reservation system for a few hours, port-a-potties instead of bathroom facilities – more info in next 2 weeks
70%+ of deaths in nursing homes/congregate housing – higher than rest of New England – why? Good news is we’ve had a good experience in non-communal settings. Highest risk are communal living – and then seniors and frail on top of that. Compare what is happening at the Veterans Home to what is happening in other states, we are doing so much better. We have been on it right away. Testing, quarantining, separating staff, etc.
Nursing home/congregate settings – of 296 deaths to date: Of the 296 deaths, 220 were from nursing homes and other congregate settings – group homes – so that is 215 of the 296 deaths from nursing homes and 5 in “group homes”. That’s about 74%.
81% of hospitalized patients had underlying conditions. 19% did not.
Us. We. Together. Family. Friars
Join our Providence College family – get a great t-shirt – and support the RI Food Bank at this important time. The need is greater than ever.