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RI Gov. McKee: Masking, testing, vaxxing WITH booster to fight COVID uptick & hospital surge
Governor’s press conference – Dec. 15, 2021
New initiatives to go into effect Dec. 20th: Major messages – more masking, more testing, Vaxxing WITH boosters.
Governor’s Press Conference
Hospitals are stressed right now.
Over 76% have completed primary vaccine series.
We need to bring same momentum to booster shots. This needs to be a priority – important.
Boosters will be needed to be said to be fully vaccinated.
Local vaccination clinics will be done in municipalities, like first/second shots.
Need to go from 50K to 100K boosters a week.
Whole government approach to responding to pandemic.
Because it’s getting colder, and we’re inside, there is an increase in cases.
This winter is different than last because of healthcare staffing crisis.
All our hospitals are at a breaking point.
Measures we are announcing today are critical.
Temporary measures: (3 categories)
1. Indoor venues, retail, entertainment, assembly, gyms, restaurants over 250 people masking is required, regardless of vax status.
Indoor under 250 people masking or proof of vax required of employees/patrons.
2. Office based businesses, public & private employers with indoor operations either masking or proof of vax – 12/20 – reevaluated in 30 days
Questions – will I have to show my actual card or will a picture on my phone be ok? Detailed regs will be released tomorrow.
Person’s card, photo of, etc. will all be acceptable.
3. Testing
100K will be distributed to homes via health equity zones. That will go to test 10% of its population. Requested 1 million more tests from FEMA.
RIDOH will explore fixing PCR turnaround times.
Test to stay will be expanded for schools. Doubling down on this will help keep kids safe in schools. Smithfield, NS, Barr, Tiverton, Central Falls, (Westerly), etc.
Workforce challenges in hospitals – sent letter to FEMA for medical personnel to help our hospitals – asking for emergency staffing for hospitals. RIEMA working with hospitals now to complete formal request. Forming Gov’s working group on healthcare capacity to explore short and long term healthcare challenges facing RI. More on this next week.
To Rhode Islanders: We don’t know what’s around the corner, we can only address what’s right here, right now. We continue to try to be honest with people. People are responding – they’ve stepped up. We must remain vigilant, rally together. We have to alleviate stresses on our hospital system. We have to react to what is in front of us. Infections are rising. We are open to suggestions.
Dr. Scott:
Seeing very significant increases over last few weeks – schools, healthcare, public health infrastructure – some of the highest numbers we’ve seen since start of pendemic. Not unexpected, and we are ready for this. We have a more contagious variant now in RI. We also have an economy, schools, retail community, etc. that is open for business again. We are going to see case rates, hospitalizations, and fatalities continue to remain elevated into 2022. Unlike last year, we have been here before – we have the tools – we know what works. Our health and safety depends on us making use of the tools.
Prior to the variant, we focused on vaccinations. Now with this, while vaccinations are the critical key, it won’t be the only way we get through this. We need to layer vaccinations with masking and other mitigating measures. Because masking was required, we almost did not have a flu season – that’s unheard of – and proves masks work.
We need to improve booster rates.
2 items at the center of the Gov’s order – vaccination/booster dose – and masking.
Unvaccinated Rhode Islanders are 4X more likely to get infected; 11X more likely to be hospitalized. 2/3 right now in our hospitals people who are there are unvaccinated. We are seeing case increases in every age group. Most pronounced in groups where vax rates are lowest – our children.
Tell friends, family, loved ones – if there is a child 5 or older, please get your child vaccinated.
Omicron variant – we had our first case. We will see more and more pretty quickly. We know now that it makes BOOSTER doses a necessity. They are necessary for everyone – 16 and older. Vaccines plus boosters give us 75% protection. The booster is the new norm. C19vaccineRI.org to find locations for vaccine today – 844-930-1779. Carry your card for your vaccine and booster. If you misplaced go to portalri.gov – shortly we’ll have 401 app soon. Parents can keep it for all members of your family.
Studies prove masks work. It should fit snugly over your nose, mouth, and chin. Type matters. K95 mask works best. We’re doubling the # of masks we’re pushing out to the community. If you are around people you don’t live with, wear your mask.
Testing – we’re doubling down on this. We want them pervasive in the community.
Holidays – importance of avoiding crowds and celebrating safely.
Treatment – is available – we need to make sure people are accessing treatment.
Ventilation needs to be improved.
Q/A:
Q: What age for children to wear a mask? NY has a $1,000 penalty, do we have any consequence? What is definition of fully vaccinated?
A: Dec. 20th it starts – details to follow. Not a fan of penalties, so we will balance. I think we will get good buy-in. Age for children wearing a mask 2 and over.
Q: Surge concerns – what are the plans for a field site?
A: We are not looking at that right now. We will be keeping testing site in Cranston open.
Q: Is this a compromise between RIDOH and Commerce?
A: Strong advocacy on all sides. We’ll do what it takes – good starting off spot.
Q: Building capacity – what determines that – fire code, etc?
A: Capacity depends on the venue – restaurant, number of seats. Event venue, number of invitation list and seats. Commerce will be producing an FAQ on this.
Q: On Jan. 20th what will you be looking at? Will this most likely go through the winter?
A: We have to see where we are – we must be flexible. Intention is temporary, but we won’t know. I.E., Dunk Center will continue, with masks.
Q: Test results are slow.
A: We’re stepping up. PCR tests, in particular – also gearing up with municipalities More testing right now than anticipated, but we are ramping up to accommodate that. We need to build out additional testing capacity – 150,000 tests a week. We completely maxxed out RI lab capacity – we are going to increase 50% and add new sites that will be semi-permanent. At home test kits will be critically important.
Q: Why wait to Monday?
A: Pretty consistent the way we manage. Need time for people to digest what we’re doing. We’re ahead of MA and CT. We’re right on target. We are also doing a Spanish translation of this info.
Q: Why not reopen mass vaccination sites for boosters?
A: We’re going to ratchet up municipal sites.
Q: Will athletes have to wear masks at Dunk, etc?
A: No, it will be the attendees. Collegiate and pro level – must be vaccinated, don’t need to wear a mask. All other athletes need to be vaccinated AND masked.
Q: Lifespan has 2,000 openings – why wait a week to contact FEMA?
A: The more available help we can get…
Q: MA and CT has not taken these steps – RIDOH is said to be pushing the Governor – are you satisfied?
A: We always advocate for the highest level, the quickest – the Governor needs to way our advice with business advice.
Q: School aged children – any discussion of college kids being fully vaccinated – with booster?
A: Yes, we support what our colleges are doing – such as Brown requiring boosters.
Q: Getting boosters should be done to be considered fully vaccinated.
A: Yes, we’d like to see that happen. It is where the country is going.
Q: What is top measure to determine if we have slowed the spread in a month?
A: We want to secure the health systems. Remind everyone not to go to the ED for non-emergent situations.
Ends with “Get a flu shot please!”
In other words, nothing new to report. McKee should have done this 2 weeks ago. The CDC, etc. said boosters were available months ago. I jumped on it back in October which happened to fall 6 months after my 2nd shot. The reported disagreement between McKee & Alexander Scott – well, I’ll listen to the doctor. The only thing I see when I do go to the store is that people are still social distancing. Perhaps today’s conference should have reminded people of the initial steps – keep your hands clean, social distance (notice that most stores have removed the 6 ft. distance marks) and so on. I scrub up the minute I come home. I keep reminding my middle-aged kids to keep their hands away from their faces. They laugh but they do it.
Some people need to stop making this about government control. The gov’t has the obligation to protect the health and safety of the citizens. For some reason, these people can’t/don’t or refuse to look up a couple of things in the Constitution. When 2/3 of hospitalizations are the unvaccinated, what part of that don’t they understand???