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Your Coronavirus Update – Dec. 15, 2021
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
One year ago yesterday the announcement of a vaccine was made by the U.S. government
The RI Medical Society held a press conference yesterday, is endorsing a mandate for mask wearing, saying that COVID has reached “critical medical crossroads in this pandemic”. More variants will happen if the virus lives in more people and mutates. The mutations have been responsive to treatments, but there may come a time when the mutations may not be responsive. Most patients in RI hospital ICUs are non-vaccinated.
Today Gov. McKee will hold a press conference at 1:30 to announce new steps to address hospital issues and COVID spread. We will post a link on our Facebook page to watch this live. Dr. Scott and Stefan Pryor will join him.
Johnston: There will be limited busing today due to COVID outbreaks/quarantines. And – Sara Barnes Elementary School will move to remote as 10-14 cases among students just this week are identified. They will stay remote through winter session.
Coventry is seeing a spike with 39 positive cases in school this past week.
Newport’s Atlantic Beach Club is recommending people wear masks at all events.
RI positivity rate is 7% – highest in many months.
High schools are struggling throughout the state to cover classes, with many teachers out on quarantine.
4 children are in Hasbro Children’s Hospital being treated for COVID
RI Governor extended the pandemic executive order through January
Masks are required in ALL Rhode Island public schools – during the day, at after school events, meetings, etc.
More healthcare workers arrived in New Hampshire this weekend to help relieve pressure at a hospital with an overwhelmed intensive care unit.
RI comedian Charlie Hall had a serious case of COVID – he was an inpatient at Kent Hospital – he was fully vaccinated.
Brown University & Salve Regina University will require boosters and negative tests for students to return for spring semester.
The Massachusetts Nurses Association has claimed that Brigham and Women’s Hospital is not following the state order to stop scheduled surgeries, and that some procedures such as pastic surgery were making more urgent cases of broken bones, etc. wait for operating rooms
Rhode Island Medical Society leaders said Thanksgiving gatherings spread COVID-19. Dr. Beth Lange, president of the society and PCP at Coastal Medical, said Rhode Island is at a “critical, medical crossroads” in the pandemic. The group called on Rhode Islanders to voluntary wear masks indoors, and follow all preventive procedures.
Rhode Island is now conducting the most coronavirus tests per capita of the 50 states
RI is partnering with community leaders to coordinate and open over 100 back-to-school, community-based vaccination clinics.
Lifespan critical care hospitals: “We are down 31% in nursing staff, critical care is short.
Governors of New York, Massachusetts and Maine calling in the National Guard to help in hospitals.
Hasbro Children’s, the first site in the region to offer COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatments to kids from birth onward, has also been offering emergency use authorization monoclonal antibody treatments to children ages 12-17 years
Kip’s Restaurant in Pawtucket to close. Salvation Café in Newport to close.
Gov. McKee says the $3K stipend/raise for unions will continue but not be tied to an incentive to be vaccinated.
Archdiocese of Boston bringing back its mask mandate – at all masses, funerals, etc.
Lifespan’s Rhode Island Hospital is in support of a mask mandate for Rhode Island – also asking patients to see “other healthcare providers” if possible, due to crowding in EDs, wait times, and staffing problems.
16- and 17-year-olds who have completed the primary COVID-19 vaccine series can now get booster doses in Rhode Island
Nellie Gorbea, Sect. of State and candidate for Governor sent out her suggestions for a Rhode Island Family COVID Protection Plan:
- Set a goal for a decrease in infection rates. Until that goal is met we must all temporarily adopt strict masking measures in indoor public places.
- Widespread testing is essential to curbing infection rates. We need to work with the Biden administration to provide free, in-home testing and facilitate rapid testing before entering public venues where masking is not possible. Until that is available, more information must be provided to Rhode Islanders on where to get at-home tests and PCR tests and when they are most effective. This is particularly important as families across the state prepare for their holiday plans. The upcoming holidays are also a key reason to ensure a timely turnaround for test results.
- We need expanded access for boosters and vaccinations so working families can easily receive them, and importantly, clear information on how and where to get your vaccine and booster.
- The state needs an honest read-out of the current situation with daily updates from our state medical leaders like Department of Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott. This, along with benchmarks, will keep the public informed and aware of rates of infections and how to mitigate them.
- Finally, given the high rates of transmission in Rhode Island right now, we should help take care of our most vulnerable populations – our elderly and those with at-risk conditions – by assisting with errands that may put them at risk such as grocery shopping or trips to the pharmacy.
Treasurer Magaziner, who is also a candidate for Governor, laid out several proactive steps that Rhode Island should take to limit the community spread of COVID-19 while mitigating its impact on the state’s economy:
- Reinstate a universal mask mandate for all people, regardless of vaccination status, for both indoor as well as crowded outdoor settings where individuals cannot maintain at least six feet of social distancing between themselves and others not in their household.
- Allocate CARES Act funding to mitigate the statewide staffing shortages at hospitals, nursing homes, group homes, and other healthcare settings.
- Employers who can provide accommodations for employees to work remotely without impacting operations should do so as soon as possible.
- Institute a statewide vaccination requirement for all teachers and school staff.
- All eligible Rhode Islanders should sign up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and get a booster.
Treasurer Magaziner currently requires all employees in his office to wear a face covering indoors, regardless of vaccination status, as well as for all staff to either provide proof of vaccination or submit to regular testing. All 82 active staff in his office have demonstrated compliance with these policies.
Governor’s Press Conference Last Week – Summary
Says the issue with hospitalizations and coverage is regarding staffing, not the virus, though rates have slowly gone up. Decisions aren’t completed yet, but he may take additional steps by Executive Order next week.
Q/A
Q: All hospitals are saying they are recommending a mask mandate. The Health Dept. is also recommending it – what is the Gov’s reluctance to do it?
A: Gov: Need to continue to see where we are – see how they respond without mandates – nothing is off the table, though.
Q: If you wait until after the holidays, isn’t it going to be too late?
A: I’ve talked to other states – and all businesses can do what they want to do.
Q: Hospitals have issued an executive order to Gov – can he confirm? What is indemnification action that Gov wants to take? How do you tell ambulances and relatives where to take sick people to?
A: We are working all those things out now. Haven’t seen anything in writing with the hospitals. They have made recommendations that we are exploring. We’re trying to accommodate the hospitals.
Q: What about small businesses and hospitality association? Have you heard from them?
A: Getting a lot of advice from all directions. Main concern is staffing levels at the hospitals. Thousands who are not in the hospital setting who were there two years ago. We are 2 times less than our top numbers last year. Again, this is not about the virus.
Lifespan & Hospital Press Conference
Mainly focused on when to go to a hospital , and when not to, due to the lack of staffing.
Middlebury College, VT, switches to virtual learning after dozens of cases on campus
MA Press Conference
Governor will be sending 2.1 million free rapid tests out to 102 communities hardest hit low income. The local officials “know their communities best” so they will each decide how to distribute them. State is going to have a system where cities/towns in MA can purchase test kits at much reduced cost. ARPA funds can be used to buy kits. Covid isn’t going away anytime soon. Get vaccinated, boosted, tested if you need it.
URI Professor of Economics Leonard Lardaro, creator and author of the Current Conditions Index said that “Rhode Island’s economic recovery continued in October and that changes in economic indicators continue to be a mix of adverse pandemic effects being increasingly offset by the impacts of re-opening much of the state economy, combined with monetary and fiscal policy.” While Rhode Island’s economy continues to move in the right direction, Lardaro predicts the recovery will continue to be uneven and that the state is still at least two to three years away from returning to “normal,” even with the influx of federal stimulus.
Director of the Long COVID Clinic at Miriam Hospital and an attending physician at Rhode Island and Miriam Hospitals have said, “Long COVID is another reason we should immediately avoid or at least require masking in all large indoor gatherings, expedite widespread testing and strongly encourage vaccination and boosters, especially during this surge”.
Rhode Island Schools with cases in the last 7 days, as of 12/14/2021:
Achievement First, Envision – 5 to 9
St. Joseph School – 5 to 9
Chariho Region Middle School – 10 to 14
Coventry High School – 15 to 19
Tiogue School, Coventry – 5 to 9
Washington Oak School, Coventry – 5 to 9
Eden Park School, Cranston – 5 to 9
Park View, Cranston – 5 to 9
Western Hills, Cranston – 5 to 9
Dutemple, Cranston – 5 to 9
Davies Career & Tech – 5 to 9
Waddington Elem, East Providence – 5 to 9
Ponaganset HS – 10 to 14
Ponaganset Middle – 5 to 9
Sarah Barnes, Johnston – 10 to 14
Kingston Hill Academy – 5 to 9
Lincoln HS, Lincoln – 5 to 9
Davisville Midde School – 5 to 9
Hamilton Elem, NK – 5 to 9
Paul Cuffee – 5 to 9
Portsmouth Middle – 5 to 9
Classical HS, Prov – 5 to 9
Balley Elem, Prov – 5 to 9
Lippitt School, Warwick – 5 to 9
Toll Gate HS, Warwick – 5 to 9
Winman, Warwick – 5 to 9
Deering Middle, Warwick – 5 to 9
Westerly HS – 5 to 9
Westerly Middle – 5 to 9
Savoie School, Woonsocket – 5 to 9
Pothier-Citizens, Woonsocket – 5 to 9
NOTE: No school is reporting more than “Less Than 5” TEACHERS who are positive in the last week.
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Pfizer has a new pill for treatment for COVID – go here to read: https://rinewstoday.com/new-pfizer-antiviral-pill-paxlovid-showing-88-reduced-risk-of-hospitalization-death-if-taken-within-5-days-of-first-symptom/
First Omicron patient dies as Londoners queue up to six hours for booster shot
CDC urges avoiding travel to Italy, Greenland, Mauritius
1 in 100 seniors (over 65) have died of COVID
US has passed 50 Million cases
In 2 years the US has lost 800,000 people – 76% were over 65.
California’s cases are up 47% after Thanksgiving – they will be moving to an indoor mask mandate.
Many professional sports teams have multiple athletes out of play with COVID.
GOOGLE wants employees back in the office and is taking a hard line on vaccinations and boosters in order to do so.
Mississippi is working to reach more members of the African American community by using people they trust, believe in and have a relationship with the message of vaccination – they are holding clinics where people are, where they work, etc. They are using the church and barbershop community to bring out accurate information.
The French Scientific Council recommends avoiding large gatherings at Christmas. They go on to recommend ventilation, avoid indoor gatherings if possible, self-test before going to events with other people, even relatives’ home, make sure elderly or vulnerable people have had not only their 2 vaccine, but their booter shots, reinforcing social distancing, They go on to include more remote working, mask wearing in schools and nightclub closures for one month. They do not recommend a lockdown or curfew if these steps are in place. 76% of people in France have had 2 vaccines. Only 5% of the 8.5 million over 65 have not been boosted. France’s health pass will become invalid if people over 65 have not had their 3rd shot by Dec. 15th – all others by Jan. 15th. They also recommend systematic testing in schools, not just symptomatic testing.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized the use of Eli Lilly’s COVID-19 dual-antibody therapy in treating mild to moderate symptoms in all children, including newborns, who are at risk of severe illness.
Manhattan workers going back into the office are being advised to dress down, not to wear corporate logo-wear, and avoid subways – many are offering car service after dark.
NY begins a new mask mandate. Companies that have a 100% vaccination policy can be exempt.
Norway bans serving alcohol in bars and restaurants as omicron explodes – also pools and fitness areas are to close.
Cornell has closed its campus due to the large # of COVID cases – over 900 and growing.
Hospital operators including HCA Healthcare Inc. HCA 0.42% and Tenet Healthcare Corp. THC 0.70% as well as nonprofits AdventHealth and the Cleveland Clinic are dropping the mandates. After a judge halted a Biden administration mandate for healthcare workers to get vaccinated, employers including HCA and Tenet have removed the requirement.
Former CDC Director Robert Redfield to Neil: “We’re clearly going to be in for a tough couple months with the Omicron variant…”
The Air Force has discharged 27 people for refusing to get COVID-19 vaccines
Kroger says COVID-19 paid leave will no longer be available to unvaccinated employees who contract the virus, according to a company spokesperson
The Supreme Court has turned away two emergency requests from health care workers, doctors and nurses in New York to block the state’s vaccine mandate. Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissented.
California reimposes statewide indoor mask mandate starting Wednesday
15 friends of the first American to test positive for Omicron who had attended the Anime convention have now tested positive for COVID, unknown if it is Omicron variant.
Russia reports first cases of Omicron COVID-19 variant
Pfizer approved for boosters for 16 and 17 year olds, 6 mos after vaccination
Dr. Anthony Fauci says families should “ask,” and “maybe require” that guests be vaccinated if they come over for holiday celebrations.
Ghana will require all travelers coming into the country to be vaccinated.
Amtrak may have to reduce service if employees do not comply with Jan 4th vaccination deadline. Right now, 94% of employees are vaccinated.
Australia says the virus is no longer a virus of the unvaccinated – it is among the vaccinated. Govt asks people not to attend any event with other people if symptomatic.
Low staff vaccination tied to nursing home COVID deaths
Navy commander has been fired from his job as the executive officer of a warship because he refused to get a COVID-19 vaccine as required and refused to be tested for the virus.
The Pentagon said Friday there are ‘active discussions’ within the department about making the COVID-19 vaccine booster shots mandatory for service members, even as thousands refuse or seek exemptions from the initial shot requirement
The United Food and Commercial Workers Union said in a letter to the CEOS of Walmart, Kroger and others that they should reinstate social distancing protocols and urge customers to wear masks at all locations.
The variant is spreading more rapidly (detected in 63 countries) than its predecessor Delta and health officials are still holding their breaths on what it could mean for hospitalizations and deaths.
Some chronically ill people are being given a 4th booster (and a 2nd flu vaccine) as a proactive step to save lives due to the virulence of the new COVID strain.
Philadelphia will require proof of vaccination to eat or drink indoors starting Jan. 3.
“We’re saying our heart is aching. Our beds are full. Our emergency departments are full. Our hallways have patients in them, some on breathing machines, and at this point our care capacity is stretched to the very limits” – Minnesota doctor describes current covid crisis & urges action.
CDC advises Americans not to travel to Italy