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Your Coronavirus Update – Feb. 2, 2022
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
At the ACI, there were 199 active COVID infections among incarcerated and 36 active cases among the staff working within the prisons.
RI Senator Dominick Ruggerio tested positive for COVID and did not attend session.
Over 400 people signed up to testify, overwhelming in support of the Executive powers of the Governor ending and the RI Legislature return to making rules and regulations. The hearing went late into the night, with a decision expected next week. The Governor asked for an extension through April.
Wastewater COVID is down 90% from its omicron peak in Boston measurement.
Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott said she will not run for Congress.
The Taste of Rhode Island is waiting to schedule its 2022 date.
“Mandates including proof of COVID-19 vaccination requirements for Boston businesses are ‘not permanent,’ Mayor Michelle Wu said, though she doesn’t have an end date for them yet.”
Pat Cruz’ Empower Women Expo is waiting to schedule its 2022 date.
The ILO Group ended working for the Gov. Dan McKee’s administration in December of 2020, effectively ending a controversial state education contract six months into the deal. The contract — originally worth up to $5.2 million, came under scrutiny by a WPRI investigation.
The White House and the Department of Justice on Friday honored Roger Williams University School of Law as one of 99 law schools nationwide who worked to help avoid evictions through the RentReliefRI program.
Telehealth company Nurx now operating in Rhode Island
Approximately $12 million in funding is available through a competitive funding round open to nonprofit and for-profit developers, municipalities, and public housing authorities for affordable housing – there will be a further announcement today.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital told the 31-year-old father of two waiting for a heart transplant that he was ineligible for the procedure because he hasn’t been vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Governor’s Update:
Data Trends:
Storm impacted the screening/vaccination numbers
Pre-storm, cases are down 75% since beginning of January.
Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel
All measures are trending down.
FEMA:
Staffing crisis – expanding use of National Guard to support several hospitals – 30 will go to Slater, Kent, Fatima, RWMC, W&I, Landmark, etc.
RI Hospital – thanked federal military personnel through FEMA. Requesting a 30 day extension for Slater. Kent is approved for 2 week extension, and another 2 week is being requested.
National Guard assignments will be as follows:
Eleanor Slater Hospital
- 6 will provide support augmenting security and screening stations in the Adolf Meyer, Benton and Regan buildings
Fatima Hospital
- 2 will provide patient transportation within hospital and serve as waiting area attendants
Kent Hospital
- 1 will provide patient transportation within hospital
- 1 will support close circuit patient monitoring
- 2 will serve as COVID-19 screeners
Landmark Hospital
- 1 will provide patient transportation within hospital
- 1 will serve as a COVID-19 screener
Miriam Hospital
- 4 will provide patient transportation within hospital
Newport Hospital
- 1 will provide patient transportation within hospital
- 1 will serve as a COVID-19 screener
Rhode Island Hospital
- 4 will serve as waiting room attendants
Roger Williams Medical Center
- 1 will provide patient transportation within hospital
- 1 will serve as a waiting room attendant and provide transportation
South County Hospital
- 2 will provide patient transportation within hospital and serve as waiting room attendants
Women and Infants Hospital
- 2 will provide close circuit patient monitoring
Executive Order – allowing nurse graduates to practice under supervising RNs while licenses are being worked on.
Small Biz – RI Rebound Grant – opens Tuesday for applications – through 2/15/2022 – 12 ½ million available. RI Relief Grant Program – 3600 small businesses helped via that in the past. Go to: More funds coming out in the future.
New RIDOH staff introduced themselves:
Ernie Almonte – thanked Lt. Gov. for being lent to RIDOH – CPA, auditor general.
Ana Novais – thanked Gov. & Sect. Jones – 35 years public health experience – past 20 years at RIDOH – Asst. Sect. EOHHS.
Chris Abul – Dept. Chief, Gov. McKee – will provide operational support for transition. Coordinate search for new RIDOH head.
Dr McDonald: Thanked Gov. for visiting with RIDOH staff – well received by everyone.
Treatment: Need to keep this top of mind. Oral anti-virals Paxlovid (2 medicines) – Merck drug. We have a decent supply, while there is a national shortage. These are for those 65+ or those with co-morbidities; high risk. We’ve trained providers on how oral anti-virals work.
We have good vaccines that work. Good treatments that work. National shortage of treatment will abate over the next few months. Numbers are dropping, but still have people in the hospital.
Severe COVID: vaccinated people have less chance of this happening – over 90% are unvaccinated who are in the hospital. Moderna is now fully approved, so that should make those who resist feel better.
Q/A:
Q – How many people in hospitals?
A – 75 NG 45 are at Butler, 30 are spread out in other 10 – patient monitoring, screening, transportation, ER help, wrap-around services
Q – High school sports – any mask mandate curbing for competition?
A – Discussion point right now.
Q – Extension of EO authority?
A – Gov. would like to see EO authority extended by 60 days
Q – Why Guard troops now and not before?
A – We were open to that weeks ago, but we implemented it now. We want to lay ground work, relationships, not take NG healthcare providers and move them to other facilities, and create another vacumn.
Q – Legislature has ignored their due diligence and let Gov. rule by EO.
A – We’ve managed well and the people have confidence, as does the legislature.
Q – Do you believe 75% reduction is from most people now testing with at-home kits? WHO briefing said while cases are dropping, they are seeing deaths increasing – ?
A – At-home tests are definitely happening – people can report, though probably aren’t – that’s one reason case #s are dropping, but we’re more interested in hospital #s. “I see case counts drop, hospitalizations drop, deaths will drop, too – could be a false sense of security.” There is a global story – far, far part of the globe does not have anywhere near what US has – I worry about rising variant. Better we know than have our heads in the sand. We took science to Star Trek levels, and that is exciting. I’m optimistic about where science has brought us – very positive note for the future.
Q – Does RIDOH have enough staff to do their jobs? How much went to Boston Consulting Group and should that have been spent on staff.
A – Yes, we do. Trying to get RIDOH to know that 5pm means something. Weekends mean something, too. Trying to get staff to work reasonable hours. Dr. McDonald – trying to get staff to work healthier. Don’t know about BCG – we will look into it – they were extremely helpful – brought a lot of infrastructure to team. It’s not the consultants that are running the response, it’s the staff. They are great people. Dept. of Health is very healthy right now.
Q – Dramatic decrease, light at the end of the tunnel – but you, Dr. McDonald, put a pin in that hope.
A – “I’m a little humble before the pandemic”. Omicron will subside in coming weeks. Don’t think the pandemic will end. It will become an endemic. Until we get the planet vaccinated, we’re just not there. This is a global issue.
Q – Mask mandates changing?
A – Everything is under consideration
Over 650 new student cases, and 270 new staff cases, in Rhode Island schools in the past 7 days – see full list, by city, here:
Community Based COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics for February 2 – C19VaccineRI.org
| 5:00pm-7:30pm McCoy Stadium, 1 Columbus Avenue, Pawtucket – J&J, Moderna, Pfizer (12+) 4:00pm-7:00pm Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South Street, Providence – Pfizer, Pfizer (5-11) 3:30pm-6:30pm West End Comm. Center, 109 Bucklin St, Prov, Moderna, Pfizer (12+), Pfizer (5-11) |
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Two nurses on Long Island are accused of forging COVID-19 vaccination cards and pocketing more than $1.5 million from the scheme. Julie DeVuono, the owner of Wild Child Pediatric Healthcare and her employee, Marissa Urraro, are both charged with felony forgery. DeVuono and Urraro charged $220 for adult cards and $85 for children.
Cambridge-based biotech Moderna announced on Monday that the Food and Drug Administration has given full approval to its COVID-19 vaccine after reviewing more data on its safety and effectiveness.
New data show that vaccines still protect against a spinoff of the Omicron variant
Adults with disabilities whose Covid infections sent them to the hospital did worse than other patients, staying longer and returning for more care at higher rates
PM Justin Trudeau has tested positive and is doing well and working from home.
The CDC reached out to pharmacists to reinforce the message that people with moderate to severe immune suppression are eligible for fourth COVID shots.
In Mississippi, the 10th child has died since 2020 of COVID.
Omicron Hospitalizations Up to 23 Times Higher for the Unvaccinated
The U.S. national debt exceeded $30 trillion for the first time.
Pfizer-BioNTech is expected to file a submission for emergency use to the Food and Drug Administration for a vaccine regimen designed for use in children aged six months to five years