Your Coronavirus Update – March 5, 2021

RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY

School Mask requirements have ended in Rhode Island – except for Providence and Central Falls.

The Take It Outside Initiative is part of the Rhode Island Reboundseffort, proposed by Governor McKee and funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. Other elements of Rhode Island Reboundsinclude the Small Business Grant Program which will provide direct grants of $2,500 or $5,000 to eligible small businesses and a new site acquisition fund to support the development of affordable housing.

Mayor Jorge O. Elorza today joined RIHousing to announce a new partnership to support Providence residents in applying for rental and utility assistance funds through RIHousing’s federally-funded RentReliefRI program.  Through a RIHousing grant, the City of Providence has hired two staff members who will specialize in the RentReliefRI application process. The two new staff members will be stationed in the Mayor’s Center for City Services, coordinating efforts to promote the RentReliefRI program as well as providing direct assistance to Providence constituents that call in via PVD 3-1-1 or visit City Hall. 

Rhode Island Rebounds provides $7.5 million in federal funds to incentivize pediatric primary care practices to ensure all children are up to date with the full array of essential, preventive healthcare services, including on developmental, psychosocial, and behavioral screenings. The funding will support their ability to retain staff, implement extended hours, conduct enhanced outreach, and bring on additional family supports, such as social workers, to address the crisis and ensure all families are caught up on care.

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NEW MASK Guidelines are determined by Community Level (Low, Medium, High). All of Rhode Island, at this time, is at MEDIUM Risk.

Rhode Island community level is Medium.

• If you are at high risk for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines
• Get tested if you have symptoms

People may choose to mask at any time. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.

If you are immunocompromised, learn more about how to protect yourself.

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RI closes Convention Center as vaccination and testing sites move to community locations.

This weekend the National Guard staff will leave the state’s hospitals and healthcare sites.

Gov. McKee Press Conference – 3-4-2021

Cases down 57% in last 2 weeks.

Hospitalizations down 79% since mid-January.

RI will move to dealing with COVID as an endemic, not a pandemic

We should skate to where the puck is going, rather than where it is. Nationwide shift.

Next week there will be a breakdown about who is in the hospital “because of” or simply “with” COVID.

New metrics from CDC. New transmission model in RI. RI is “low community level” for transmission. Dashboard on RI Health site will be updated.

Goal in RI to be #1 in boosters.

Childcare assistance – we need to keep day cares open

Dr. Chan: CDC will have new approach to determine local risk to COVID19 – replaces system based on case counts. New tiered system better to move forward – looks at risk levels and what steps you need to take to reduce risk for yourself and family. Will measure hospital admission rates, because when hospitals become overwhelmed, people do less well with other health issues needing hospital care. This new system accounts for people using at-home testing. We will count at the county level – and we have not done that before. All 5 counties now are at low level of risk. Need to be up to date with vaccine. Need booster. Indoor spaces should be well ventilated. Masking at low levels of risk will not have any recommendation. Medium risk, people immune compromised might wear a mask. High risk county, yes, wear a mask. Again, this is to keep hospitals functioning, too. High risk, but in low risk area – there will be other steps you can take. Be respectful of other individuals and organizations.

FEMA National Guard – thank you for all their services.

Governor’s updates will continue weekly. Especially focusing on boosters.

Looking for spokesperson to promote boosters in state campaign. We need new faces to deliver the message, especially in diverse community.

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Omicron BA.2 sub-variant more infectious but no more severe – Africa CDC

Pres. Biden said Friday that he is considering extending the pause on federal student loan payments and also considering whether to cancel some debt.

NFL has removed mask requirements or COVID restrictions

Congress will consider a bill regarding care for long COVID to consider.

Test and treat will become more familiar at pharmacies, where an instant test, if positive, will be followed by free treatment medication.

Doctors are saying as masks come down, the common cold and the flu will return with a vengeance.

Canadian regulators said Medicago’s two-dose vaccine can be given to adults ages 18 to 64

Queen resumes work 9 days after testing positive

The European Medicines Agency said it authorized Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine for children ages 6 to 11, in addition to recommending booster shots of Pfizer’s vaccine for those 12 and over, in decisions aimed at providing further protection against COVID-19 for children across Europe.

Moody’s economist Adam Kamin, said “People are adjusting to what they see as a new normal,” he said. “We see less movement to suburbs and more movement into second-tier cities,” such as Jacksonville, Florida; Raleigh, North Carolina; Louisville, Kentucky; and Salt Lake City.

The White House new plan for COVID19: