Your Coronavirus Update – Nov. 21, 2021

RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY

Rhode Island’s cases rose the 2nd fastest of any state in US in last 14 days (notably, RI is also testing more than most states – holding the #3 highest of all states). RI is 2nd highest vaccinated in US.

Connecticut Governor Lemont said “the CDC speaks Latin…” – everybody should get a booster who has had 2 other shots and is 6 months out – go!

Dr. Megan Ranney tweeted that her last shift in the ER saw “zero critically ill COVID patients”

91 students in Barrington High School are positive or close contacts of positive students.

Brown University students developed a make-it-yourself air filtration system for their dorms and buildings that can be inexpensicely replicated.

Pilgrim HS will remain virtual until after Thanksgiving.

A Police Academy in MA has had their current class put on hold as a COVID outbreak makes its way through the academy.

Kindergarten in Quincy is shut down due to a COVID outbreak – they are expected to return next Wednesday after a COVID test.

The seven-day average of new cases reported per 100,000 residents was 58 in New Hampshire and 52.5 in Vermont. It was 35.9 in Maine and 32.2 in Rhode Island. In Massachusetts the rate 27.6. In Connecticut, 16.1.

The outbreak at Pilgrim HS has been potentially tied to a homecoming dance.

Clinica Esperanza said patients who have no insurance have no option but to go to an emergency room for serious healthcare needs – they can’t go to urgent care centers who usually only accept insurance.

RI State employees in unions will be offered $1,500, twice, for becoming vaccinated – for a total of $3,000.

It is unlikely the RI General Assembly will return to in-person session in 2021

From RI Elder Info:

Requests for in-home vaccination should be made to the following partners Monday-Friday, 9 AM – 4 PM.

Barrington: Alert Ambulance, Email: [email protected], Phone: 508-944-7722

Bristol: MedTech Ambulance, Phone: 401-726-2000

Burrillville: MedTech Ambulance, Phone: 401-726-2000

Central Falls: MedTech Ambulance, Phone: 401-726-2000

Charlestown: Alert Ambulance, Email: [email protected], Phone: 508-944-7722

Coventry: Alert Ambulance, Email: [email protected], Phone: 508-944-7722

Cranston: Alert Ambulance, Email: [email protected], Phone: 508-944-7722

Cumberland: Cumberland EMS, Phone: 401-334-3090

East Greenwich: Alert Ambulance, Email: [email protected], Phone: 508-944-7722

East Providence: MedTech Ambulance, Phone: 401-726-2000

Exeter: Alert Ambulance, Email: [email protected], Phone: 508-944-7722

Foster: MedTech Ambulance, Phone: 401-726-2000

Glocester: MedTech Ambulance, Phone: 401-726-2000

Hopkinton: Alert Ambulance, Email: [email protected], Phone: 508-944-7722

Jamestown: MedTech Ambulance, Phone: 401-726-2000

Johnston: MedTech Ambulance, Phone: 401-726-2000

Lincoln: MedTech Ambulance, Phone: 401-726-2000

Little Compton: MedTech Ambulance: Phone: 401-726-2000

Middletown: Alert Ambulance, Email: [email protected], Phone: 508-944-7722

Narragansett: Alert Ambulance, Email: [email protected], Phone: 508-944-7722

Newport: Alert Ambulance, Email: [email protected], Phone: 508-944-7722

North Kingstown: Alert Ambulance, Email: [email protected], Phone: 508-944-7722

North Providence: MedTech Ambulance, Phone: 401-726-2000

North Smithfield: MedTech Ambulance, Phone: 401-726-2000

Pawtucket: MedTech Ambulance, Phone: 401-726-2000

Portsmouth: Alert Ambulance, Email: [email protected], Phone: 508-944-7722

Providence: MedTech Ambulance, Phone: 401-726-2000

Richmond: Alert Ambulance, Email: [email protected], Phone: 508-944-7722

Scituate: MedTech Ambulance, Phone: 401-726-2000

Smithfield: MedTech Ambulance, Phone: 401-726-2000

South Kingstown: Alert Ambulance, Email: [email protected], Phone: 508-944-7722

Tiverton: MedTech Ambulance, Phone: 401-726-2000

Warren: MedTech Ambulance, Phone: 401-726-2000

Warwick: Alert Ambulance, Email: [email protected], Phone: 508-944-7722

West Greenwich: Alert Ambulance, Email: [email protected], Phone: 508-944-7722

West Warwick: Alert Ambulance, Email: [email protected], Phone: 508-944-7722

Westerly: Alert Ambulance, Email: [email protected], Phone: 508-944-7722

Woonsocket: MedTech Ambulance, Phone: 401-726-2000

Rhode Island Congregate Settings – Cases are upticking in several nursing homes. The official chart published by the RI Dept. of Health does not list numbers for staff and the RIDOH has not responded to our requests. Most of the “new” cases are breakthroughs and boosters have been going on for the last month, well past the 4-5 month recommended period, given that nursing home staff had their first shots back in December and January. Nursing homes pubished with new cases in the past 14 days (could also have additional cases from before that):

Cherry Hill Nursing Home, Johnston – 5 to 9

Elmhurst Extended Care, Providence – 10 to 14

Golden Crest, Providence – 10 to 14

Kingstown Center, West Kingston – less than 5

Lincolnwood, North Providence – 20 to 24

Pawtucket Falls, Pawtucket – less than 5

Westerly Health Center, Westerly – less than 5

Woodpecker Health, Woonsocket – 5 to 9

Anchor Bay, Riverside – 5 to 9

Atria, Barrington – less than 5

Atria, East Greenwich – 5 to 9

Brookdale, Wakefield – less than 5

Halcyon, Warwick – 30 to 34

Wingate, Providence – less than 5

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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Dr. Fauci says COVID-19 vaccines should be available for babies and toddlers in early 2022

Shortly, being fully vaccinated will mean having had THREE shots, not two.

The federal government directed nursing homes to allow visits for “all residents at all times,” dropping many remaining COVID-19 restrictions.

An AARP survey showed that of 1,250 hiring managers, 33% said they would automatically eliminate résumés that didn’t include COVID-19 vaccination status. Experts now say you should include your vaccination status on your resume.

The AARP Public Policy Institute says the nursing home industry will lose $94 billion for 2020 and 2021, combined.

The EU approved Merck’s COVID pill for emergencies.

Disney Cruises now requiring vaccinations for children 5 and up.

Ireland will impose a midnight curfew on bars, restaurants and nightclubs as the country tackles a fresh wave of Covid-19 cases.

NYC has advised people against large Thanksgiving gatherings

NYC will hold New Year’s Eve in Times Square – must be vaccinated with photo ID

CVS has announced it will close 300 stores a year for 3 years as consumer buying habits have permanently changed.

Two new reports from the CDC suggest Covid’s delta variant isn’t just more contagious, it’s also more dangerous to pregnant women and their babies.

In Greece, unvaccinated residents will be banned from all indoor public spaces.

Covid-19 cases are surging at an alarming rate in Europe and doctors in Germany are warning hospitals could soon fill up.

Fast food restaurants are expanding their drive-through lanes – going to triple, and four lanes, building on success from pandemic use.

COVID-19 crisis paves way for at-home endoscopy – Medtronic has received FDA clearance for a capsule endoscopy program that patients would perform at home, with the support of a physician who orders the equipment on Amazon and guides them through the procedure using telehealth.

Target, Walmart, COSTCO, and Home Depot are large retailers who say they’re stocked for holiday shopping, without substantial problems from shipping issues, while smaller stores and independent ones are showing empty shelves.

Controversy over the use of Sesame Street, and Big Bird, in particular, to ease children’s fears about the COVID vaccine – here is the original video – note that Big Bird has been used to promote vaccinations to children several times in the past: