Your Coronavirus Update – Nov. 9, 2020

Photo: Cell phone warning received in RI at noon on Sunday, Nov. 8.

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

President-elect Joe Biden is expected to release a list of his members of his COVID-19 Task Force on Monday – Dr. Vivek Hallegere Murthy, 19th Surgeon General of the US expected to be named to head that team. Murthy was SG under the Obama administration, and ousted by President Trump. He is an internal medicine physician, and an expert and author on loneliness, and worked on the vaping crisis, and worked to have people see addiction as a public health and not a moral crisis. The Task Force would take effect on Inauguration Day.

Updated: Here are bios on the Task Force:

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A national mask mandate is on the agenda for the new administration.

A hospital system in NYC says people with COVID19 used to have about a 25% of dying – and today that percentage has dropped to 7.6%.

German officials are outraged after 20,000 mostly unmasked people jam the eastern city of Leipzig to protest new coronavirus restrictions.

A 61-acre convention/corporate retreat site in Hesston, Kansas has become a schoolhouse for the district’s seventh- and eighth-graders.

3 US Airmen have COVID19 and 1 has died, being the first in uniform to die from COVID

Washington, DC Mayor is urging everyone to get tested – after the Biden victory celebration events that brought thousands to the city.

More than 1,000 people a day are dying in the US.

There will be an NCAA Tournament played in 2021 and senior men’s basketball players will be among those athletes granted an additional year of eligibility. That was the message Wednesday night from Dan Gavitt, the NCAA’s senior vice president of basketball, on the ‘Ed Cooley Radio Show.’

The UN will hold a pandemic summit Dec. 3 & 4

A Serbian Orthodox priest in Belgrade, 90 years old, is hospitalized with COVID19, after presiding at a large state funeral. The president and other dignitaries were in attendance. Little mask wearing took place.

Unemployment down to less than 7% in US

Research suggests that children clear the infection much faster than adults and may help explain why many don’t become seriously ill.

The Cape Cod Reopening Task Force advised against having Thanksgiving with friends and loved ones from across the state or out of state this year.

In England special provisions have been created for small families to create a bubble with other small families in order to address the serious issue of depression and suicide faced by isolation and loneliness.

Encore Boston Harbor will furlough 1,000 staff due to reduced hours.

Massachusetts State public health officials will begin imposing temporary admissions freezes at nursing homes and other care facilities that are deemed at risk of spreading COVID-19.

President Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows has been diagnosed with the coronavirus. 6 aids have also tested positive in may what be a second round of virus infections in the White House.

A college student in Indiana died in her dorm room after testing positive for the coronavirus

The City of Boston is launching a new $2 million campaign to revive local tourism as it was battered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 100,000 people have rushed to the Hawaiian islands from mainland states since it opened for tourism again.

New data for 21 nations shows that there are more Covid-19 patients now than in the spring’s worst days, threatening to overwhelm stretched hospitals and exhausted medical workers.

14% rise in hospitalizations across US – big issue is keeping hospitals functioning.

Death rates went from 25% in May to 7.6% today – still much higher than other flus, etc.

reported on Saturday the 59th death from Covid-19 in Vermont, the first since July 28. With 21 new cases, the state’s 7-day rolling average is its highest since April 13

Spreading of the virus nationally is not coming from schools, businesses – it’s coming from “people trying to get together with each other” according to one national researcher.

Trader Joe’s tested all their employees. 2.4% of their 53,000 employees test positive.

Gov. Cuomo has upped presence of National Guard at New York Airports.

Currently over 80% of confirmed cases are now symptomatic.

Vermont health officials have reported the state’s first coronavirus-related death since July.

Doctors believe the coronavirus can directly infect the heart muscle and cause other problems leading to heart damage.

Massachusetts state education officials say in-person learning now ‘expected’ for most communities

RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY

Cell phones blared at noon on Sunday, as a “curfew” reminder. After starting the day with a 4.1 earthquake it was a little disconcerting. In addition, while most people received the one notification, some received 2, some 3, and one person received it 6 times in rapid succession.  One writer to RINewsToday said, “They should have warned people on the morning news this was unsettling to elderly and animals after this morning.”

Festival Ballet Providence’s Nutcracker is ready for ticket purchase. Performances will take place in the newly constructed open-air venue on Hope St, Providence, built with COVID19 business funds. The performance will take place outdoors, with socially distanced seating, and heating elements for the comfort of audiences and performers. Performances are Dec. 11-27 – ticket prices range from $65-$100 per person.

Both East Providence libraries are closed until further notice because a staff member at the Weaver Library, 41 Grove Ave., tested positive for COVID- 19.

The North Providence Pool & Fitness Center, behind the library at 1810 Mineral Spring Ave., reopened on a limited schedule on Monday

50 Rhode Islanders have fast-track trained as substitutes and will be returning or going to teaching at schools around the state.

RI homeless advocates are switching priorities from permanent housing to shelter beds for the winter, due to the overwhelming need.

More businesses with violations noted by RI Dept. of Business Regulations:

Nancy’s Homemade Deli – Warren

The Punjab Indian Cuisine – Johnston

Providence Deli and Grill Mart – Providence

The Picket Fence – Barrington

Shanta’s Threading – North Providence

Revel Lounge – Providence

The Rustic Tri View Drive In is moving up its start times so that moviegoers can be out of the Route 146 theater before the statewide curfew, which begins Sunday. General manager Holli St. Jacques said the theater hopes to remain open into December if the weather allows. Normally at this time of year, movies start at 7:15 p.m., but starting Sunday, that will be pushed to 5:45 p.m.

Ken Hopkins notified the community that at least four volunteers/supporters of his campaign for Mayor of Cranston tested positive for coronavirus, resulting form his campaign headquarters on or before Election night.

RI Data:

Nov. 6th

Next Governor’s address: Thursday, Nov. 12th, 1pm