Subscribe!
Your Coronavirus Update – Today, Aug. 29, 2020
Photo: Riverdale School, New York, has colorful tents all set to go for their first day of school.
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Major network TV stations have said they will start their shows up again in November.
The Portugal prime minister announced the purchase of 6.9 million vaccines against Covid-19, worth €20 million, adding that in Portugal vaccination will be “universal and free”.
Portuguese investigators are developing a test for Covid-19 that can tell if a person is infected or not through a single drop of saliva. Explain reports, the group of investigators at Saliva Tec, led by Nuno Rosa, professor at Portuguese Catholic University UCP, are now seeking partners to produce the test which “if all goes well” could be available as soon as the middle of next year.
The White House has announced a $750 million deal with Abbott Laboratories Thursday to buy 150 million of its new rapid coronavirus tests, the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card.
18,000+ staff laid off from MGM
Iowa on Friday reported that more than three-quarters of the coronavirus tests performed in the past 24 hours had come back positive.
The Iowa positivity rate jumped to a record 79.43 percent — with 2,579 new COVID-19 cases confirmed out of 3,247 tests. It’s the first time the number of positive cases has outnumbered the negative results. https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/health/iowa-coronavirus-cases-covid-19-positivity-rate-antigen-results-20200828
The most populous town in Massachusetts, Brookline, is ordering even people who are “medically excluded” from the rules about wearing a mask in public to have an anti-coronavirus barrier — a plastic face shield.
Coca-Cola is offering early retirement buy-outs to over 40% of its workforce in North America.
The World Health Organization‘s top official in Europe warned Thursday that the coronavirus is a “tornado with a long tail” and said rising case counts among young people could ultimately spread to more vulnerable older people — and cause an uptick in deaths.
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Massachusetts has agreed that families can form small remote learning co-ops, after school programs can operate during typical school hours, and churches and community centers can host students who might otherwise have to be left home alone.
Massachusetts is expanding medical marijuana and home delivery options.
On Friday, Colorado, Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia were deemed lower-risk states by Massachusetts, for travel into the state. They join New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. Rhode Island and Hawaii, originally on the low-risk list, were removed after case numbers in those locations rose.
Massachusetts continues to recommend testing for asymptomatic people who come in contact with someone infected with the coronavirus, despite new federal guidelines saying such tests are unnecessary
Massachusetts movie theaters are reopening Friday.
Gov. Charlie Baker has signed an executive that gives working parents more child care options for children engaged in remote learning when school resumes this fall.
RI Board of Elections is sounding the alarm about their ability to count votes – going from about 40,000 mail ballots to 400,000 this year. BOE say without a change they will be “counting ballots when the snow flies in January” – appealing to the Gov. for changes. ”The process for November has to change.
The city of East Greenwich will mimic the Atwells Ave. restaurant concept and begin Friday night outdoor dining, shops open, etc.
Bryant University has tested over 8,000 students with a percent positivity below 1%
URI fines for parties over 15 has now been expanded to include all of Narragansett.
RI Economic Resiliency Task Force established by Gov. Raimondo – Mayors Elorza & Diossa to lead the group of municipal, state and private sector leaders who will look to develop innovative recommendations to build economic resiliency, find ways to save money, and improve services.
University of Massachusetts Amherst will furlough close to 800 staff
Roger Williams University and Providence College have their own testing program and reporting areas. Bryant University is also doing its own testing.
17 Providence College students were suspended for violation of COVID19 regulations.
Gloria Gemma Flames of Hope will be virtual this year, Oct 2-4
Another photo of Gov. Raimondo has surfaced from her vacation on Block Island, taken with a shop owner – without a mask – causing critiques to spread on social media.
More than 200 RI restaurants/businesses passed inspections – a few did not:
- Ju Sushi, Westerly
- Ocean State Body Builders, Johnston
- Crown Fried Chicken, Middletown
- Ray’s Service, West Greenwich
- Broadway Express Mart, Providence
- Merrill Lounge, East Providence (combined order)
Governor Raimondo has extended “Phase 3” of RI COVID reopening another month, until Sept. 28, as expected.
CommerceRI is encouraging businesses still in need of tech support to visit their site and get in touch, if needed: https://commerceri.com/tech-support-covid-19/
Gordon School did a report with NBC10 to showcase their outdoor school modality – school starts in 2 weeks: https://turnto10.com/news/local/gorton-school-introduces-new-unique-approach-to-in-person-learning-for-fall
Cumberland and Pawtucket have voted to start schools distance learning.
RI Data
Deaths: 2 ; 3-day hospitalization: 83
Note: Large # of tests prior day reflect college/university screening
