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Your Coronavirus Update – Today, Dec. 10, 2020
Photo: COVID19 Test kits in a vending machine at a Hong Kong airport – probably in our future.
RHODE ISLAND & VICNITY
Governor’s COVID19 update is today at 1pm
RI has yet to publish its priority vaccination plan.
Massachusetts has published its vaccination priority plan:
Rhode Island has the highest case rate per capita of any city, state, or even country.
One MD said that all of the guests at the Thanksgiving dinner have tested positive.
Warwick – Woonsocket – Pawtucket – Cranston – Burrillville – Johnston – West Warwick – Burrillville – Newport – Smithfield – East Providence have opted for 100% virtual education.
RI officials met with CVS officials about coordinating vaccine distribution. CVS said all stores will offer the shot by appointment.
RI expects 10K doses of Pfizer vaccine and 19K of Moderna with shots being given to priority groups expected next week. Both are a 2-dose regimen with #2 a few weeks later.
The RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity has launched a statewide petition campaign to demand Covid data transparency from our state government to support its call on the RI Department of Health (DOH) to collect and report critical Ct testing data. https://rifreedom.org/covid-transparency/
The RI Coalition of Wedding and Event Professionals is asking for help from the Governor – they have met with state dept. leaders twice, and have been told there isn’t money to reimburse them 16% of gross revenues that are lost – but are hopeful the Governor will address their requests.
The RI Dept. of Health is asking people to complete a short survey about the vaccine – https://health.ri.gov/covid/vaccine/
New Round of COVID-19 Relief Funds – Now Available to Arts and Culture Organizations – For artists, the funds will be distributed through the Artist Relief Fund. Click here to learn more and to apply.
For arts and culture organizations, the funds will be distributed through three programs. Click on the link to each program to learn more:
- CRF Grant for Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations
- CRF Grant for RI Expansion Arts and Culturally Specific Organizations
- CRF Grant for Investments in Arts and Culture (IAC) Organizations
A new poll finds that an overwhelming majority of Massachusetts residents are willing to take a COVID-19 vaccine, though when they might feel comfortable doing so varies across racial and socioeconomic demographics, raising further concerns about unequal immunization. The MassINC survey of over 1,100 residents found that just 7% of participants said they will never take a COVID-19 vaccine.”
“Tucked inside the $46 billion state budget sitting on Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk is a provision funneling $2.2 million to the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs to help the facilities continue to serve as a home away from home for students doing remote learning.
Connecticut is expecting to begin vaccinations next week.
There is increasing concern about shoppers gathering in malls in RI and elsewhere.
New Hampshire is positive about their ski season, but notes that “your car will be your base camp” this year, as opposed to a lodge.
“Leaders of ‘forgotten’ communities in Cape Cod and Western Massachusetts are taking coronavirus testing into their own hands and standing up their own local sites, saying Gov. Charlie Baker’s announcement expanding access doesn’t go far enough to satisfy increasing demand in areas plagued by a dearth of options.”
“Members of the Tewksbury, MA Teachers Association overwhelmingly voted no confidence in the town’s superintendent and assistant superintendent
RI AG Neronha has tested negative yesterday but will continue to quarantine.
CNN broadcast live on Wednesday morning from Providence, RI, due to our high numbers of coronavirus cases
The RI AG’s office said there is no need to redo bail guidelines and that the coronavirus spread in prisons is already in consideration.
Massachuestts teachers created their own database to report COVID19 cases in schools: https://www.stopthespreadmass.org/
Massachusetts will not re-institute eviction bans, saying the state has enough resources to help those in trouble without resorting to that step.
RI Interscholastic League does not have a date for winter sports to start yet. It hopes to hear something at Governor’s press event.
The Rustic Drive-in is expected to close, as part of RI’s Pause
Massachusetts vaccine distribution to be done in 3 phases:
Phase One. 12/20 – 2/21 – Est. Doses: About 300,000 – Clinical and non-clinical health care workers doing direct and COVID-facing care. Long-term care facilities, rest homes, and assisted living facilities; police, fire, and emergency medical services. Home-based health care workers. Health care workers doing non-COVID facing care.
Phase Two. 2/21 – 4/21 – Est. Doses: 1,900,000+ – Individuals 2+ comorbidities (high risk for COVID-19 complications). Early education, K-12, transit, grocery, food and agriculture, sanitation, public works, and public health workers. Adults 65+. Individuals with one comorbidity
Phase Three. 4/21 – General Public
Rhode Island’s plan is not yet finalized with this notation on its website: Please note: Final decisions have not yet been made about who can get vaccinated in each phase of Rhode Island’s COVID-19 vaccination program. It is expected the plan will be released today.
RI Data: Dec. 9, 2020
Today’s Data: Dec. 9, 2020
Deaths: 14 (Deaths in-hospital: 6)
Total tests: 16,185 – Total positives: 1,232 – Percent positive: 7.6%
Hospitalized: 461 (New admissions: 65; discharges: 53)
ICU: 42 – Ventilated: 24
Rhode Island cases by community (ProJo chart)
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
The FDA is expected to authorize the Pfizer vaccine either today – or Friday.
US Dept. of Defense has identified 16 sites to pilot distribution of vaccines for troops – 44,000 doses will be given at first initiative. Critical defense staff will go first. There will be some media coverage of senior leaders getting shots so staff are more confident in doing so.
Canada has approved Pfizer’s vaccine.
Israel says they will begin vaccinations 12/27
Dr. Fauci said widely used COVID test picks up much harmless virus, giving false positives. He stresses that virus cycles of 35 or higher means the changes of the test being accurate are “miniscule”.
Gov. Cuomo has ended his in-person press conferences and will move to an online, call-in line for local media.
Berkshire Bank to close 16 regional branches
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf (D) tests positive for COVID-19
Singapore started cruises again – first cruise ship out had to return when at least one passenger tested positive and exposed others on the ship.
The Russian space agency said on Wednesday it planned to offer the Sputnik coronavirus vaccine to cosmonauts but insisted that the vaccination would be done on a voluntary basis. Last week Russia launched its mass vaccination program using Sputnik V, which has been named after a Soviet-era satellite. Developers say it is 95 percent effective based on interim trial results. Vaccination centers opened their doors in Moscow, initially offering the vaccine to people in risk groups, including medics and teachers.
Russia is telling people that they need to abstain from alcohol for 2 months, though the vaccine developer recommends 6 days – after receiving the vaccine so the body can be as healthy as possible.
Not everything that happens in Congress is awful these days…