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Your Coronavirus Update Today, Jan. 5, 2022
Booster graphic: RIDOH
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
There is a national shortage of monoclonal antibodies (MABS). RIDOH is following CDC guidance to prioritize existing supply for those who are at highest risk. The issued this provider guidance. This guidance is posted on RIDOH’s website for reference and was included in RIDOH’s weekly COVID-19 Provider Briefing that is disseminated to more than 50,000 clinicians.
MABS sites in Rhode Island, currently, are: https://covid.ri.gov/mabs-infusion-services
Johnston HS opened on Monday and closed at 11am due to lack of staff.
Rhode Island made the national newscasts by the decision to have mildly symptomatic staff come back to Eleanor Slater and nursing homes.
Warwick Vets and Winman go to virtual due to lack of staff.
150 Boston teachers test positive as schools open after winter break.
The over 225,000 rapid tests for MA teachers will only provide one test per teacher.
There were 656 involuntary resignations and 332 voluntary resignations in Massachusetts state jobs due to a mask mandate.
1,000+ teachers & staff members are out sick with COVID
The testing report data of the RIDOH does not include home testing results.
Jury trials paused until 1/31 in Massachusetts.
75 teachers/staff out sick in Worcester school system
25% – approx. 100 Providence police officers are not vaccinated – they estimate 50% of those will not get vaccinated. That would be a loss of about 40-50.
Boston hospitals are mandating 3rd vaccine as condition of employment.
RI Lottery prize claim centers will close until February.
Dr. Skoly, maxillofacial surgeon, has had his ability to practice stopped because he can’t get vaccinated, has engaged the New Civil Liberty Alliance, a large DC-based law firm to pursue his case to return to work. Skoly has had COVID and also has had Bell’s Palsy, which is a contraindication for vaccination.
RI Dept of Corrections visitations suspended – they can visit by video once a week – attorneys can still go to see clients.
Harvard will not return to in-person classes until Feb. 1st, at this time.
UNAP statement about staff going back to work even if positive: “…unequivocally opposed to the state’s decision allowing COVID-19 positive health care workers to work in Rhode Island health care facilities. First and foremost, we believe that it’s critically important to ensure a healthy workforce in which health care workers are not spreading the virus to other workers and, more importantly, to at-risk patients who are susceptible to the most harmful effects of the virus. Second, this policy will likely come with the unintended consequence of exacerbating staffing shortages when more workers in hospitals become infected with COVID-19, get sick, and are forced to quarantine….only health care workers who are asymptomatic, have a negative test, and continue to wear a mask should be returning to the workforce after 5 days. Lastly, we again urge all Rhode Islanders to get vaccinated and boosted if they haven’t already. This is the one proven solution to limit hospitalizations and the resulting staffing issues that these hospitalizations create, and most importantly prevent avoidable death and suffering.”
Connecticut: Yesterday the Governor of CT announced that almost 3.2 million N95 masks have been given out statewide – with “more are on the way”.
Two Boston restaurants and perhaps more have closed due to staff who can’t come to work because they are sick with COVID.
Governor Dan McKee was joined by House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio to sign RI Rebounds, the Governor’s plan to invest $119 million in American Rescue Plan State Fiscal Recovery Funds in Rhode Island’s children, families, workers, housing and small businesses.
MBTA may require testing soon in the Boston area.
Steamship Authority employees must prove they have at least one vaccine. Failure to do so by today – and full vaccination by mid-month will be grounds for termination. This applies to the Martha’s Vineyard Ferry & the Nantucket Ferry.
Care New England is asking current staff to volunteer for additional shifts.
Blackstone Valley Charter School has at least 60% of its teachers out due to COVID issues.
The RI legislature went back into session, some legislators did not wear masks, and social distancing was missing, with no acrylic panels installed, as in before. Speaker Shekarchi said they will continue to monitor the situation and can revert to the system they had last year – at remote locations and with plexiglass.
The Seekonk Public Safety Building as well as all other town buildings will be closed for the remainder of January.
RI schools with testing before this week – cases in students above 9 cases:
Nayatt School, Barrington, 10 to 19
Blackstone Valley Prep, 10 to 15
Cranston West HS, 15 to 19
Community School, Cumberland, 10 to 14
East Providence High School, 10 to 14
North Kingstown High School, 10 to 14
Classical High School, 10 to 14
The Rhode Island National Guard is currently mobilizing to support the mass vaccination site at the Rhode Island Convention Center and in hospitals. Approximately 200 are in action – with coordination assistance at the Rite Aid Central Falls location.
East Providence has canceled city council meeting and court proceedings – several members of the Council are sick with COVID.
NewTo register, visit C19VaccineRI.org and click “Upcoming Community Vaccination Clinics.”
Drive-Thru clinics: Some have asked about drive-thru clinics, out of concern of social distancing and the weather, especially with children and the elderly. RIDOH says, “[they] operate some drive-through test sites, including at McCoy Stadium, Stop & Shop Cumberland, Wickford Train Station, and Thundermist Health Center in Woonsocket. The COVID-19 Testing Team is working to identify additional locations that are large enough to accommodate drive-through test sites.”
Johnston has plans to open a new drive-through testing site next week at the high school parking lot.
FIND A TEST SITE:
How can I get a COVID-19 test?
There are several ways to get tested for COVID-19 in Rhode Island. Click here or on the map to find the test site closest to you.
- Primary care offices: If you have symptoms of COVID-19, call your primary care provider or child’s pediatrician. Ask if they do point-of-care testing or if they can schedule a test for you.
- Retail pharmacies: Make an appointment for a COVID-19 test at a pharmacy near you.
- Respiratory clinics: Some respiratory clinics will accept new patients or patients from other healthcare practices. Some clinics will only test existing patients.
- State-run test sites: Schedule a free test for yourself or a dependent child at a State-run COVID-19 test site. All Rhode Islanders can schedule a test online at portal.ri.gov or by calling 401-222-8022.
- You do not need an appointment to get tested at a mobile test site in your community.
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Over 1 million Americans tested positive on Monday of this week.
Next 4-6 weeks will be the toughest in US for illness, shortages, etc.
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President Biden: We have all the vaccines we need to fully vaccinate all the Americans – and including the booster. We have to make more progress. Please get your children vaccinated – best way to protect them. If kids are too young, surround your kids with vaccinated people. Schools should remain open; they have what they need to be safe. States got $130 billion to keep schools open months ago. $10 billion for testing for schools has already gone out. Some have spent it well, some have not. FEMA is helping every state in hospital capacity building, including extra beds. Federal govt will be there. PPE is being shipped wherever needed.
1. Booster shots – booster shots work – provides highest level of protection. They are free, safe and available. Many sites to get your shots. FDA is authorizing boosters for children 12 to 15 – waiting for CDC, then you can make appts for later this week.
2. Testing – frustrating. More sites being added every day. Go to COVIDtestnearme on google – at home test kits at drug stores and online shopping; next week insurance payments kick in; states have free at home tests you can pick up – just find out where they are. Federal govt will put up a website to order kits
3. Treatment – For high risk we have new Pfizer pill. Shipped first batch out to states. More coming this week – more are saving lives. Takes months to make the pills, and production is in full swing. Pfizer will double their order from the federal govt and we may need more. Game changer, could dramatically alter the impact on the country.
Coming weeks are going to be challenging – wear your masks, protect each other. We have the tools, but you must choose to use the tools.
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Starbucks requiring vaccinations for workers – and/or negative tests
Schools closing across country temporarily while staff absences continue. Milwaukee goes remote. Joined by Cleveland, Newark, Detroit, etc in 1 week remote learning – or more. Chicago teacher union have demands for safety measures and may not show up to work, saying the surge is just too high to continue.
4.5 million people quit their jobs in November.
Walmart & Kroger have raised prices of their Binax at home test kits after a discount program with the government expired.
White House had promised at home tests would go out first part of January – but they have acknowledged that their contract to order them has not been completed and the website is not active.
Chicago teachers vote to not work and city’s schools are now closed.
Hospitalizations in US are up 41%.
Maryland has declared a 30-day state of emergency, which allows certain actions to take place such as activating the National Guard, etc.
Puerto Rico has put curfews into place for public businesses, banning gatherings of more than 250 people, etc. until mid-January.
Dr. Jha on NBC Nightly News: Not everyone will get Omicron. Omicron is milder version. Future variants might impact us less as people are either vaccinated or have immunity from having had it. – Need a lot more testing – testing crisis. Testing needs to be widely available for mos, yrs to come.
Whoopie Goldberg has COVID and is not taping her show while she recovers.
Hugh Jackman tested positive.
Sen. Rob Portman is positive, says he has no symptoms but is quarantining.
At Georgetown University, fully vaccinated students are randomly tested for Covid every week. Using a PCR test, which can detect tiny amounts of dead virus, asymptomatic students who test positive are ordered to a room in a designated building where they spend 10 days in confinement. Food is dropped off once a day at the door.
At Amherst, students must double mask if they don’t use a KN95.
At George Mason University, all students required to get boosted; masks are mandated.
In nearby Boston, at Emerson College, students are tested twice a week and have stay-in-room orders. The college instructs students to “only leave their residence halls or place of residence for testing, meals, medical appointments, necessary employment, or to get mail.”
Jimmy Fallon and his family tested positive – he calls it a “silver lining” that they could all stay home and have quality time together – they had mild to no symptoms.
The FDA approved boosters for children 12 to 15 – recommended boosters for younger children who are immunocompromised and reduced the time from 2nd shot to booster from 5 mos to 4 mos for all. Next step for children’s booster is AICP and CDC approval before the booster is available at pharmacies, etc. That is expected by the end of the week – then appointments can be made.
Indonesia will begin giving COVID-19 booster shots to the general public
France’s “vaccine czar” says there is not enough information yet on the need for a 2nd booster, or 4th shot.
South Africa is reporting their wave of Omicron is over – and numbers rapidly decreasing. Much fewer hospitalizations than with Delta, though there were more cases in general. With a low vaccination rate in South Africa (26%), data is showing Omicron is highly transmissible. SA also has immunity from Delta infections and the population median is much younger than other countries.
Spirit Airlines paying double for stewards for working Tuesday,
United Airlines offering pilots triple wages for month.
An Israel COVID research center showed that the protection afforded people ages 60 and older who received a third dose is expected to decline from 75% to only 25% within a month as the Omicron variant becomes the dominant strain in Israel. Research shows that the vaccines effectiveness wanes relatively quickly. Israel also predicts the overrun staffing situation in medical areas could last up to 2 months. By offering a fourth shot, protection would be refreshed and therefore higher against infection and severe disease. That’s because in the first two months, the Pfizer vaccine offers optimal protection: 70% to 90% protection in month one and 50% to 70% in month two.
DC jury trials suspended until Jan 24. Due to “recent explosion” of COVID-19 in DC.
Controversial French TV stars and famous twins Igor and Grichka Bogdanoff were inseparable in life, and in death. They had refused to be vaccinated, believing their good health would save them, but were admitted to a hospital on the same day last month and diagnosed with COVID-19. The younger twin, Grichka, died in an intensive care unit on December 28. Igor followed him six days later on January 3. They were 72.
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo says the state is working to “unwind” the COVID “testing psychology” that the federal government has prioritized.
Isolation and Quarantine
CDC has updated isolation and quarantine recommendations for the public. These recommendations do not apply to healthcare personnel and do not supersede state, local, tribal, of territorial laws, rules, and regulations. People with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), follow that by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others.
Recommendations for people who are exposed to COVID-19 are also updated. If you are unvaccinated or more than 6 months out from your second mRNA dose (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) and you are not yet boosted, CDC recommends a quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days. If a 5-day quarantine is not feasible, it is imperative that an exposed person wear a well-fitting mask at all times when around others for 10 days after exposure.
People who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure. For all those exposed, best practice would also include a test for COVID-19 at day 5 after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.
To review guidelines for returning to work for Healthcare Providers (HCP), go here:
The University of California at San Diego is providing self-test kits, free in vending machines: