Subscribe!
Your Coronavirus Update Today – July 28, 2021
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Gov. McKee said he will follow the science, but right now he is not committed to changes in masks because we are so highly vaccinated and we are not in a high risk category. We are “in good shape” at this time, though, of course this could change in the future.
New CDC guidelines would impact no counties in RI, but 5 counties are impacted – Barnstable, Suffolk, Bristol, Nantucket, and Dukes.
In Connecticut, no county is at high or substantial risk, though may be in the near future, with a 7-day positivity rate of 2.23%. Hartford and New London are closest to reaching the “substantial risk” level.
On July 26th, Rhode Island entered the “Substantial Threat” category – one step short of “High” in transmission of COVID19 concern.
Lifespan & Care New England now requiring all staff to be vaccinated. CNE said it is “moving toward a mandatory vaccination program for all staff across all operating units”.
New Shoreham (Block Island) saw 7 new cases in one week of COVID19 – they held a meeting on Monday night to talk about control steps they can take. In all of 2020 they had approx. 30 cases in total. They are asking for a council resolution to require masks indoors regardless of vaccination status.
Westerly Hospital is mandating vaccines for its employees – this is anticipated to soon change and include other hospitals.
The vaccination clinic at Sockanosset Crossroad will change hours: Closed Sunday & Monday; Tues (7-2), Wed (11-6), Thurs (7-2), Friday (11-6), and Sat (7-2). With these new hours, they are remaining open during the busiest times (morning, lunch, and after work), but are winding down during those periods when the site sees less traffic. The site is still open for seven hours a day, and there are ample other locations throughout the area to get vaccinated as well (such as pharmacies).
The “Go Providence Pass” program will provide $100 rewards cards to guests who book and stay at participating Providence hotels. The rewards cards can be used at approximately 80 participating businesses. The full list of participating hotels and businesses can be found here.
Provincetown coronavirus cluster: Boston residents who visited Cape town should get tested and avoid groups – masks are now required, regardless of vaccination status.
Melgi’s Diner in Narragansett has credited outdoor dining with saving their business – having posted the best sales figures in their history.
24 residents & 9 staff have tested positive at a nursing home on Cape Cod – all have either very mild symptoms or none at all – all had been vaccinated.
Dr. Michael Fine former director of the RI Department of Health says: duration of vaccine protection could be as low as 6 months – anybody who is not vaccinated should do so as soon as possible – children and all staff in schools should wear a mask at all times – and we should all wear a mask when at indoor gatherings, regardless of vaccination status.
Nantucket is recommending wearing masks at indoor facilities where groups are regardless of vaccination status.
Both Gov. Baker (MA) and Gov. McKee (RI) expect no big changes in masks, etc. due to the relatively high vaccination rate in our states.
RI courts will resume in-person schedules in September. As of now, fully vaccinated people will not have to wear a mask in courtrooms, unless that particular judge requires it. Plexiglass and cleaning protocols will continue until the end of 2021.
Edaville Railroad spokesperson: “We will be opening for our Christmas Festival of Lights this fall, and if we are able to open sooner, we will.”
Paquette’s Family Restaurant in EP has closed noting pandemic causes and lack of employees.
Governor Dan McKee extended allowing restaurants to continue to use COVID-19 modifications, including outdoor dining. The legislation imposes a moratorium on the enforcement of any municipal ordinance or zoning requirement that penalizes owners for those modifications. The moratorium will be effective until April 1, 2022.
Patriots co-offensive line coach Cole Popovich will leave the Patriots this season due to the NFL’s guidelines related to the COVID-19 vaccine. All team Tier one employees are required to be vaccinated.
Some local school districts are asking for the state to determine a statewide school mask policy in Rhode Island
Patriots training camp – will open – no autographs and signings due to COVID – a mobile vaccination clinic will run Thurs-Sun, with Pfizer vaccine, $25 voucher for concession use and free admission into the Hall of Fame exhibit.
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
CDC: Even vaccinated people should wear masks indoors if they are in high-risk areas (50 or more infections per 100,000 in last 7 days – including more than 60% of counties in the US). Nearest RI is Bristol County, MA. In MA, 5 counties are impacted – Barnstable, Suffolk, Bristol, Nantucket, and Dukes. Masks should also be worn for all students, staff, faculty in schools in fall. Dr. Fauci said this advice has changed because the virus changed. Solution is, Fauci says, to get vaccinated.
The Office of Veterans Affairs is the first federal office to require all of its healthcare workers to be fully vaccinated.
Moderna’s new research study on vaccines in children younger than 12 is underway and the FDA has asked the companies to include 3,000 children in the 5-to-11 year old age group … double the original number of study participants envisioned.
Approx 100 members of the USA Team at the Olympics have not been vaccinated.
California has recommended masks for all K-12 schools for fall.
In NYC, all city employees must get vaccinated or take weekly COVID tests.
Long COVID and brain fog are now covered under the American with Disabilities Act.
Florida tops nation in new cases.
As cases surge in hospitals, elective surgeries and procedures are being rescheduled.
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine could become the second shot okayed for adolescent use in the European Union after regulators on Friday recommended approving it for 12- to 17-year-olds
Vaccination rates tick upward in states with surging Covid cases
Older workers are going back to work much slower, twice as slow, than the rest of the population.
Australia’s vaccine rollout has been “a colossal failure” because the government failed to buy enough vaccines so its borders are therefore likely to remain closed until at least early 2022, former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told the BBC.
New York will require its roughly 340,000 city workers to be vaccinated by mid-September or face weekly testing.
California is mandating vaccinations for all state workers.
The long-distance relationship phenomenon done because of work may turn over to the long-distance work relationship done to be with one we love.
The Department of Veterans Affairs issued vaccination mandates for medical workers.
Preliminary findings from the v-safe study published last April in the New England Journal of Medicine showed no difference in rates of pre-term births, underweight newborns or stillbirths among women receiving the vaccine compared to pre-pandemic rates.
In some communities with a heavy Latino population, Latino get-out-the-vote group goes door to door, shifting focus to Covid vaccinations
Medal-winners can remove their masks for 30 seconds for photo taking at the Olympics
Michigan is recommending everyone wear masks indoors.
A national survey of unvaccinated Americans shows that nearly 80% say they will not get vaccinated.
Israel is giving booster shots (Pfizer) to immunocompromised residents. They may soon give them for seniors over 65.
Pandemic restrictions on Florida-based cruise ships are no longer in place under a ruling Friday by a federal appeals court, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention seeks to fight a Florida lawsuit challenging the regulations.
Florida, Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota have moved to weekly COVID statistics reporting instead of daily
Israel states that there is a 42% decrease in vaccine protection from COVID infections and up to 60% from severe illness among vaccinated. protection from coronavirus infections among vaccinated people decreased by 42% since the start of the inoculation drive in Israel.
LA is reopening its hospital COVID units.
4 states AR, FL, NV, LA – are the majority of COVID cases as virus spreads
Only ½ of FEMA requests for burial reimbursements have been approved.
NFL saying if COVID outbreaks among unvaccinated teams/players sanctions against being paid, possibly forfeiting games may ensue
92% of people who have recently died had been unvaccinated.
China rejects WHO proposal to return to Wuhan to investigate COVID origins
Atlanta announced it will require masks for all in-schools in the fall
Two doses of Pfizer, AstraZeneca shots effective against Delta variant: study
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will discuss whether immunocompromised people need a third shot to better protect themselves from COVID-19, since the vaccines may not work as well for them.
People with weaker immune systems still have to figure out how to navigate a return to in-person work and other activities, but they have limited information.
El Paso, TX has seen 6 deaths – among fully vaccinated people
Vegas workers will put masks back on, but tourists won’t have to under new rules
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been studied and determined to be less effective – with a booster shot being needed – this study has not been verified but results were released early
NYC requires all 42,000 healthcare workers of public hospitals to get vaccinated or have a weekly COVID test – 1 in 4 are not presently vaccinated.
Pierce Brosnan tested positive for COVID and had significant symptoms but is now recovered
The AHA, which represents nearly 5,000 hospitals and health systems, joins dozens of providers and several associations that have also backed vaccine mandates for healthcare workers.
Nationally, Lagging vaccination rates among nursing home staff are being linked to a national increase in COVID-19 infections and deaths at senior facilities.
McDonald’s offers emergency childcare, tuition assistance to win back employees
Russia’s total COVID-19 cases pass 6 million
Reuter’s reporting that U.S. states ending federal unemployment benefit saw no clear job gains.
83% of COVID infections are of the Delta strain
Pasadena, CA must wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status. Also, the city is requiring all of its employees to be vaccinated.
2 aides of Nancy Pelosi and a White House staffer have tested positive who were with the Democratic delegation from Texas
RWJ Barnabas Health System, in New Jersey, fired six supervisory employees who did not get the COVID vaccine by their June 30 deadline.
South Carolina State University forgives loans of 2,500 former students
Jen Psaki says there have been prior breakthrough Covid-19 cases among White House staff