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Your Coronavirus Update – Today, July 30, 2020
Photo: Informal socializing is identified as a problem in uptick of coronavirus in RI. Gov. Raimondo: “Your right to have a party should not infringe on others’ right to live.”
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Dr. Fauci says to get back to school you need to wear goggles, gloves, a mask and maybe a gown that can be changed after each class.
Baystate Health on Monday reported an outbreak of coronavirus infections at Baystate Medical Center affecting 23 employees and 13 patients
President Trump will make his acceptance speech in Charlotte, NC after all – though the convention will be primarily virtual.
In Lake Tahoe, NV, houses that normally take 3-4 months to sell are now selling in as little as 4 days as people flock away from urban areas.
Half of the population at San Quentin test positive; 19 have died
A man sailed solo from Portugal to Argentina for his father’s 90th birthday – having been unable to fly to him due to the virus restrictions.
After planning ways to reopen campuses this fall, colleges are increasingly changing their minds, dramatically increasing online offerings or canceling in-person classes outright.
Cruise lines are taking this down-time to update their ventilation/HVAC systems.
8 Jet Blue employees have died of COVID19 – at least 1 person was a flight attendant who died from complications after attending a training meeting.
Three staff members of a small Vermont library have resigned over plans to reopen the library.
Boston teachers demonstrated saying a return to school without massive support for protective items, testing and repairs, including air ventilation systems, would be too dangerous.
Nantucket considering restaurant closures and other measures as numbers tick up.
JetBlue is experimenting with ultraviolet light disinfecting systems.
Shopify doubled its revenue in the last quarter, as Americans switch their buying style to online.
Anthem health insurance doubled its revenue in the last quarter.
J&J-Beth Israel begins phase 2 trial of a potential vaccine.
One of the nation’s largest teachers’ unions, the American Federation of Teachers, representing 1.7 million school employees, is authorizing its members to strike if their schools plan to reopen without proper safety measures in the middle of the global pandemic.
Connecticut officials are worried about recent clusters of teens and young people in Connecticut testing positive for COVID-19.
Herman Cain has been in the hospital being treated for COVID19 for five weeks now.
The Ecotarium in Worcester has closed for the season. Staff layoffs are planned.
Rhode Island is one of four with a high number of cases of pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome, according to the CDC. The illness was first detected several months ago. As of Friday, Massachusetts had reported 44 cases, at least 35 of which have been confirmed, according to the state Department of Public Health. New York reported the highest number of cases, 240 as of Friday, and two deaths, according to health officials. New Jersey, another hot spot, has reported 55 cases. Maryland has reported 34 cases and one death.
New Hampshire to examine ventilation systems of long-term care facilities as 59 new COVID-19 cases reported
Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, tested positive for the coronavirus, forcing him to abruptly cancel his plan to travel to his home state with President Trump aboard Air Force One. He announced that his doctors have prescribed him hydroxychloroquine, zinc, and Zpack.
Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, has said that masks are now required at the House of Representatives by everyone.
Lollapalooza goes virtual – with 150 performers
The Atlantic Coast Conference reworked its football schedule Wednesday to allow each team to play 11 games and to incorporate Notre Dame,
More states are beginning to experience an uptick in positive cases and recommendations are mask mandates go into place and close bars to contain the outbreaks. Dr. Birx said the positivity rate in states such as Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Colorado was increasing and warned they should quickly take action before they fall into what she described as the “red COVID zones” category.
LA is seeing stabilizing of rates, but not a decrease. The Mayor said that no one has “the answer” to controlling the virus – people think it’s out there and wearen’t paying attention to it and doing it – he says the answer changes, but we know that density, population, and poverty are key – and that this is still in the early stages.
Six New England Patriots players have now opted out of the season.
17 Marlins players now test positive
One of Maine’s largest hospitals is reinstating strict visitor restrictions after nine staff members and a patient tested positive
Global air travel won’t recover from the Covid-19 crisis until 2024, the International Air Transport Association announced.
Boston students may get their college “dorm” experience in hotels, instead.
Massachusetts School Nurses will demonstrate about the lack of safety in going back to school.
Another resident of the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke tested positive for the coronavirus, prompting the veterans’ care facility to quarantine some residents, close communal spaces and suspend visits
Andreas Bocelli had coronavirus and has recovered; also saying he violated lockdown because he was going stir crazy at home.
Boris Johnson, Britain’s prime minister, warned of a looming “second wave” of Covid-19 across Europe
Prime minister of the German state of Bavaria, warned Corona is creeping back, and with a vengeance.
Boston Realty Advisors says as many as 8,000 American Hotels might be gone by October.
Rafael Bengoa, a former health minister for Spain, blamed the new spike on outbreaks among seasonal farm workers, who live in crowded conditions and are often reluctant to be tracked. Another factor was “the behavior of young people . . . in discotheques and bars”.
Philadelphia will start its school year completely online.
Summer travelers are being blamed for a rise in cases on Nantucket and the Vineyard
Topsfield Fair canceled for 2020
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Lou Schweichheimer, formerly with the PawSox, recently majority owner of Marlins Triple-A affiliate, the Wichita Wind Surge, passed away from COVID19 complications at the age of 62.
The movie theater at the Providence Place mall will re-open Saturday with new safety precautions, according to a statement from Showcase Cinemas.
NEW RI Restaurant violators that have been added to COVID19 inspector list: Buffalo Wild Wings, Warwick; Fairlawn Golf Course, Lincoln; O’Rourke’s Bar & Grille, Warwick; Lifestyle Nutrition, Prov; Portsmouth Public House, Portsmouth; and The Wharf Pub, Newport. Check new and resolved complaints, daily, at: https://dbr.ri.gov/decisions/decisions_task_force.php.
39 RI Catholic schools are expected to open for in-person classes, with class size adjustments. The state does not have to approve those plans, though the Diocese says they are working closely together, and following CDC recommendations. Teachers who feel uncomfortable working due to age or underlying medical condition will be dealt with on a case by case basis.
Dr. Michael Fine, coronavirus consultant to Pawtucket and Central Falls has cautioned those over 50 or in high risk groups from dining out at this time. He also said the uptick in RI is “linked to Independence Day celebrations — the United States, Cape Verde and Colombia all celebrate their independence in July, and people may have gathered in a way that’s not yet safe”.
RI Data:
Deaths: (2) – 3 day hospitalization rate: 72 – one person in 80s; one in 90s
Governor’s Address:
We continue to lose people each and every day – please follow the rules – this is not going away.
Data: Phase 3 should expire today. The data shows a slight uptick. Concerning. We want to be below 100 new courses and below 2% positive. Now trying to pinpoint what’s at the bottom of this. Deep dive into 4,000 cases. One thing is crystal clear: social gatherings are too large and people are not wearing masks. More than 25 people not wearing masks, in close contact, etc. are the problem. “Your right to have a party should not infringe on others’ right to live.” We also see ages 20-31 years old.
We cannot move forward to Phase 4 based on data. Also don’t need to go backward. We will extend Phase 3 for another 30 days. Through August 28th. Lower social gathering, indoor and outdoor, limit to 15.
Catered events – wedding, etc – 50 indoors; 100 outdoors. If over 100 call DBR and they will work with you.
Restaurant/bars – 3 options: bartender, no bar seating. Bar seating for food service, but no bartender. Plexiglass barrier between bartender and customer. NO standing service. If you are at a restaurant and you are in a line or a crowd, you should not be doing that – leave. RIDOH will be doing more inspections. Over 1/3 failed inspections. These restaurants will be published on ReopeningRI.com. Non-compliance Tipline: 401-889-5550. Consider this “almost like a last warning”. See
Schools – This is tough. Preschools and daycares are working. More than 75% of childcare system open. 1,000 teachers/staff. 8,000 kids. Over 2 months we’ve seen 12 positive kids and 15 positive staff. Only 1 outbreak in a center. This shows it is going “very well” – tomorrow 3pm on FB Live for discussion about back to school. Scheduled to open in 5 weeks. Herculean task.
59 per 100K cases in RI – Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana all over 300 per 100K. 90 countries have opened schools. It CAN be done. Advisory board put together to advise about returning to school.
1. Look at statewide data
2. Municipal readiness
3. Testing readiness
4. Supply readiness
5. Operational readiness
Week of Aug 16th – be back with more advice. Bottom line: schools are opening on Aug. 31st.
At the end of the day this will be about choice. Parents can home school; do distance learning.
Employment: Launching “Back to Work RI” – this will train you and absolutely provide you a job when completed.
Commissioner Infante-Green: We didn’t struggle in trying to figure out how to educate – we moved forward and continued to give our children an education. As an educator we know that kids do 100% better when they are in-school – but only if it is safe. Community plans should be posted on their websites as early as Friday.
New England Patriots Dante Hightower will not play this year, out of concern for his new baby and coronavirus – this brings to five the number of Patriots’ players who will not play this year.
Governor Raimondo proposed a $107Million state health lab for future needs.
Gov. says in NBC10 interview that if in two weeks we are hearing we need more time to reopen schools, we will take the time. “We’re stuck between a rock and a hard place” in decision making.
Naval Academy Preparatory School had less than 20 students test positive for COVID-19 after they arrived for the new 10-month course in Newport.
RI Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello wants to build a “rainy day fund” that is stronger, having experienced how fast it was tapped in this pandemic.
No new business violations of RI COVID19 standards since 7.22
Governor Raimondo Announces $45 Million, First-of-its-Kind Workforce Development Initiative to Get Rhode Islanders Back to Work – “Back to Work RI” will provide pathways to good jobs and critical wraparound supports, hopefully putting 5-7,000 people back to work – not “train and pray” – employers have committed ahead of time to hire…look beyond degrees and experience. https://dlt.ri.gov/backtoworkri/
Gov. Raimondo said she would consider delaying opening of schools in an interview today on Ch. 10.
Nursing home workers announce they may strike next week in RI.
Witness and notary requirement on mail ballots to be suspended this year – when Judge McElroy is expected to rule on this.
Dr. Scott – too much transmission going on particularly tied to social gatherings – bars, restaurants. Too many young people have too many contacts. 20-30 year olds and those in 30s.
Questions:
What’s science behind going from 25 to 15?
No magic number. More manageable.
What about protests?
Telling restaurants about their gatherings, but what do you tell protesters? Theory is that everyone had a mask on. When people party, no more than 15. They’ve decided that people have first amendment right to protest. Wear a mask.
Small business apps?
Will go live today. Money hoping to go out the door today.
Inspectors – are they using good investigative procedures of due process – is there appeal process?
Yes, there is an appeal process. Quick fix to complaints? Just comply.
Trends still largely older folks?
Hospitalizations slowly increasing but still on the low level. 20-39 y.o. increases are a trend. They can expose others who are at high risk.
Protests.
Certain set of numbers for weddings, gatherings, outdoors, then huge protests? We are going by nature of event. Formal – outdoors – etc. are better than informal, mingling, etc.
City by City reference: Municipal readiness a significant factor. Will we have different type of school openings city by city. Cities least able to adapt to distance learning (i.e., Central Falls) will probably need it the most?
State will look at more recent case rate in municipalities. Some may need more energy and resources than others. There is a high density support team.
School option for those who just choose not to go back?
There will be support “at least initially”, said Governor
If today were Aug 31st, would we be ready?
No – testing is not ramped up enough. Districts aren’t ready yet.
Masks
Masks will be required for all children, all teachers, all staff – all the time.
Massachusetts has mask breaks – yes, we will do this, too, in RI.
Nursing Homes
If a home gets a positive test, they immediately shut down everything – is there a directive to nursing homes?