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Your Coronavirus Update – Today, July 9, 2020
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Ivy League University Athletic Programs have canceled ALL fall sports programs at their schools, including: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton and Yale.
Nationally, press conferences are being held at many levels encouraging, mandating, and insisting that all schools need to reopen in the fall with in-school learning. Changes in distancing, cleaning, food service, etc. are extensive.
500,000 people have moved out of New York city areas with millions more expected to, moving to more rural, less dense living to raise their families. 2.7 million young people moved back in with parents and grandparents in March & April, especially with remote working.
Maine has launched “Let’s Be Kind” campaign after squabbles over mask use.
A Maryland nursing home is facing a $70,000 fine for not properly isolating newly admitted residents during two weeks in May to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Laboratory testing shows Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist are effective against the virus: (https://www.theepochtimes.com/2-lysol-products-kill-ccp-virus-on-surfaces-epa_3415461.html?utm_source=CCPVirusNewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2020-07-08)
Carnival Cruises cancels production of new cruise ship, and cancels 30 cruises
15 states are being identified as destinations for visitors to quarantine – Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.
Connecticut reporting no new cases, but is foregoing for the forseeable future bars and entertainment venues and 3rd phase openings.
MIT inviting only seniors back this fall, won’t raise tuition..
Kanye West said he had COVID19 in February
Levi’s will cut 15% of their workforce – based in San Francisco
Brooks Brothers, after closing many stores, will now go into bankruptcy
The New England Aquarium will open July 16, with accommodations for safety
Hess terminated their relationship with Dunkin’ Donuts so Speedway gas stations will no longer have DD shops in them – over 450 will be lost.
OSHA is reported to be receiving a staggering number of complaints from employees going back to work. Over 200 from southern New England.
Walgreens will open “doctor’s offices” in some of their stores.
Princeton will bring in residential freshmen and juniors in August, then ask them to leave campus in the spring as sophomores and seniors are allowed in. Both Princeton and Harvard will offer all classes remotely.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals on Monday announced initiation of “late-stage clinical trials” – Phase 3 – for its cocktail for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19.
The annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina will be limited to 1,000, with no foreign pilgrims. Face masks will be mandatory, and touching or kissing the Kaaba, is banned. Normally, over 2 million pilgrims visit Hajj for the weeklong ritual.
Foreign students here to live on US campuses will have to transfer to another college or return to their country if their college goes to online learning, only.
The Chief of Police in Salem will leave after 33 years and become head of security for the Peabody Essex Museum.
In the month between February and March this year, 300,000 new patients received hydroxycholoroquine from retail pharmacies in the U.S. states with the highest Covid-19 cases also had the highest dispensing rates of the drug.
U.S. colleges face a steep drop in international students, especially from China, where many U.S.-bound students are now postponing plans
A Maryland-based company will receive $1.6 billion from “Operation Warp Speed,” the federal government’s official COVID-19 vaccine program, making it the largest government COVID-19 vaccine contract to date. The program also awarded a $450 million contract to Regeneron to manufacture and supply its antibody-drug.
Major U.S. movie-theater chains are suing the governor of New Jersey over the state’s plans to allow some public spaces—such as churches and malls—to reopen while continuing to bar cinemas from resuming operations
The modern college drop-off, usually an all-day occasion with family picnics, informational sessions for parents and matriculation ceremonies, will be a mostly students-only, efficiency-oriented process this year, marking the latest coronavirus casualty
The U.S. has formally withdrawn from the World Health Organization,
The American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, and the American Nurses Association sent an open letter to the American public urging them to wear masks, maintain physical distancing, and wash their hands in an effort to stop the spread of Covid-19.
U.S. medical centers have reported 5,000-plus cases of patients likely catching the coronavirus once admitted for other conditions
COVID fatalities in Connecticut for 1st time in months are zero.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced Tuesday that he tested positive
The Florida Department of Education said that all schools in the state will have to reopen campuses in August
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RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Joe Paolino, Jr. may hold on the opening of a boutique hotel in downtown Providence, the Beatrice.
UI: Unemployment claims rose by 2,000 people in RI in the last week.
PPP grants – list of RI companies receiving money, here:
Playgrounds are open for public use, with Play Ambassadors on site from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Play Ambassadors will greet visitors, remind them of social distancing guidelines, provide hand-sanitizer and masks, clean each play area twice a day, and connect families to Eat, Play, Learn PVD programs
LuxeBurger Bar Restaurant in Providence closes.
Brown University is the first academic institution to mention a plan for faculty and staff who are at high risk. They will be given the option to teach, mentor and advise students online and all employees at Brown who can work remotely will continue to do so through early fall. The university acknowledged changes may be likely, based upon what happens with the virus. Students will work on a 3-semester basis, with a 2 semester requirement. Fewer breaks will allow students to spend at least 2 semesters in Providence. Freshman will not return until the spring and then go to school through the summer. All grad students can study remotely. Read the entire plan, here: https://www.brown.edu/news/2020-07-07/healthy
Boston Duck Tours: Departures resume Monday from Prudential Center and from the aquarium on July 15
RI Health Care Association says if a bill passes in RI that requires increased care for patients in facilities, (4 hrs plus $15/hr min) many nursing homes will go out of business. This comes as the Gov challenges the industry to come up with new and better ways of caring for frail elderly.
2020 Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week postponed
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Galleries open July 15, ticket reservations
The RI Authors Expo held in December at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet will not be held this year.
Eight Massachusetts communities – Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Marlborough, and New Bedford – are seeing elevated positive test rates, averaging 8%. Testing sites are being set up in these areas. Average test rates in MA are 2%.
Mass. diocese schools will be back in the classrooms full time in the fall.
Newport Kite Festival for 2020 is canceled.
Providence College is offering a virtual rosary event every Tuesday night at 9pm via ZOOM. Participatingg will be campus ministry, the College Dominicans, and PC students. Zoom
Newport’s Secret Garden Tours have been canceled until 2021
The Aquidneck Growers Market is back up and running on Wednesdays from 2 to 6 p.m. along Memorial Boulevard in Newport.
Alex and Ani another devastating blow. An insider reports that “most” of the company’s employees have been laid off or furloughed and estimates that revenues — already dwindling when the virus struck — had dropped by approximately half in the months since. According to a jewelry industry source, the Newport, Rhode Island, outlet — the company’s first retail store — recently closed its doors for good.
RI Data
Deaths: 2 – both in 80s
Gov. says we should breathe a sigh of relief as our data is not reflecting some of the negative data around the US.
Not one of us in RI isn’t struggling in some way – those that were struggling before are doing moreso now.
Next week Gov. will talk about the “new normal” more next week and how we can come out of this even better.
4th of July Weekend – went into the weekend with a lot of concern. Beaches were busy, but never reached capacity. Passed out thousands of masks. Much better compliance this weekend. Most people were friendly and following the rules. Business inspectors checked on hundreds of restaurants and retail – vast majority were doing the right thing. Good mask wearing and good high-touch cleaning of surfaces. Over 90% compliant. Some improvements could be made: approximately 20% of restaurants not taking names, numbers of people in a party; 10% had too much mingling & crowding – we need to do better. Rest of country is having problem with bars – we should not be congregating at bars and bars should be operating like restaurants. Also – keep up with your contact tracing notebook; download the app.
Enforcement: Goal was not to be heavy handed. If we see a blatant disregard for the rules, you will be issued a compliance order or fine on the spot. 2nd offense – could be shut down or another fine. Have to demonstrate changes have been made. DBR.RI.Gov for rules/regs/fines. Lesser offenses you will get a warning – 2nd time is compliance order or fine. Businesses who have repeated violations will be posted for public on DBR website. 7 orders will be online by tomorrow.
Complaints: Go to DBR.RI.Gov – individuals can make a complaint about a business not following the rules.
Here is the list of businesses not in compliance presently – you can read further, including the violation write up at: https://dbr.ri.gov/decisions/decisions_task_force.php
Testing: Tourists coming here, we have rules in RI, follow the rules. Coming here from outside the US, you must quarantine for 14 days. Coming here from 28 states with 5% positive rate or more, also quarantine. However, you can also get a test and if it is negative – 72 hours before coming here, with proof – or testing here in RI, and quarantined until test results are in. Testing will have to be paid for out of pocket – 10 sites – you have to pay $100 per test. 10 clinics at health.ri.gov/covid. If you are a RI resident and you go to one of these states, you can come back and get a free test.
Visitation: Nursing homes & assisted living centers with precautions in place, including length of visit, use of PPE, pre-schedule visits, etc. Communal dining and activities have also begun.
Nursing Home residents can now have barbers & hairdressers go back in.
Visitation: Hospitals – as of today you can visit, with new guidelines. 3-tiered scheme. They can now move to Level 2 which have specific, limited hours. Screening, face coverings, no congregating at waiting rooms, gift shops; etc.
Business Money – next Wednesday Gov. will roll out plan to give more money to small businesses – DC has not been clear about sending more money, etc. Small grants for small businesses to buy supplies, etc. – just can’t commit to it until next week. Grants, not loans.
Testing results delay – question posed to Dr. Scott – can be up to a week or 4-5 days – private, commercial labs send tests out of state and other state issues are impeding our results in a timely way. Working on increasing capacity to do tests in-state.
Why take risks with nursing homes now? The data seems to bear out that it is safe to do.
Brown University – trimester plan – should other colleges do this? Up to them. They do have to submit the plan to state. Brown’s plan is innovative, robust.
URI living situation – Gov. meeting with URI president. Narragansett did a reasonable thing by limiting 3 per house rental. Going to be more students in RI commuting to school. That makes their experience different. Gov’s priority is K-12. Gov. applauds URI for their plan.
Providence Place Mall – what is the future – and economic hit to RI. Will state avoid deals like this in the future? Sect. of Commerce Pryor has been in touch with owners. Challenges to brick and mortar retail preceded COVID19. Lessons learned? Problem wasn’t sales tax deals or subsidies. What is important is that malls need to reinvent themselves to centers of entertainment, and how to deal with COVID type concerns. “Age of interior-facing malls is functionally over and we need to look at the future”.
Schools – President said he would withhold funding from states that would not open in fall. Gov. said she doesn’t agree with that way of governing.
Testing revision on charts – updates show revision from 6% to 10%? Dr. Scott will get back on this. Some communities started out in the 20s, but have now decreased. More info coming.
GOV. RAIMONDO PLANS ON MOVING TO ONCE A WEEK UPDATES – WEDNESDAYS AT 1PM
Data: RI cities/towns and numbers positive:
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