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Your Coronavirus Update Today – June 16, 2020
Photo: AP, RI State House plexiglass petitions being installed – the blue covering peels off from the clear coated surface.
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
60 private schools, 49 of them Catholic, have permanently closed since the pandemic, displacing more than 8,100 students
United Airlines and others are putting people on a warning list if they refuse to wear masks while flying.
CVS will begin delivering basic items via Doordash, not just medications.
Health care workers across the country are still facing major shortages of personal protective equipment, or PPE, including crucial equipment such as masks, gowns, gloves and N95 respirators.
Florida on Friday set another record for new cases of COVID-19 with 1,902 cases – the second day in a row.
States that had committed to using contact tracing apps or expressed interest are now backing away from those claims. The few states that have rolled them out have seen only tepid responses. And there are no indications of any momentum for the apps at a national level. Read the full story here. “The proposed apps were the result of a frenzy of activity among technologists searching for a way to help stem the pandemic in its earliest days.”
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster declares New State of Emergency, Lifts Restrictions on Bowling Alleys, Retail Capacity Restraints
Thousands of coronavirus patients in hospitals around the world have been treated with so-called convalescent plasma — including more than 20,000 in the U.S. — with little solid evidence so far that it makes a difference. One recent study from China was unclear while another from New York offered a hint of benefit. More research will continue.
Moderna will be the first research group to enter Phase 3 – Johnson & Johnson & Oxford Univ in England are almost there. Phase 3 is just before initial approvals could take place.
Beverly Hill, CA has banned gatherings of over 10 people after 9pm, violators will face misdemeanor charge
London stores opened today to a large turnout of shoppers.
Venice opens its doors to tourists as Italy relaxes lockdown restrictions
Oregon has stopped its reopening due to spikes in hospitalizations and cases
New York Gov. Cuomo said he would reverse the reopening process for individual parts of the state if they do not abide by social distancing practices, citing thousands of complaints in Manhattan and the Hamptons. “I am warning today in a nice way: consequences of your actions…we have 25,000 complaints statewide. I’m not going to turn a blind eye to them. They are rampant and there’s not enough enforcement.”
300,000+ claims for unemployment were filed by those suffering permanent job lost – closed companies, etc.
Europe is opening borders to fellow Europeans, though tourists from the U.S., Asia, Latin America and the Middle East will just have to wait for now
New Jersey halts Asbury Park indoor dining plan – citing evidence that “overwhelmingly coronavirus is more lethal inside than it is outside”
Gyms opened Monday in New Hampshire
Of the 250 New York inmates released due to coronavirus concerns, 450 rearrests have been made..
American Girl has released a “first responder” doll, complete with scrubs and facemask – every purchase will result in a book going to children.
Public libraries are quarantining returned books before putting them back on shelves.
In the United States, bicycle aisles at mass merchandisers like Walmart and Target have been swept clean, and independent shops are doing a brisk business and are selling out of affordable “family” bikes. Bicycle sales over the past two months saw their biggest spike in the U.S. since the oil crisis of the 1970s,
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Connecticut is allowing nursing homes to let some residents meet with loved ones outside, wearing a mask and adhering to social distancing
Discover Newport says that Destinations North America, a provider of services to cruise ships canceled all reservations for the entire season.
Tiverton Farmers Market opens June 16th at Sandywoods Center for the Arts
Massachusetts’ two state-run soldiers’ homes are resuming visits this week after being hotspots for the new coronavirus. The Chelsea Soldiers’ Home will begin allowing visits outdoors starting Monday while the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home will begin allowing them Tuesday.
The RI Legislature will go back to work this week – complete with new rules, plexiglass partitions between stations in the chamber, etc. The State House is still closed to the public.
Pawtucket will save $500K utilizing the temporary layoff program of the federal WorkShare Program with more than 150 dedicated employees who voluntarily signed up.
NBC10 reports that 23 out of 81 nursing homes with high outbreak numbers had infection control complaints at the RIDOH.
4-5 Dunkin’ Donut stores in RI to close – 3 in downtown Providence
Massachusetts death toll has risen by 23 to 7,647 and that the number of people testing positive for the virus had climbed by 87 to 105,690 – 50 test sites have been set up.
The RI Blood Center will offer antibody testing at plasma donating locations.
RIDE Commissioner Infante-Green acknowledges the need for plans to address parents who do not want to send their children back to school out of safety concerns, as well as teachers who do not feel safe to return.
Roger Williams University has plans to start in the fall, with a combination of in-class and online learning, shorter semesters, some eliminated holidays, smaller class size, larger rooms, and with a reserved dorm for any possible coronavirus outbreaks. Over 200 have expressed interest in living on campus, though applications are down, overall, by 5%.
City of Providence training: The City will host a series of workshops for small businesses:
- Salon & Barbershop Owners: On Tuesday, June 16, representatives from 11 a.m. to 12 pm for a virtual workshop.
- Restaurant Owners: On Wednesday, June 17 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. we will again gather for a second virtual workshop— Reopening your Restaurant: How to Survive and Thrive— for restaurant owners and employees.
During the interactive workshops, participants will have the opportunity learn about city and state guidelines designed to best ensure the safety and health of their establishments, staff and clients. After a brief presentation, participants will be able to ask questions and share their reopening experiences. While the workshops are free, registration is required. For our Spanish-speaking attendees, simultaneous interpreting is available. To register and to submit questions in advance, click here.
RI Governor’s Address
Data:
Deaths: 6 plus weekend totals of 7 on Saturday and 5 on Sunday = 18
Age breakdown: 8 in 80s, 1 in 40s, 3 in 50s, 1 in 60s, 2 in 70s, 3 in 90s.
# of cases – 32 – lowest number yet; 73 new cases on Sat; 46 new on Sun.
Last week there was a pediatric death, but in a young person with extensive underlying conditions.
Rhode Island is in a good place because of the people of RI who have done with what they were asked to do.
Other states are starting to see a surge. We don’t want to be them.
Weekend:
Beaches almost reached capacity. Good job for social distancing. People used phone ordering from concessions so there was no standing in line at the pavilion. Had to close Lincoln Woods and Colt State at capacity, but people were patient and understanding. Some large groups were dispersed. Voluntary compliance approach. We do need to do a better job of mask wearing.
Block Island Ferry was too crowded, very few wearing masks. BI Ferry was doing their best, ran extra ferry, made announcements, etc. Patrons – do a better job. Keep your masks on. We do not want an outbreak on Block Island.
Restaurants: 150 inspectors at restaurants. Excellent results. Only 80% of restaurants had their COVID19 plans posted – you will be asked for it if an inspector comes in. There will be consequences, so go to CommerceRI and fill yours out.
Testing: Asymptomatic testing – going too slow – only about 250 signed up. If you were at any protest, please go get tested. It’s free.
Summer, Camp, School: Goal is to return in-person to school, starting 8/31. Summer learning, by and large, went very well. Harder to do well the longer it went on. Parents had a hard time teaching, juggling own jobs, etc. Created a lot of stress and anxiety. Summer plans: Starting 6/29: in-person summer camp in RI – reopeningRI.com. Many programs are opening this summer. Some sleep overnight options. $7 ½ million to support summer camps. Continual virtual learning this summer. Kids can keep their Chrome books, most likely – district decides. SAIL courses is a temporary program to enhance education through the summer – fun, educational opportunities through summer. Go to www.RIDE.com and look into it today. COVID response youth summer employment program also to start.
Graduation: Last night at 7pm on RIPBS. Virtual concert right after that.
Father’s Day Weekend: If dad is sick or in a nursing home or has an underlying health condition, please use extreme caution. Gathering limit is still 15 or less. No in-person visits through Phase 2 at nursing homes. Some facilities might do drive-up visits. You’d have to make an appointment to see loved one – you have to stay in your car. Not all facilities are going to be able to do this – call them if you are interested.
Downtown Providence: Stores are still boarded up – Governor’s reaction – can’t tell businesses what to do if they are afraid – encourage them to open, take the boards down, open up your businesses, feel secure, we can’t live in fear. “Let’s get out there”.
State is not tracking those coming in for asymptomatic testing from protests.
Governor says the federal government should “do the right thing” and help out RI and the states. We should know in 4 weeks.
Nursing Homes: As members of Rhode Island’s most vulnerable population continue to die at alarmingly high rates from the pandemic, new evidence and a second whistle-blower have emerged, pointing to potential negligent management and a lack of oversight by Department Of Health over the state’s senior care and congregate living facilities.
Claiming that a dozen-and-a-half complaints about the care of residents at the RI Veterans Home have gone unanswered a by government officials, the local head of a federally chartered veterans organization has raised new and serious questions as a whistle-blower in his interview on In The Dugout with Mike Stenhouse, a video show by the RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity.