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Your Coronavirus Update – Today, June 23, 2020
Photo: Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, Director of the RI Dept. of Health, left, and collegue at the Black Women’s Lives Matter rally this past weekend, from Twitter.
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Automaker BMW says it will drop 6,000 jobs through early retirements and turnover, as the auto industry adjusts to a sharp drop in demand due to the coronavirus outbreak.
LAX first airport to use body temperature scans.
Mandatory face masks for teachers and daily temperature checks for students will become the new normal in Vermont schools this fall as state officials prepare to reopen public schools to the 75,000 students who were sent home in March due to COVID-19.
New York Yankees & Mets teams will train in New York if the season begins
Amtrak will keep some of its trains off the tracks until at least the summer of 2021 as it cuts service on most of its long-distance routes. DC to Florida run will remain.
American shoppers ramped up spending on store purchases by a record 17.7% from April to May.
Golden Globes will be held on Feb. 28
In Orlando, 152 coronavirus cases were linked to one bar near the University of Central Florida campus.
At Maryland’s Fort Washington Medical Center on the outskirts of the nation’s capital, workers described a scramble to find new beds, as numbers of people sick enough to seek hospital care is increasing rapidly.
San Quentin has 200 tested positive inmates.
Carnival Cruises cancels all cruises through September.
New York Yacht Club’s 166th annual Regatta moved to Aug. 28-30
Three members of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers have tested positive for the novel coronavirus at the team’s training facility, and the Bucs have closed affected areas of the building. The team said those areas will remain closed until extensive sanitizing is completed. All individuals who might have been exposed have been notified “and are following the established protocols, which include a 14-day quarantine period.” The team did not identify three people who tested positive.
Comic D.L. Hughley tested positive after collapsing onstage in Nashville – he was surprised as he had no symptoms.
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Tennis Hall of Fame Museum is now open again.
Brickley’s Ice Cream locations are said to be considering closing, having shut down once already experiencing customers bad behavior about not wearing masks, and refusing to practice social distancing, etc.
Lt. Gov. McKee will hold a live Facebook meeting TODAY to talk about small businesses and how to organize for effectiveness – watch at noon, here: https://www.facebook.com/LGDanMcKee/ [facebook.com]
Here is list of past meetings held by Lt. Gov. McKee: http://www.thayerstreetdistrict.com/lt-governor-previous-covid-19-small-business-conference-calls.html [thayerstreetdistrict.com]
The Block Island Ferry captain says it is very difficult to enforce the face mask rule and this continues to be a problem.
The Center for Women and Enterprise is holding a free resume writing workshop, Thursday at 5pm, here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3181635214431139339
29th annual Block Island Race Week rescheduled for June, 2021
Textron to lay off 6% of their workers
Delta Dental gives $1M to dentists for PPE
The Massachusetts Restaurant Assoc estimates as many as a quarter of restaurants will close permanently
Salve Regina University to open Sept. 8th, with “de-densifying of dorms” and safer bathrooms, etc.
The Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States is raising funds for providing meals for elders – you can donate/sponsor this program at: https://www.palcus.org/sponsorameal?utm_source=June+Newsletter+2020&utm_campaign=December+LUSUS%2C+2019&utm_medium=email The group is also involved in sending cards and messages of support, meal sponsoring, donating a device to enable video chats, and delivering activity sheets to the elderly.
Pawtucket & Central Falls announce big expansion of testing in the areas – hotline 855-843-7620 for multi-lingual information, testing sites, etc.
Boston Red Sox says if they return to practice, it will be in Boston
RIPTA expected to lose over $80Million
RI Data
5 additional deaths, 9 deaths total for weekend: 2 in 50s, 1 in 70s, 2 in 80s, 3 in 90s, 1 over 100
Gov. Raimondo’s Address:
More important to practice safety measures than ever before because we are out and about more now. Also more important to keep your contact tracing notebook.
Crush Covid RI app – we are over 50,000 downloads – encourage people to download
Phase 3 – more details to come Wed & Friday – we are NOT NOW in Phase 3. Will be a week from today if all goes well. 15 or fewer people in gatherings.
Beaches & Parks: All reached capacity by mid-day Sat – 25,000; little less on Sunday. RIDEM did have to break up large groups – 15 people together is max. Also please bring your mask for times when you can’t distance from someone – such as at the snack bar, or the restroom. Getting dropped off at the beach is helpful. Long lines. RI will try to make changes for next weekend.
Inspectors at gyms and restaurants this weekend: went to hundreds of businesses – by and large good news – 94% of employees and 90% of customers were wearing masks.
Businesses: more companies need to submit plans – right now only 80% with plans displayed.
We R One Fund: $41,000 raised with $3Million goal of private money to help immigrants and undocumented who are not eligible for other funding/assistance programs. This will give $400 debit cards for people to use who are in need. Facilitated by Dorcas Place. Coordinated with RI Foundation. If you are worried about coming forward, hope you will consider taking advantage of program.
Housing Now campaign has over 40 rental units in process of renting – still looking for more. We need to be at 100 in the next 8 days. RI Realtors Assoc for more info or call 211. These are people who have an ability to pay. Thousands of dollars in incentives from state if you get involved.
Testing: Using a more gentle swab test – working on getting more supplies for increased testing – this will help us to increase testing. Some backlog in test results.
Cautions about Virus Fatigue: Dr. Scott talked about upticks in other states which is why we talk about social distancing, mask wearing, small groups – so we don’t replicate what we see in other states.
Central Falls/Pawtucket/Providence: Now below 20%. 8% in Central Falls. 8% in Prov. 4% in Pawtucket. What % of tests are pediatric? Extremely low percentages less than 10%.
Evictions: Gov. would prefer to use mediation process rather than ban on evictions. If medication and relief funds don’t work, Gov. is open to use stay on evictions. Also does want the legislature to pass “source of income” discrimination bill.
Church inspections: Inspectors report excellent compliance – thank you to church leaders – have had a few outbreaks where testing has had to be done. Many churches have still not opened. Outbreak is 2 or more cases from one location. Many do not know that 14 feet is the suggested guidance for those singing in church.
Contact Tracing: How effective is the program? Very effective. Working for a warm handoff from National Guard – they will be here through July.
Signatures to be on ballot: Gov. signed a bill to reduce the # of signatures needed and also approved some remote gathering of signatures. Question to Gov. that she is violating every social distancing/safe measure to gather signatures. Gov. disagrees.
A moment of solidarity…
NASCAR drivers and pit crews walk in solidarity with Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 Victory Junction Chevrolet, and the only black driver, during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR cup series.