Subscribe!
Your Coronavirus Update – Today, June 9, 2020
Photo: Wedding memories. First it was coronavirus, then it was racial protests… Prohibited from a large wedding because of the virus, the couple was to marry in the courtyard, but the protests were right at the doorstep – they married to the chants of “Black Lives Matter, Black Love Matters”.
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
The global death count from COVID-19 surpassed 400,000 on Sunday, according to Johns Hopkins University
Beaches are open in New Hampshire
California will allow film and television shoots to resume as soon as June 12
Connecticut is moving up the second phase of reopening many businesses and activities by three days so the changes don’t conflict with Father’s Day weekend, so it starts on June 17th.
Univ. of Alabama football players acknowledges they were positive for coronavirus, but symptomatic, and exercised cautions when marching in BLM events this weekend.
13 high school students test positive after unsanctioned prom in Texas
HOV Lane Reopens For Monday Morning Commute in the Boston area.
New Zealand declares itself virus free.
CDC is estimating 3,000 cases a day could be the uptick resulting from demonstrations in the country,
Dunkin’ plans to hire 25,000 workers as restaurant industry begins pandemic recovery
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Connecticut to review COVID-19 response in nursing homes, assisted living facilities
Elder care facilities in Massachusetts will have to make daily reports on their COVID-19 cases and a new task force will be formed to recommend ways to address health disparities during the pandemic.
Newport Polo received the official go ahead to open their Season 29 of the Newport International Polo Series on Saturday, June 6th on schedule.
Army-Navy Surplus Store in Newport closes after 83 years.
Ron’s Pastry Gourmet will continue to give out free coffee to police, fire and military
Spirito’s Restaurant in Providence are also offering a discount to first responders.
Allie’s Donuts doubles down to reinforce their position “to take away the privilege for ‘some’ people to be equal for all people”.
Rhode Island Comic Con will not be held this year but it will be held twice in 2021 – June 18-20 and November 5-7. Tickets and artist spaces already purchased for this year’s event will be honored on the new dates: June 18 to 20, 2021.
RI Data
Deaths: 10 and 27 from weekend. = 37.
2 in 60s, 7 in 70s, 9 in 80s, 8, in 90s, 1 over 100
Community cases have been updated – first time since late May:
Providence: 5,307
Pawtucket: 1,467
Cranston: 909
Central Falls: 843
North Providence: 718
East Providence: 699
Woonsocket: 596
Warwick: 578
Johnston: 414
Cumberland: 274
Smithfield: 258
West Warwick: 257
North Kingstown: 230
Coventry: 179
Lincoln: 173
Bristol: 121
North Smithfield: 103
Burrillville: 97
South Kingstown: 94
Tiverton: 84
East Greenwich: 71
Newport: 71
Warren: 63
Westerly: 53
Barrington: 47
Portsmouth: 47
Glocester: 43
Middletown: 42
Narragansett: 41
Exeter: 38
Scituate: 38
Richmond: 26
Foster: 20
West Greenwich: 20
Charlestown: 18
Little Compton: 13
Hopkinton: 13
Jamestown: 12
New Shoreham: 5 or fewer
Governor’s address:
“More good news in the data – only 51 new cases by Monday
15% of RI has been tested – RI has highest rate per capita of any state in US – 5% is average
Crush Covid RI – new update can be downloaded – version 1.5 – version 2 is coming in a few weeks. Has improvements; easier to use; location diary improved – especially improved for Android phone. 46,000 downloads – goal of 50,000 by the end of the week. MUST download new versions when they come out.
RI’s 3 part testing strategy – test those with symptoms, rapid testing, being on site of an outbreak.
New aggressive effort starting today to test asymptomatic people – tests are not as accurate – still “somewhat” accurate.
Continue to test employees of nursing homes, ACI, first responders, etc. This is our early warning system.
Starting today, close contact workers can schedule free test at RINGuard sites (nail techs, hairstylists, etc…). Go to portal.ri.gov to arrange for your test. Will ramp up to students (adult), manufacturers, retail outlets, etc…just about everybody.
Going to emphasize dense communities and communities of color.
Demonstrations – we’ve had 20,000 people come out over the last few days. Thanks the police and National Guard for professionalism and restraint. Proud of nearly 100 employees from state who worked the event as volunteers. Night ended peacefully.
If you were at the demonstration, please take extra caution not to be around older people, those who are sick, etc. Encouraging anyone who attended to schedule a test. Gov, husband, and others will all get tested later this week.
Questions:
Not wearing a mask, and asking for hand-holding. Brian Crandall asked question – rules was there to keep us all healthy – I am extremely careful. This was an emergency. Not an excuse for what happened. No one with you had on a mask – Governor chuckles over question, “shouldn’t you have a mask with you at all times?” Col. Called her suggested her presence could make a difference. I was there for only a few minutes. We can all be better.
Hummel question: Told about a small wedding on Block Island – CommerceRI said no, you can’t do this – interpreted as gathering – they have 100 people coming, on 8 acres. Tables of 10-15. Gov says “get me the information”.
Weddings: beyond being in a place of worship, events should abide by 15 guidelines. July will expand. The wedding is probably ok to go ahead. Then they look at 10,000 people gathering and that is ok – why is Commerce involved with this?
Would you support a local city or town that wanted to defund police? That’s their prerogative, she would not want to see that – if you as her about RI State Police, the answer is no. That’s not the answer.
FBI is looking at finding those who destroyed Providence buildings.
Protests were in clear violation of the gathering rules. We didn’t want violence. Don’t think it’s good to compare a wedding to this in terms of rules.
What happens if we don’t see a surge after the protests? If not a spike, it will be reassuring that masks work.
Governor’s press release:
As part of the Early Warning Testing System, specific groups of high-contact workers who are asymptomatic can now be tested at no cost at a Rhode Island National Guard testing site (located at Community College of Rhode Island or Rhode Island College). To schedule a test, someone who is in one of these groups can go to portal.ri.gov. Alternatively, people can call RIDOH at 401-222-8022 to schedule a test. The asymptomatic workers who can schedule tests are:
- Hair professionals
- Nail artists
- Gym employees
- Tattoo artists
- Massage therapists
- Child care workers
In addition to people in these groups, any Rhode Islander who attended a large protest or demonstration this weekend can (and should) get tested, even if they do not have symptoms. People who attended a large protest or demonstration can schedule a test by going to portal.ri.gov or calling 401-222-8022.
The Early Warning Testing System is the third of three facets to Rhode Island’s approach to testing. The first facet is Symptomatic Testing. Anyone with symptoms in Rhode Island can get tested, regardless of their profession or work situation. The second facet of Rhode Island’s approach to testing is Outbreak Rapid Response. This entails using testing as a tool to respond within hours of multiple cases discovered in places like congregate care settings, workplaces, and other high-density areas.