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Your Coronavirus Update – Today, March 26, 2021
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
The Kimpton Nine Zero Hotel, a high-end property in downtown Boston, has terminated the majority of its staff, the fourth hotel in the city to terminate furloughed workers.
RIDOH has spent $4 million so far on a public health campaign this year to educate Rhode Islanders about COVID testing, treatment and vaccination options.
A “Call for Health Justice” event held in RI calls for a mass vaccination weekend for people of color.
Warwick’s Buttonwoods Annex at 3027 West Shore Rd. was closed after four employees tested positive
Showcase at Warwick Mall and Cinema 8 in South Kingstown will not reopen.
RI unemployment has risen for the month, to over 7%.
Massachusetts has asked FEMA to come in and set up a mass vaccination program to reach outskirt areas of the state.
New Hampshire Motor Speedway, aiming to deliver 8,000 doses, will hold their 2nd mass vaccination event this weekend.
A new $200 million, emergency rental assistance program that will be administered by the R.I. Housing and Mortgage Finance Corp. is expected to launch on March 31. Called RentReliefRI, the federal program is managed by the U.S. Treasury and will be aimed at tenants and landlords who have lost income during the COVID-19 pandemic. The eligibility requirements will restrict applicants to those who earned 80% or below of the area median income, and who are in danger of eviction.
Boston granted permission to delay return to full-time, in-person learning for K-8 students
High school football games will begin tonight with the popular “Friday Night Lights” – albeit a shortened season.
Update: Vendors outside of Fenway will now be ALLOWED to set up, reversing previous orders that they could not, but local restaurants could set up outside dining.
Boston Bruins opened T.D. Garden to a game – with a reduced capacity – complete with the anthem singer.
Rite-Aid is now vaccinating, but not anywhere in New England – yet.
The Providence VA is holding vaccination clinics at URI for veterans, of all ages – they will be receiving the 2-dose Pfizer vaccine.
Newport County has seen a bit of a bump in COVID cases recently.
The Newport Flower Show is being planned for June, without official approval, but expecting it. It is set for 6/18-20 at Rosecliff.
Undergraduate tuition at Brown University will jump from $59,254 to $60,944, a 2.85% increase from 2020-2021. With room and board and fees included, the price jumps to $78,668 for undergraduates. Noteworthy is that most Brown students do not pay the full tuition.
The New Bedford Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, a Portuguese festival in July/August is not official “on” for this summer, but in the planning stage.
JWU will start in-person sessions in the fall, following virtual summer classes.
CommerceRI will once again hire a Director of Tourism and is hiring a search firm to find one
Massachusetts COVID-19 call center has cost state at least $4.2 million
MA A.G. Maura Healey Sees Vaccines as Mandatory for Correction Officers and State Police
Homebound Rhode Islanders will begin receiving their vaccine on 3/29.
Governor Charlie Baker said Thursday that Massachusetts is expecting added COVID-19 vaccine supply from the federal government next week, and that the state’s allocating $100 million for virus response efforts in four hard-hit communities.
The Newport Gulls are planning to play this spring/summer in Newport
University of Rhode Island has begun testing Greek life members weekly because of the high number of COVID-19 cases
Governor McKee’s update:
Massachusetts now rates RI a B – moving from an F at vaccination progress.
500K shots in RI given – capacity of 100K per week
More shots are coming to RI – it will continue to increase.
Eligibility timeline will gradually open up by age groups, ahead of 4/19.
2 new mass sites for vaccinations – So. Country, at Schneider Electric will open Saturday. 400 doses – Woonsocket old’ Sears building will open Sunday, 400 doses – appts in usual way.
Local business changes coming – will keep line of communications open.
Childcare provider grants available – $20M in support starting in April. Grants from $3K to $50K – kids.ri.gov
Gov & wife rec’d 2nd shot at Dunk – did well, no side effects – system very smooth.
Dr. Scott:
TY to data and analytics team
Reviewed numbers – average of week is 113 – down 86% from peak
There is some strength of variants in RI
New registration system will open to different age groups – moving to 50-59, then 40-49 – by April 19th – 16-39 – it will probably be a week or two before each group will get an appointment, as they are eligible.
Narrow disparities with vaccinations – high rates in all communities, especially with case rates and hospitalization rates are higher – communities of color focus.
Gov. Equity Council has been very helpful in reaching diverse audiences.
Will do more work with community partners.
Registration process being improved – changing system to be more streamlined.
Tom McCarthy:
Much more vaccine is coming. Westerly, EP and Johnston sites coming up soon.
We are building a pre-registration system where you will go on portal.ri.gov – you will get notified when an appt will be available for you – operational 4/4. If you don’t want to use it you can use the system as it is or go to pharmacy partners. This is one more option, and not required.
Stefan Pryor:
Business changes effective Friday – today:
Restaurants/catered events – increase outdoors per seat table – from 8 to 10.
Restaurants, food courts – self-service seating may resume. – Still have to clean between seatings, etc.
Gyms, fitness centers – can open shower facilities
Cleaning log requirement – no longer required.
Q&A:
Q: RI General Assembly can’t convene, but are in full session – why is this EO still in place?
A: we still have challenges with the vaccine
Q: this is not a monarchy
A: Gov. is meeting with them for review
Q: Micro-managing? 8 to 10 seats per table, etc. Following the science? How do we arrive at these details?
A: Dr. Scott – we understand the science. Risk for transmission is higher with variants, etc. Incremental steps are to make sure that we do this carefully.
Q: How many people have now been vaccinated?
A: 45% of next eligibility group has been vaccinated – going for 70% to open up next group.
Q: Will registration go smoother?
A: It should take 1-2 weeks to access, but we hope to get better.
Q: How is hesitancy in communities that have opened up to much younger group?
A: This is our high-density strategy – people of color – our model is Central Falls. When access is addressed the rates of vaccination can even surpass what vaccination success is happening elsewhere. We also want to build vaccine confidence.
Q: Waiting room function on the registration system?
A: Deprioritized the waiting room – we no longer need it right now
Q: New mass sites – hours?
A: Johnston, EP and Westerly – still waiting on supply to determine hours – should be 2 days per week; So. Co & Woon, 1 day a week, 2-6pm for right now.
Q: Expectation of vaccine increase for next week?
A: Beginning to see our ability to order increase – and reassurances from federal govt.
Q: Homebound Rhode Islanders?
A: 2,000 homebound on the list – began vaccinating – done about 15%
Q: What % of teachers have been vaccinated? Hesitancy?
A: 80% is good; important that everyone is confident.
Q: Testing – is it going down?
A: No – we are pushing people to get tested every week
Q: Mutations? Double mutation from India, etc…
A: We have a variant response strategy team in RI. Key is messaging. Variants are 50%+ more contagious.
Q: Will you have a weekly press conference after COVID
A: Hope to have a weekly non-covid press event
Q: BCBSRI reversed their decision to not cover certain COVID things
A: The Gov reached out to BCBS – they got ahead of themselves – happy that they changed their mind.
Q: MA restaurants are at 100% – RI?
A: We are at 75%, with lessened restrictions more liberal than MA. We’ll continue to review.
Q: Where are we on spectators on high school and college sports?
A: College level we support their authorities; K-12 with RIISL and Janet Coit spectators in limited numbers are now allowed. Graduations are still being worked on.
Q: Board members issue at Lifespan
A: Dr. Scott – hospital vaccinations were encouraged, but RIDOH didn’t expect them to vaccinate their board members. Once we learned, we asked the hospitals to redirect to others.
COVID-19 Compliance Orders
| Business Name | Address | Action Taken | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Duke Kitchen and Spirits | 1839 Smith St., North Providence | Partial Immediate Compliance Order | 3/16/2021 |
| XTremo Restaurant and Bar | 897 Eddy St., Providence | Compliance Order | 3/16/2021 |
| McT’s Tavern | 940 Mendon Rd., Cumberland | Citation Compliance Order | 3/15/2021 3/16/2021 |
Who can get vaccinated next?
Today’s Data – March 25, 2021
Deaths: 1
Tests – 20,634 – Positives – 441 – Percent positive – 2.1%
Hospitalized – 110 – In ICU – 18 – Ventilated – 11
Deaths in hospital – 0 – New Admissions – 13 – New Discharges -18
Vaccinated – 312,150; Both shots – 187,694
Today’s Data – March 24, 2021
Deaths: 0
Tests – 134,807 – Positives – 399 – Percent positive – 2.3%
Hospitalized – 112 – In ICU – 16 – Ventilated – 12
Deaths in hospital – 0 – New Admissions – 10 – New Discharges -24
Vaccinated – 308,663; Both shots – 181,128
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
The US has passed 30 million cases – more than any other nation in the world.
Capitalism and greed gave Britain its success in vaccinating its population, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told lawmakers
The CDC recommends against painkillers before a COVID-19 shot. It says they can be taken afterward for symptoms if you have no other medical conditions. They might curb the very immune system response that a vaccine aims to spur. Ibuprofen or other pain killers recommended by a doctor after the vaccine are possible.
Mexico to speed up vaccine rollout, fearing risk of new COVID-19 wave
Miller Lite is selling 3 candles that smell like a “night out at a bar” – for those who miss the entertainment and bar scene. The scents are “Dive Bar”, “Game Day”, and “Beer Garden”, and proceeds will go to the hospitality industry. All three candles promise 50 hours of burn time, so you can revisit the scents of your favorite venue over and over again. Preorders are expected to ship at the end of April. Go to: https://shop.millerlite.com/
Kamala Harris will meet with Bill Clinton on Friday to talk about the impact of COVID-19 on women, and empowering women and girls in the U.S. and around the world as part of a Clinton Global Initiative event.
New York is offering a Public Health training program for any Rhode Islander to receive training as a public health advocate – doing this in conjunction with Cornell University.
India is detecting a novel virus variant.
New Jersey: There should be no option for remote learning, with all students in person, when the school year starts in September.
Gun sales in Eastern Connecticut have risen amid the pandemic and are poised to spike even further amid a renewed national conversation about gun control.
In North Carolina, All residents 16 and up will qualify for a COVID-19 vaccine April 7.
In Delaware, officials will use the Sussex County Mobile Library to vaccinate people in hard-to-reach and underserved communities.
New York City will vaccinate theatre workers in hopes of a return to Broadway and theatre, later this year.
Community health centers across the country will receive more than $6 billion from the federal government to expand access toCOVID-19 vaccines, testing and treatment for vulnerable populations
Around the world, public transportation is being shunned in favor of driving, walking, biking, due to virus concern, which raises a new concern about climate change.
Pope orders salary cuts for cardinals, clerics, to save jobs of employees.
Florida will open vaccinations to anyone over 18 on April 5th.
Fully vaccinated people can visit unvaccinated family and friends, but one household at a time »
The two-antibody combo drug, called REGEN-COV, cut the risk of hospitalization or death by 70%, and also reduced the median recovery time from 14 days to 10. “This is a landmark moment in the fight against COVID-19
Texas will open COVID-19 vaccinations to all adults beginning Monday, two weeks after expanding vaccine eligibility to those 50 and older. Under the expanded eligibility, Texans 16 and older can receive a vaccine.
Some AFLAC policies are paying you $60 when you get a COVID-19 vaccination.
Many large retailers are abandoning malls in favor of free-standing stores – a post-pandemic impact on the retail format across the country.
3 Fully Vaccinated Hawaii Residents Test Positive for COVID-19
All Georgia residents 16+ can now be vaccinated.
Dr. Vivek Murthy is the new Surgeon General. He says ending the coronavirus pandemic is his top priority.
Uber is making a bigger investment into healthcare with plans to expand its prescription medication delivery service that started last August.
Fox News/FBN producer Eric Spinato passed away over the weekend from complications related to the coronavirus.
An antibody cocktail from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals significantly reduced the rate of Covid-19 hospitalization or death in a large clinical trial
The United Arab Emirates urged all citizens and residents aged 16 and above to register for COVID-19 vaccinations from Sunday as the Gulf state widens its immunization drive
US Unemployment has fallen to its lowest levels in a year.
The White House Easter Egg Roll, the annual spring event organized by the first lady’s office, has been canceled for the second year in a row because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Southwest Airlines has resumed its traditional boarding procedures, ditching a pandemic policy of boarding passengers in smaller groups to promote social distancing.
FEMA is offering partial funeral expense reimbursement for those who have lost a loved one from COVID – applications begin in April – the agency will provide up to $9,000 per funeral and up to more than $35,000 per applicant. For more details: https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance.