Subscribe!
Your Coronavirus Update – Today, March 30, 2021
Photo: CDC’s Dr Birx and CDC’s Chief Walensky
Editor’s Note: Dr. Birx is doing multiple interviews saying that over 400,000 people could have been saved if the country did what she knew it should do but could not get leadership to listen to her. Dr. Birx never went to the press with what she suspected. Today, Dr. Walensky spoke to the American people saying she had a feeling of “impending doom” about another surge and more lives lost. She lost her professional demeanor, coming close to tears, in her attempt to reach people with this life-saving message. Later in the day, President Biden released new information in an impromptu message on COVID-19. He said:
“Now is not the time to celebrate:
1. calling for all states that have released their mask mandates to go back to requiring masks. This, as numbers tick up.
2. Also directing vaccine sites be within 5 miles of all Americans. 3. Adding 12 more federally run mass vaccination drive-up sites in minority communities in USA.
4. Also – more vaccination site at state level.
5. Sending millions of dollars to provide assistance, transportation to those who need help to physically get to the vaccine sites.
6. April 19th – 90% eligible for vaccine; balance by May 1. Hopefully deadlines will be reached earlier.”
Dr. Megan Ranney: “It boggles my mind that governors across the country are unwilling to hold on just a little longer to protect people.” On Dr. Birx, Ranney said, “Her months of public silence caused us all harm…”
Dr. Ahish Jha: “we should pause reopening efforts. Not forever But until every high risk person who wants a vaccine has one Vaccinations are going incredibly well Probably a month away from a better place Lets wait a bit longer to relax public health measures.”
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
5,500 new appointments opening up Tuesday at 9am at the RI website – Additionally, the Governor announced that beginning tomorrow, people who are 16 years of age and older, who live in one of eight hardest hit ZIP codes covering parts of Providence, Cranston, North Providence and all of Pawtucket and Central Falls, will be able to register for vaccination appointments at State-run vaccination sites and participating pharmacy locations. These additional appointments are being made available as the State is expanding efforts to ensure that residents of communities hardest hit by COVID-19 have access to vaccine. The eight specific ZIP codes are: 02860, 02861, 02863, 02904, 02905, 02907, 02908, and 02909. Go to: https://www.vaccinateri.org/
Today a statewide push to vaccinate the roughly 25,000 homebound residents in Massachusetts who still have not received doses will begin. Homebound residents or their loved ones can call 1-833-983-0485 to begin the process of scheduling an in-home vaccine appointment.
RI is monitoring a recent rise in coronavirus cases among children ages 10 to 14. The age group now has the third-highest rate of weekly infections, WPRI-TV reports. Only the 15-18 and 19-24 groups have higher rates, state statistics show.
Mayor Hopkins and the Cranston City Council to hold candlelight vigil in honor of those lost due to COVID-19 – Mayor Kenneth J. Hopkins, Councilors Jessica Marino, Robert Ferri, Nicole Renzulli, Lammis Vargas, Aniece Germain, John Donegan, Edward Brady, Christopher Paplauskas, Matthew Reilly and community faith leaders will hold a candlelight vigil in honor of those lost due to COVID-19 on Wed, March 31st at 6:30pm at Cranston City Hall. More than 130 lives have been lost of Cranston residents.
The City of Pawtucket has partnered with The American Red Cross, Asthenis Pharmacy, and the Pawtucket YMCA to bring COVID-19 vaccination clinics to the city every Sunday through the Rhode Island Department of Health’s High Density Community (HDC) allocations. Clinics are held on Sunday afternoons at the Pawtucket YMCA. To date they have vaccinated over 1500 residents. Residents are encouraged to visit the Pawtucket website at www.PawtucketRI.com/Covid19
BCBS will pay for transportation to vaccinations in Massachusetts.
Last night, 2,200 fans attended a Boston Celtics game.
Today, the Boston Red Sox will announce plans for their opening day later this week.
In addition to the YMCA located clinic in Pawtucket, High Density Community clinics are at the Blackstone Valley Community Healthcare Center, Simpson Pharmacy, Santiago Medical Group, and some others.
Becker College in Worcester will close permanently due to financial issues related to the pandemic.
Boston high schoolers went back to school this week..
Federal Emergency Management Agency will begin lending support to the Hynes Convention Center vaccination site in Boston
RIDOH is partnering with three agencies—Alert Ambulance, MedTech Ambulance, and PACE—to administer COVID-19 vaccines to homebound people in their residences.
A COVID-19 survivor in Massachusetts is donating blood plasma for the 10th and final time.
Workers will go door to door in 10 cities this spring, urging residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The Connecticut Department of Public Health also announced a $5.3 million plan to expand call center services for the Vaccine Appointment Assist Line.
Massachusetts spent more than $130 million on contact tracing.
Worcester is set to go back to school but has a big bus driver shortage.
Data – March 29, 2021
Deaths: 4 (plus 2 over weekend) = 6
Tests – 4,777 – Positives – 228 – Percent positive – 4.8%
Hospitalized – 117 – In ICU – 16 – Ventilated – 7
Deaths in hospital – 0 – New Admissions – 13 – New Discharges -0
Vaccinated – 331,805; Both shots – 212,059
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Dr. Fauci and CDC – we are “pleading” with people to hang in there a little longer – we are seeing an increase that we hope doesn’t turn into a surge. Concerned about variants – 26% of all virus now is that more transmissible strains.
Mitch McConnell: ‘I would encourage all Republican men’ to get vaccinated
The WHO had bats in their laboratory to use in experiments for many years. Notably, the WHO report had to be signed off by China, bringing its conclusions under suspicion for accuracy.
New York and New Jersey are back atop the list of U.S. states with the highest rates of infection
A new study says even six feet of separation is dangerous if schools reopen without updated ventilation systems. It adds children, where schools are open, are spreading Covid into the community. https://theanalysis.news/interviews/is-six-feet-safe-new-cdc-guidelines-to-reopen-schools-could-be-dangerous/
The US govt. is said to be working on a “vaccine passport” plan – lots of technology concern about how far-reaching this could go.
In New York, Residents over 30 will be eligible for vaccinations today, and those over 16 will be eligible April 6.
In a NYT article about vaccinating children: “the most important and least recognized reason to vaccinate all children quickly is the possibility that the virus will continue to spread and mutate into more dangerous variants, including ones that could harm both children and adults”.
National Rugby League team Brisbane Broncos have booked a charter flight out of Brisbane for 50 players and staff, and will base themselves in Sydney for at least the next two weeks
San Francisco will pay artists $1000 per month as “essential workers” – 131 people qualify
Michigan is saying it is in its 3rd surge. Other states are expected to see this happen – the CDC is asking people to be cautious and hold on doing too much “risky” behavior until more people are vaccinated.
Dr. Jha spoke about the variant, how contagious it is, and how fast it is spreading – he says people are too relaxed, gathering indoors, etc. States have moved too fast, he said. Cases are increasing among the young, the fastest. 10-19 and 20-29 – they are relaxing and enjoying a more open life and that is where we are seeing the uptick.
Former CDC Chief says it is most likely the virus escaped from a research lab in Wuhan. Dr. Fauci later said he thought there was no evidence to say that is so, and the virus may have been around China for months, which doesn’t address the origin. The WHO has said they believe it was a transmission from animal to human that did not happen in a lab.
The CDC also said the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines provide partial immunity of 80% two weeks after the first dose and 90% effectiveness after the full regimen.
AirBNB and VRBO business is skyrocketing.
In Florida, those 40+ can now be vaccinated.
The CDC has extended its moratorium on evictions until the end of June.
In Michigan the state expanded vaccinations to those over 16, a week earlier than announced, to respond to growing # of new cases.
Starting Friday, New Yorkers will be able to pull up a code on their cellphone or a printout to prove they’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19 or recently tested negative for the virus that causes it. The first-in-the-nation certification, called the Excelsior Pass, will be useful first at large-scale venues like Madison Square Garden, but next week it will be accepted at dozens of event, arts and entertainment venues statewide. It already lets people increase the size of a wedding party, or other catered event.
In Maryland, new coronavirus cases leaped in the state in the week ending Sunday, rising 21.9%
Only around 15% of the US population is fully vaccinated.
India has reported its worst single-day increase in COVID-19 cases since October, taking the tally to more than 12 million for the first time ever.
A 104 year old Romanian woman received her vaccine yesterday:
The State’s chart is deceiving. If you look at “Total”, it’s 500K+. That would be half the population of R.I.
R.I. is nowhere near getting half the population vaccinated.
I also wonder why the Dept. of Health doesn’t report on weekends. Are they “off-duty”? Mass. reports daily.
I saw someone question laminating the cards since there’s room for boosters (if that comes to pass). I suggest making copies before laminating.
Why doesn’t R.I. give CDC cards to pharmacies? I received a paper copy, showing that I received my shots. The State isn’t using state money, they’re using COVID money yet they don’t give CDC cards to the pharmacies. They have the money – I received 3 notices about COVID from the State in the mail on Monday – totally unnecessary! One was so big, I had to fold it to put into recycling.
I would hope that these “notices” are being printed in R.I. but I doubt it.