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Your Coronavirus Update – Today, May 30, 2020
Pope Francis led the world in the rosary and prayers for the pandemic Friday night
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
“Can’t be 6 feet apart,” says United Airlines spox – other things to do – cleaning, masks, etc.
A divided Supreme Court on Friday rejected an emergency appeal by a California church that challenged state limits on attendance at worship services that have been imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Merck, Novartis, Moderna and Inovio, as well as Oxford University are all working on vaccines. However, experts remain unconvinced a vaccine proven to be safe and effective will be available this calendar year. “I think we’ll have to have one more cycle of this virus in the fall, heading into the winter, before we get to a vaccine,” Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former head of the Food and Drug Administration.
“I really think a vaccine is probably a 2021 event, in terms of having wide availability of a vaccine for the general population.”
Delta to offer buyouts to those nearing retirement age, or 25 years of service
Connecticut’s four universities and 12 community colleges will open to students on August 24, with modifications.
Sen. Casey of Pennsylvania is positive and he pledges to donate plasma to aid COVID-19 patients following positive antibody test https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-pledges-to-donate-plasma-to-aid-covid-19-patients-following-positive-antibody-test
Mayor de Blasio planning to give tablets to seniors to promote telemedicine
Pakistan to resume international flights
Coronavirus started spreading in the U.S. in January, CDC says https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6922e1.htm?s_cid=mm6922e1_w
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
The Oakland Grove Health Care Center in Woonsocket said it is losing money on the state contract as a specialty facility caring for patients with coronavirus.
Roger Williams Park ZOO opens on Monday – over 1,170 tickets have been reserved: http://rwpzoo.org/
62% of overall deaths in Mass — 4,123 — were reported at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence saw a 40% increase in calls to its helpline in April compared with the same month last year.
Rhode Island DMV Woonsocket Branch will reopen June 1. Service is by reservation only.
Attorney General Peter Neronha’s office said in a statement that “the stimulus money [$1200] belongs to the patient and not the nursing home facility.”
Twin River to partially reopen on June 8 – by invitation only for now.
From RI Governor’s Address
RI Data
Deaths: 16 – 2 in 50s, 1 in 60s, 6 in 70s, 5 in 80s, 2 in 90s
Encouraging to see numbers decrease
Crush Covid RI – 38,000 have downloaded, but not enough – goal of 50,000
Phase 2 – opening up on Monday
“We know that big crowds are a serious problem. Think twice if you are a senior or have health issues going to settings such as churches, etc.” – Gov. Raimondo
Nursing homes – Visitation: “Still a crisis in nursing homes” – not relaxing visitation rules in Phase 2. We “need to keep patients and staff safe”.
DCYF Group Homes, ACI, etc – will relax visitation – on reopeningri.com by end of day.
Twin River: Opening with restrictions June 8th – members and invitation only, masks, no table games, deep cleaning, no smoking, etc., removing some VLTs – restaurants under same guidelines as all others in RI.
Nursing Homes: completed first 2 rounds at all nursing homes – well into 3rd round. 20 homes offered. Including residents and staff. 7,500 people being offered testing in 85 nursing homes – will be expanding to other congregate settings. Situation is not stable, not where we want it to be to have visitation. Everyone who lives in a nursing home is in a high risk category. Question: Dr. Scott: these are life and death situations – with every additional person who enters the room, they risk negative outcome, including death. Can’t allow more freedom in the homes. Given the data – we are doing everything we can to change the outcomes. Lives matter. We will do everything we can to move forward. We do not want seniors isolated. We do not want them to not get the services they require. Because “life matters” this is the best decision right now. Nursing homes are being asked to be creative.
Questions:
Twin River: What changed in that we are seeing earlier opening? We didn’t think they would be ready, but they are now.
Phase 3 – will we be on track for July 1st? Gov says she doesn’t know. Still no concerts and such, still social distancing, still wearing masks – could be that there isn’t a Phase 4 – and this is how we will live our lives until a vaccine or treatment is found.
Block Island Ferry – Ferry will run, but details will be announced next week.
Lt. Governor – has Governor brought him in for extensive involvement? No. All general officers, including McKee are kept in the loop – weekly or twice weekly calls – “I guess he is feeling out of the loop – have him call me” – I’ll reach out, too.
Nursing home testing & asymptomatic staff – will testing be extended? Having very extensive discussions – sharing more next week. Looking to focus efforts where they can get the highest yield of information.
Stop & Shop random sampling – continuing to collect and analyze the data – will give it out hopefully next week.
Pool Clubs – they are allowed to open – online info on reopeningri.com with restrictions, cleaning, chlorine levels – no locker rooms, etc.
Organized Youth Sports – Can adult softball leagues participate – no, stable groups of 15 should be ok for practices, not games. Gov. will check on that and clarify.
Twin River testing site – what will happen to it once casino opens? Working on figuring that out now. Probably be reduced and put into the community. Staffed by 100+ national guard members; we need to wean ourselves from that.
Workers who don’t want to go back to work – this is an issue. And it will be a continued issue. For some, they can make more not working. That will be the case until end of July. Advice: you should go back to work to make sure your job will still be there at the end of July. Advice to employer – do everything you can to make your workplace safe – let them work from home, or come in once a week. It’s going to take some time for workers to feel comfortable. Employers should invite people back – make them feel comfortable.
Church – yes, Gov. will personally go back this weekend with her family.
Senior Centers? Still working on that.
Salesforce – MA and CA will follow RI using the technology RI started to develop. Probono help to RI, we benefitted by a free technology system by being a test site and now the company can use it elsewhere.