Your Coronavirus Update Today – Nov. 25, 2020

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

The CDC is considering shortening the quarantine times from 14 days to 7-10 days, but would include more testing – pending official announcement.

Macy’s Parade has been cut by over 80% and will be held just in Herald Square.

The Car Center filed for bankruptcy.

Tourists in England can pay for a test and quarantine only 5 days now.

The death rate from Covid-19 is falling in the U.S., declining by a third since April—a signal of advancements in treatment of the disease.

European governments are planning to ease lockdowns in December 

Oxford study shows re-infection before 6 mos is highly unlikely.

StoryCorps has a great project that promotes the gathering of personal stories which they archive for future generations. Anyone can create personal stories by using StoryCorps’ physical studios or joining one of their upcoming virtual recordings. Developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the StoryCorps Connect project enables anyone to record a StoryCorps interview with a loved one remotely.

NYC synagogue fined $15K for holding wedding with 10,000 people

Operation Warp Speed held a live Facebook update and press conference – during this Azar announced that the night before they prepared information for the Biden Administration, per the GSA directive.

Of Massachusetts’ 400 public school districts, more than 37,000 students have been removed from their rosters this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic.

There are now two lawsuits seeking tuition and fee refunds from the University of Delaware for the pandemic-marred spring semester.

In Vermont, next week, when children return to school, they will be asked whether they attended Thanksgiving gatherings outside their households. Any students who attend events with more than just their immediate household will be required to take online classes for a two-week quarantine period, or to quarantine for a week and then have a negative virus test. The governor said he encouraged businesses to take the same approach with their employees.

Governors will be responsible for deciding where the first vaccine that is expected mid-December will go, according to the national Coronavirus Task Force. It will most likely be Pfizer’s and intended for front line workers, particularly healthcare workers.

The Dow passes 30,000 on news of new vaccines and therapeutics.

It is now thought that the original COVID-19 virus mutated early on, making its way around the world, and become far more contagious.

Essential workers are likely to move ahead of adults 65 and older and people with high-risk medical conditions when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signs off on Covid-19 vaccine priority lists, coming after health care workers and people living in long-term care facilities, a meeting of an expert advisory panel made clear Monday. The intention is to bring many people of color closer to the front of the vaccine priority line — should they want to be vaccinated — in recognition of the fact that the pandemic has disproportionately hit Black and Latino communities.

NYC to Impose ‘CoVID Checkpoints’ at Bridges, Tunnels, Train Stations This Thanksgiving

Panic buying of toilet paper has once again hit store shelves

Covid Cabanas: “A tent with heaters and with the sides open may be safe enough, and maybe even a space with one ‘wall.’ But those fully zipped up tents? Shudder. They are like virus incubators if anyone infected enters the space with you.”

The field hospital in Worcester is looking for staff as it has a severe shortage now and plans to open soon. Suggestions have been made to use National Guard.

RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY

Governor Raimondo will hold her weekly update today at 1pm. She is expected to announce major support for RI businesses and Thanksgiving announcements, as well as new restrictions which begin Nov. 30^th.

The RI Small Business Coalition is planning a car rally and speaking program just before the press conference to encourage more release of CARES Act funds through a streamlined process. The event starts at 10:30am with speaking at 11am in the Parking Lot at 200 Hawkins Street, Providence.

Small Businesses to Host Car Rally for Additional CARES Act Relief      

On Wednesday at 11am, the RI Small Business Coalition will host a socially distanced car rally to call on the state to release an additional $150M in CARES Act funding through a simple, streamlined grant process. The speaking event will start at 11am, and the Lt. Governor McKee will be there in support of the small businesses. Participating will be:

• RI Small Business Coalition

• Chris Parisi, Trailblaze Marketing

• Restaurant Industry

• David Dadekian, Eat Drink RI

• Wedding & Events Industry

• Erica Trombetti, Infiniti Events

• Luke Renchan Entertainment

• Gym & Health Fitness Industry

• Jo Ellen Hockenbrough, Providence Power Yoga

• Judah Boulet, No Risk Crossfit

• Travel Industry

• Dianne Miguel, Global Travel

• Performing Arts

• Hugo Adames, The Talent Factory

All RI testing sites will close at noon on Wednesday (except McCoy which will be open 9-5 and Wickford Train Station from 9-7 Wed) and remain closed on Thanksgiving.

The CVS Charity Classic will not be held in 2021.

21 of 34 firefighters at one East Greenwich firehouse are positive – the firehouse has been shut and calls will be answered by mutual aid.

Brown Emergency Medicine has developed a new emergency medicine telehealth service, available from noon to midnight, seven days a week. Go to: https://www.brownemtelecare.org.

A Task Force has been formed by Rep. Shekarchi, expected to be the new Speaker of the House. It is designed to oversee the COVID-19 vaccine distribution, though this role has not been accepted by the Governor or the RI Dept. of Health. Dr. Michael Fine will be the medical adviser, and the task force will be chaired by Rep. Raymond Hull. Members are: Reps Karen Alzate, Pawtucket; Michael Chippendale, Foster, Glocester, Coventry; Kathleen Fogarty, So. Kingstown; Joshua Giraldo, Central Falls; Carol McEntee, South Kingstown, Narragansett; Michelle McGaw, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton; Mary Messier, Pawtucket; Thomas Noret, Coventry, West Warwick; and David Place, Burrillville, Glocester.

Stanley’s Famous Hamburgers, in Central Falls, has started a GoFundMe page it says it needs to save their restaurant.

SkillsRI is recruiting for the field hospitals. These paid positions are in both traditional healthcare roles and non-healthcare roles to support patient needs while the alternative hospital site is in operation. Go here for more info: https://backtowork.skillsforri.com/job-board/for-job-seekers-field-hospital

The Convention Center Field Hospital is set to open Dec. 1^st. No opening date for Cranston’s.

RI Data

Deaths: 16 (of these, 4 were in-hospital)
Total tests: 11,268
Total positives: 812
Percent positive: 7.2%
Hospitalized: 323 (New hospitalized: 53; discharges: 27)
ICU: 30
Ventilated: 16

#MaskUpAmerica –