Your Coronavirus Update – Today, Oct. 1, 2020

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Regeneron showing cocktail of drug treatments reduces the severity of the virus.

Moderna vaccine shows promise for older adults.

Sweden will ease limits on capacity of restaurant events 10-fold to 500 people

New York will consider fines for non-mask-wearing in surge areas – particularly Brooklyn and Queens.

Trump to establish US-Africa Pandemic Research Institute to fight future outbreaks.

At least one person has been cited and multiple Salem State University students are expected to be punished after a large off-campus gathering

Police say they broke up a party with more than 1,000 attendees over the weekend at a housing complex near Florida State University’s campus.

First NFL outbreak: Tennessee Titans have 3 members, 5 team personnel test positive – they’ve closed facility for a week. Vikings have closed their facility out of precaution (they played Titans this weekend)

Contact tracing is under way on Nantucket after a rise in cases

Greek Cruise Ship with 12 announced positive crew – now tests all negative – false positives.

Royal Dutch Shell said it would cut 9,000 jobs due to lack of need for oil.

About one in five working mothers surveyed this summer for the sixth annual Women in the Workplace study by McKinsey and LeanIn.org say they are considering dropping out of the workforce, at least temporarily—compared with 11% of fathers. An additional 15% of mothers report they may dial back their careers, either by cutting their hours or switching to a less-demanding role. Among women with young children, nearly a quarter say they may take a leave of absence or quit altogether. Among men and women with no children, 10% have said they are thinking of stepping away from their careers.

Disney Corp has laid off  28,000 people in the US. Over 67% are part-timers. The cuts will affect the Disney’s Parks, Experiences and Products unit, which employs over 100,000 in the US.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), has recommended people take vitamin D and C supplements if they are deficient to protect against COVID-19,

Spice and condiment maker McCormick & Co. logged higher revenue this summer as stronger sales to consumers outpaced weakened demand from commercial customers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

New Hampshire’s hiking trails are packed, and officials are urging people to be prepared when they venture into the White Mountains

UNFI – United Natural Foods – reports a $274 million loss for the year. The company also announced that their CEO will step down, but is expected to remain executive chairman.

South Korea’s version of Thanksgiving, where 52 million crisscross the country to see their families, has gotten a pandemic complication. “Don’t visit home,” the country’s prime minister recently pleaded. The local media are reporting this has been received with “enthusiastic response”.

100 million doses may be available soon announced by HHS Assistant Secretary. Seniors are showing immune responses, which sometimes doesn’t happen, in one test.

The expected NFL Titans-Steelers game is called off for the weekend as one more Titans player tests positive.

The NFL is getting serious about coaches and players not adhering to safety protocols – with at least $1.75 million in fines not in compliance with the mask rules. Coaches are fined $100,000 each, and their teams $250,000. Going further, draft pick options will be taken away from coaches not wearing masks properly.

The Boston Ballet has begun coming back to practice at their studios.

Chicago is raising its indoor restaurant capacity from 25% to 40% today, but says restaurants still can’t seat more than 50 people in one room.

Kyte, a new car rental service in Massachusetts, delivers cars to your door.

United Healthcare and Anthem Insurance ends their free telehealth service today. CVS Health has extended this service through Dec. 2020.

Restaurant employment increased by 3.6 million people over August. There were 2.5 million fewer U.S. restaurant workers in August compared to February. September’s unemployment numbers are due out Friday.

RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY

Five cases were identified among staff members at the Zambarano unit of Slater Hospital. They are now testing all staff and patients. The positives were asymptomatic and identified through surveillance testing of staff. A RI infection control support team is deployed at the facility.

The five cases were all asymptomatic and discovered through surveillance testing of staff

Expressing frustration with parties and other large gatherings, Mayor Martin J. Walsh said Wednesday that Boston will not move forward with Step 2 of Phase III of the state’s reopening plan, which takes effect for low-risk communities Oct. 5.

Massachusetts is moving to soon allow indoor and outdoor performance venues with up to 50% capacity or 250 people, whichever limit is lower is low-risk communities. The state will allow up to 50% capacity for arcades and recreational businesses with trampolines, obstacle courses, roller rinks and laser tag, as well as gyms, museums, libraries, driving schools and flight academies. Retail stores in these communities will be allowed to reopen their fitting rooms.

Providence College staying pretty stable at around 226 cases with 3 faculty/staff – see chart:

Real ID deadline has been extended a year – to Oct. 1, 2021

CCRI will continue with primarily remote teaching and learning for Spring 2021 semester.

Johnson & Wales University says 31 students living off-campus are in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19, and about 100 others who have tested negative are in quarantine due to potential exposure to the virus. This goes back to mid-Sept. so the students may be off quarantine by now. They were allowed to go home if they could do so privately and safely.

Attleboro Fire Dept. has 9 positive firefighters – the Deputy Fire Chief is in serious condition – 60 casess in the community in the past 2 weeks.

The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra will begin its new season this fall and is planning to have a limited live audience for shows at The Vets in November.

Excel Academy Charter Schools of MA has applied to open a mayoral academy school in RI for approx. 2,100 students from K-12, from Providence, Central Falls and North Providence.

RI has spent $1M on tests for travelers

Boston University is launching disciplinary hearings for 20 students who were caught by BU police violating school and state COVID-19 guidelines early Sunday at a campus location known to students as “the grotto.” The students could be suspended for a semester and lose their tuition and other payments for gathering in a group larger than 25, under-age alcohol drinking, and not wearing or not properly using face masks when discovered by BU police

Governor’s Presentation:

RI Data

Deaths: 1 (in 70s). Going to 103 hospitalizations from a low of 43 is concerning, but still under control. PC outbreak stabilizing 170 new cases. 8 in ICU, 5 on ventilators.

Case investigation info: 9/15-9/21 – 685 new cases. 203, 30% were 19-24 yrs. old. 81 People not always forthcoming when they are called by RIDOH. Make others aware of large parties – report any over 15 in number to: 764-5554 – anonymous.

Inspections: 1,000 businesses – great compliance. They can do better with health screening of customers and staff – 89%. Bars doing ok, compliance fell a bit. 14%. Bar owners/customers cannot crowd bar, get too close to the bartender. Seeing too much crowding outside the bars, waiting for a table, etc. Keep masks on when outside. Put tape on ground to help people distance. “I want you to go out for dinner”

People in their 20s:  This is happening all around the country. Shared info that shows cases by age group. Huge spike 2 weeks ago in cases. (But – isn’t that because we are doing large testings in colleges?) Ages 19-24. Reason: college students still socializing, not wearing masks. Concerning because they will spread it to others who aren’t young and healthy. Will be putting together a young person’s task force to help design awareness and compliance for young people – “If you live in a dorm, hang out with the person in your room, not in your dorm” ?  Too much social engagement. Poor mask compliance.

Take it outside campaign – going well, helped by good weather. “Unbelievably creative”. Received over 80 proposals. Outdoor tables, lighting, lending library of heat lamps, more equipment, wifi hotspots for libraries, etc. Adding $4M to bring this total to $5M. Tomorrow $3M in grants will be announced. TakeitoutsideRI.com.

Table spacing will go from 8 ft. to 6 ft. apart. at restaurants.

Testing: K-12 System: Testing 4,000 students, teachers, staff at public and private schools. Identified 60 positive cases. Additionally, another 100 cases among school community. In that 160 cases, equal between kids learning from home and learning from school. Biggest confusion is how and when will I get results. It will take a few days – you can also check your email, also answer your phone. If you have symptoms, your results will be that day and a phone call. If not sick, wait 2-3 days – if positive, you will be called. All negatives – just an email – check your spam folders for emails. Two weeks, there will be an online portal where you can check yourself.  If you were tested because you were told you were a close contact, you will need to quarantine for 14 days. Not a close contact if you were in the same school or classroom – RIDOH will tell you if you are.  In-person learning community – 63 or 84 tested were displaying symptoms. Not seeing widespread outbreaks. Schools with more than one case, usually have common source of exposure.

Testing good news – this week RI and all states in US we will receive rapid BINEX-NOW test from Abbott. Self-administered – results in 15 mins. 300,000 tests between now and end of year. (See photo) Trying to figure out where to deploy these tests.

Halloween – get your costume, go out and get your candy. Outside is better than inside. Trick or treating ok, go in small group – wear your mask (and your mask). Be sensible, no house parties. College kids: if you party we will fine everyone $500.  Social distance for others. Limit is 15. Be smart. More densely populated communities – be careful. If you are feeling sick, no trick or treating for you, and no leaving candy out. Parents do a symptom check. Homes: don’t open door with bowl for kids to take candy – leave individually wrapped goodie bags or put wrapped candy on a baking sheet. Put out a few at a time. Wash hands regularly if you are at home. Use hand sanitizer throughout trips to houses.

Field Hospitals – Decommissioning Providence and Quonset facilities.

Questions & Answer with the Gov:

Decommissioned sites: what is going to become of supplies

EMA & FEMA are working through that – cataloguing, sold, donated, stored.

Oct. 13^th back to school target – what is expected?

It will be a mix – most are ready to go back full and in-person. Even Warwick is thinking, though Providence and Central Falls are not. State is working with Warwick. Education Operation Center is doing dozens of missions to schools to continue to help.  Damage being done by leaving kids at home – could be irreparable.

How did $4M come to play in taking it outdoors program? Any additional money for other businesses?

We looked at the need. Any business can take it outside – you can do nails outside, have staff meetings outside…

Budget – have you talked with Speaker or Senate President/General Assembly?

I talk to each of them on at least a weekly basis. It’s an understatement to say we are concerned about putting a budget together in November. We’re putting different scenarios together now. Legislature will come back mid-November.

What about their oversight in decisions being made now?

Not that different in what usually happens in executive branch administering the government.

After-school activities?

No, we’ll leave it as it is for now.

No Governor’s Cup at PC/URI game –

It is what it has to be.

Tear-gassing of protesters & white nationalists – can you condemn them?

Not a member of the press – beyond disturbing that the president could not condemn white nationalists – state police’s role to support Providence (I support them) – every use of force or pepper spray will be investigated. By and large, Gov says she supports them. “Their use of force procedures are appropriate and will be investigated”

Troopers not wearing masks up on Atwells Ave

All people need to wear masks.

Uptick in nursing homes – isolation areas not mandated – can you speak to this?

For the most part they are, and should be, isolating. Some covid specific homes. Protocols are they should be isolating. Wards and units for more than 1 person. Most spread is coming from community members bringing it into the homes.

Trick or Treating in MA and other states being shut down – why is it safe here?

Critical piece is wearing a mask. Small groups, not sharing candy, individually wrapped giving out of candy, etc.

Twin River has monopoly, smoking on site, lots of permissions, mobile sportsbook, 24 hour operations now – bar until 2am – when does RI stop public/private weaponizing against RI businesses? RI is the largest competition to private businesses.

Twin River was closed for months. They don’t have a monopoly. It is unique. They have been great to work with – closed for months.

Editor’s Note: At the end of the press conference, a member of the public rose to ask questions about police tear gassing of demonstrators and if the incidents would be investigated. She also asked about the Gov’s feelings about the President. The Governor responded that she fully supported the efforts of the police to keep [law and order] in the state. It is unclear if the press events are now open to the public.