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Your Coronavirus Update – Today – Oct. 9, 2020
Photo: Salve Regina University – Message to students: “We have been lucky that none of our students who are quarantining due to possible exposure have tested positive. We need your help to stay that way.” Salve has an extensive asymptomatic testing program and since mid-August, only 3 students have tested positive.
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
The President’s doctor says the President has antibodies in his bloodstream to coronavirus.
COVID-19 cases increased 40% in Canada Over Past Seven Days
JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Assoc) wrote an editorial against Pres. Trump’s pushing of certain treatments saying, “With no good options to combat a novel pathogen”, the president has failed in leadership. There have been many negative – and positive statements about that claim since the editorial.
Regeneron asks FDA for emergency authorization of its Covid-19 antibody therapy
Eli Lilly and Company has asked the U.S. government to allow emergency use of an experimental antibody therapy based on early results from a study that suggested the drug reduced symptoms, the amount of virus, hospitalizations and ER visits for patients with mild or moderate COVID-19. Its drug is similar to one that President Trump received from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. These medicines supply concentrated versions of specific antibodies to help the immune system clear the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. They’re given as a one-time treatment through an IV.
A new survey from pharmacy giant Walgreens finds that 75% of people surveyed said they will definitely or probably get a flu shot this year. The survey, which collected responses from more than 2,000 U.S. adults at the beginning of August, also found that just over half of people said they were likelier to get a flu shot this year because of Covid-19.
ESPN is set to lay off several hundred employees at the behest of parent firm the Walt Disney Company, as many as 700 or more. SportsCenter host Keith Olbermann announced the end of his third stint with the network, where he had been since 2018.
Disneyland and other large theme parks won’t be reopening anytime soon, now says California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The airline industry says jobs are being held hostage while House and Senate leaders bicker over the terms of a new aid package. A dozen industry trade groups and unions said they all agree that a standalone deal is necessary and urged the majority and minority leaders of both legislative bodies to reconcile their differences as soon as possible.
Yellowstone National Park officials say 16 employees tested positive for COVID-19 in September, marking a significant uptick in cases.
A British study has found 86% of people infected with the coronavirus didn’t show the main symptoms on the day they were tested.
Connecticut Phase Three opening is getting off to a tough start, with some restaurant owners saying they won’t be able to reach the new 75% capacity limit for indoor dining because they don’t have the space due to the rule that tables be at least 6 feet apart. Many theaters and concert venues have decided not to open this week as it isn’t economically feasible at half-full capacity.
Regeneron is not made with stem cells or fetal cells, as rumors have been saying – independent analyzers have said this is rumor and false. The company said, “This particular discovery program (REGN-COV2) did not involve human stem cells or ESCs,” she wrote. “The 293T cell line was originally derived from human embryonic kidney cells but is an immortalized epithelial cell – so not a stem cell.”
Cyprus is opening their beaches.
Wisconsin is opening their field hospital for the first time.
Santas at malls will be behind plexiglass screens, be seen via drive-ups, do ZOOM calls, etc. Malls and other sites are putting their creativity to use to plan these events.
Football coaches testing positive: Kansas coach Les Miles tested positive and is quarantining in his home, where he plans to fulfill his head coaching responsibilities remotely. Arizona coach Kevin Sumlin has tested positive as well as Florida State coach Mike Norvell, and Toledo’s Jason Candle. Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson also have tested positive, though each has returned to his team.
The Bills-Titans game has been moved from Sunday to Tuesday night at 7 p.m. as long as Tennessee has no more positive tests.
Fauci said his daughters refuse to visit for Thanksgiving, telling him: ‘You’re a young, vigorous guy, but you’re 79 years old’
Pres. Trump wants to pass a standalone bill for airline relief – Nancy Pelosi said a single bill can’t be done without a bigger package – but this changes by the hour, so stay tuned.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has launched the Serological Sciences Network for COVID-19 (SeroNet), an initiative aimed at quickly increasing the nation’s antibody testing capacity and engaging the U.S. research community to understand the immune response to COVID-19. NCI is part of the National Institutes of Health. SeroNet will engage more than 25 of the nation’s top academic, government and private sector biomedical research institutions to study the immune response to COVID-19 to speed delivery of testing, treatments and vaccine development for combat the pandemic.
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
RI Testing sites, including K-12 sites will be closed on Monday, Columbus Day
Dr. Birx was at URI yesterday and said that the next wave will be between friends and family – not through workplaces, etc. Dr. Birx said that there are a “whole lot of vaccine lines coming off final production now and going into storage” – waiting for the system to be ready to go as needed and with ancillary supplies and distribution mechanisms. Regarding President Trump: “I am sure he’s following the advice of his doctors,” President Dooley said, ““We’re seeing pretty low positivity rates now; no indication of spread through large social gatherings.” The university still has ample available rooms dedicated for isolation or quarantine of students should need arise. However, URI is said to be considering a curfew.
NBC10 reported that URI bought 2 trailers for testing which cannot be used, for $13K and $2500 for branding, $31K for structural work – state building commissioner has said the trailers don’t meet state codes. Similar trailers are in use at private colleges and universities in New England. RI wants a 3rd party group to certify the trailers but there are no 3rd party groups.
Indoor place spaces (trampolines, etc.) are perparing to open in Fall River and Swansea.
Field hockey and soccer are set to return this weekend in this altered high school sports season.
25 major property owners in Massachusetts have agreed not to evict those struggling financially because of the coronavirus, even after the state ban on evictions is lifted.
Boston teachers union filing injunction to stop in-person learning
Nearly 200 UMass students face discipline for COVID-19 violations
Patriots practice canceled again – 3rd player positive – games rescheduled to Monday night.
Providence College tested 293 students and none were positive – today school begins in-person.
RI Business Compliance Violations – since October 1st:
| B.Good Restaurant | 269 Thayer St., Providence | Compliance Order | 10/6/2020 |
| El Chapin Restaurant | 271 Plainfield St., Providence | Compliance Order | 10/6/2020 |
| Fisher Auto Parts | 2312 Pawtucket Ave., East Providence | Compliance Order | 10/6/2020 |
| High Life Smoke Shop | 43 Main Rd., Tiverton | Compliance Order | 10/6/2020 |
| Barbers & Beards | 8 Highland St., West Warwick | Notice of Compliance with ICO Immediate Compliance Order | 10/7/2020 10/5/2020 |
| Downtown Liquors | 202 Thames St., Newport | Compliance Order | 10/2/2020 |
| UMI Asian Cuisine | 82 Broadway, Newport | Compliance Order | 10/2/2020 |
| King Hookah | 1459 Broad St., Providence | Compliance Order | 10/2/2020 |
| Gemma’s Market | 458 Cranston St., Providence | Notice of Compliance with CO Compliance Order | 10/7/2020 10/2/2020 |
| Alia Market | 384 Elmwood Ave., Providence | Compliance Order | 10/2/2020 |
| Zona Lounge | 195 Niantic Ave., Cranston | Compliance Order | 10/1/2020 |
| Centro de Nutrucion Familiar | 732 Atwood Ave., Providence | Notice of Compliance with CO Compliance Order | 10/5/2020 10/1/2020 |
| Davo’s Calzones and Wraps | 99 Fortin Rd., South Kingstown | Notice of Compliance with CO Compliance Order | 10/7/2020 |
RI Data:
Deaths – 1
Coronavirus cases by city/town in Rhode Island:
Pilgrims returned to Mecca after Saudi Arabia allowed citizens and residents to start performing the umrah at 30% capacity, or 6,000 pilgrims a day.