Your Coronavirus Update – Today, Sept. 23, 2020

Photo: RI’s Education Resource Center, the group that responds to request for assistance from RI schools as they reopen.

Governor Raimondo’s Update TODAY at 1pm

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

White House coronavirus task force member Adm. Brett Giroir said “even in a few million doses, the vaccine will be a godsend in terms of outcomes, hospitalizations, morbidities and deaths”. Vaccinating nursing home workers, teachers, people with pre-existing conditions and the people surrounding them will be crucial to stemming the COVID-19 tide.

MassLandlords is seeing a building problem with “mom and pop” landlords who are not eligible for most programs and have tenants who cannot pay rent and avoid eviction.

A total of 156 countries — representing 64% of the world’s population — are now a part of the global collaborative aimed at ensuring accelerated access to Covid-19 vaccines. 

The organization that runs a major college-admission test — the ACT — closed more than 500 testing centers this past weekend because of the virus or the recent wildfires. The closures left many students unable to take the test.

The NFL is imposing fines of $100,000 per coach and $250,000 per club for violations of the league’s mask policy, AP reports.

• The first three to get fined: Denver’s Vic Fangio, San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan and Seattle’s Pete Carroll.
• Among other offenders: Patriots coach Bill Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Colts coach Frank Reich, and Rams coach Sean McVay.

A group of Black physicians has creating their own expert task force to independently vet regulators’ decisions about Covid-19 drugs and vaccines as well as government recommendations for curbing the pandemic; organized by the National Medical Association

PM Boris Johnson has put restrictions on England’s bars and restaurants and asked all citizens to work from home, if they can for the next 6 months.

“Halloween is traditionally an outdoor holiday and the one time of the year when kids want to wear a mask,” Ostroff said. “This is fully consistent with the CDC safety guidelines, and with the appropriate physical distancing, trick-or-treating can safely happen.” The CDC went on to talk about restricting gatherings in groups for Halloween as well as holiday season after that. More info here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween

Oct. 13 & 14 is Amazon Prime Day – expected to be record-selling as people move to online purchasing.

The hotel industry says that nearly three-quarters of hotels will have to lay off more employees during the coronavirus pandemic if they don’t receive additional government funding

Spring break at Connecticut’s four state universities has been canceled

Coronavirus survivors may need follow-up care to screen their hearts for possible damage.

Hollywood’s union have reached an agreement on pandemic protocols with major studios that will allow the broad resumption of production of films and television after six months of stagnant sets and unemployment.

RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY

RI Data

Deaths: 2
3 Day Average hospitalization rate: 81
Positivity Rate: 1.7%
Governor’s presentation – tomorrow, Wed, 1pm

Rep. Mattiello is introducing a bill to extend take-out alcohol through the end of 2020 at restaurants.

CCRI laying off 45 staff.

Federal Court in Providence will begin jury trials again.

Worcester Art Museum will open in October

Owner of Providence Place Mall cutting staff by 25%

Rhode Island is now back on the no travel from list for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut

URI is using electrostatic handheld cleaning units to deep clean buildings.

Cases at Providence College number of positive cases is over 160 now; a “small minority” are actually sick, and none are hospitalized. Some quarantine orders will expire in a few days.

Local Elmhurst area, Providence legislators and leaders have asked PC to go to all-virtual for the year, concerned about the density of the campus within their residential community (Sam Bell – Marcia Ranglin Vassell – David Morales)

A convicted bank robber from Rhode Island is facing federal charges after applying for $4.7 million worth of COVID-19 stimulus loans for businesses in Massachusetts that did not exis

Smithfield school department is short of substitute teachers – Exeter/West Greenwich, North Providence, all experiencing shortages. Cranston raised its pay for substitutes from $80 a day to $100; Providence raised it to $150  – all together there are over 700 vacancies for subs in RI.

Britain’s Prime Minister, Boris Johnson details new restrictions as COVID19 cases increase