7 Major Coronavirus Developments — 2nd Wave Concerns, Oktoberfest Canceled — April 22, 2020
GoLocalProv News Team
7 Major Coronavirus Developments — 2nd Wave Concerns, Oktoberfest Canceled — April 22, 2020
The Center for Disease Control's Robert Redfield has issued stern warnings -- read in the slides below.
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Moreover, one of the countries that has been most effective at controlling the spread of the coronavirus is already reopening certain aspects of the economy -- but has announced others may not be open for months.
The BBC reports,"[Germany] Chancellor Angela Merkel announced tentative steps to start easing the restrictions. Some smaller shops will reopen next week and schools will start reopening in early May, with the focus on students due to sit exams soon.
But Mrs. Merkel warned there was 'little margin for error' and that 'caution should be the watchword.' Sports and leisure facilities, as well as cafes and restaurants, will remain closed indefinitely. But, that does not mean the country will return to normalcy for months." -- See more in slides below.
Rhode Island's numbers continue to be of concern. The state now ranks 6th in the U.S. for cases per 1 million and 8th for deaths per 1 million.
READ 7 Major Coronavirus Developments BELOW
7 Major Coronavirus Developments — April 22, 2020
CDC Director Warns that Next Winter Could Be Even Worse
Next winter could be much worse, warns America's top public health expert -- that’s what Robert Redfield, Director of the CDC, told the Washington Post in an interview published Tuesday.
In the winter, “We’re going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time,” he told the Post, likely putting massive pressure on America’s health-care system.
Redfield said the combination of coronavirus and seasonal flu could overwhelm hospitals and again create shortages in medical equipment and hospital beds.
Had last winter's flu and the coronavirus occurred at the same time, “it could have been really, really, really, really difficult in terms of health capacity,” he told the Post.
Redfield said it is imperative that states and the federal government should use the coming months to scale up the country’s testing capacity, and that people should maintain social distancing even after the current restrictions are lifted.
Coronavirus Cancels Oktoberfest
Think things will be over soon? Germany doesn't.
Munich’s Oktoberfest, the world’s largest popular festival, where partygoers from all over the world join together for the biggest beer festival - has already been canceled due to the coronavirus.
"Six million people flock to the Bavarian capital every year for the two-week festivities, held in packed tents with long wooden tables and benches where social distancing to avoid contagion would be both lamentable and impossible.
The event, scheduled this year for Sept. 19-Oct. 4, brings in $1.1 billion for the city.
“This is not a normal year and it is, unfortunately, a year without the Oktoberfest,” said Markus Soeder, premier of the southern German state, announcing a decision that had been widely expected. “It hurts. It is a huge shame,” reports Reuters.
James Diossa Steps Up and Leads By Example
Central Falls and Pawtucket have become the hot spots for coronavirus in Rhode Island.
The Mayor of Central Falls James Diossa has ordered people to wear masks in Central Falls, following similar directives issued in Barrington and East Providence.
He is leading by example by wearing a mask during interviews and press calls.
35 Coronavirus Cases at Charlesgate Nursing Homes, Staff Complain Lack of Protective Equipment
Unionized staff at Charlesgate said in a statement on Tuesday, "Workers are sorely lacking in proper personal protective equipment, only receiving one N-95 mask per week and are forced to re-use the same gowns. The staff that do have access to full body suits have had to purchase them out of their own pockets. Workers need full personal protective equipment to protect themselves, their families and their residents from further exposure.'
"With the first COVID-19 case confirmed appropriately one week ago, the outbreak has spread rapidly but management has refused to increase hazard pay for workers which was part of an agreement negotiated with the workers’ union," said SEIU Healthcare 1199 in a statement.
Butler Hospital Staff Complain About Lack PPE
The frontline staff at Butler Hospital, Rhode Island's leading provider of mental health services, protested in cars and vans protesting outside the facility in a caravan to demand management provide critical N-95 respirators to all health care professionals at the facility.
The group said, "Despite at least 10 confirmed COVID-19 cases among staff and patients, management has refused to provide proper personal protective equipment to any classification of workers other than nursing and ER staff, including environmental services, dietary and clerical workers, social services, despite having enough N95 respirators on hand."
PHOTO: Lilly M. Corona CC
Numbers
5,500 Cases in Rhode Island
41,199 Cases in Massachusetts
171 Deaths in RI
1,961 Deaths in Massachusetts
830,544 Cases in the United States
48,343 Deaths in the United States
2,575,796 Global Cases
177,603 Global Deaths
711,250 Global Recoveries
GoLocal LIVE Schedule, Wednesday, April 22, 2020
10:00 AM John Wolf, San Miguel School
11:00 AM David Sirota, Former Top Advisor to U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders
12:00 PM Dr. Michael Fine, Former Director of the RI Department of Health
1:00 PM Governor Gina Raimondo Briefing
EDITOR'S NOTE: Raimondo does not allow Rhode Islanders to hear reporters' questions. Nearly all governors across the country and the White House allow reporters to ask questions directly and for the public to hear the questions and the responses.
