7 Major Coronavirus Developments - March 15, 2020

Hospitals' Capacities Will Be Stretched

The American Hospital Association writes:

As the COVID-19 outbreak evolves, hospitals and health systems know our patients and communities are increasingly concerned whether and how the virus is spreading in communities. Hospitals and health systems are:

Identifying, isolating and informing local public health officials about new cases of patients known or suspected of having the virus.

Following CDC recommendations on how to best use and preserve existing supplies of personal protective equipment due to concerns about limited supplies.

Protecting health care workers on the front lines, ensuring they have the personal protective equipment, training and support they need to provide care to patients.

"Hospitals across the United States are erecting triage tents outside emergency rooms, squeezing extra beds into break rooms and physical therapy gyms, and recommending delays in elective surgery to free up capacity as they brace for an anticipated surge in coronavirus patients," writes the Washington Post

"No one can say if the preparations will be enough as the pandemic accelerates in the coming days and weeks. If the virus were to spread as rapidly in the United States as it has in China, Italy and Iran, hospital executives say the burden on the health-care system could be crippling, with demand for beds and some specialized equipment needed to treat patients and protect staff far exceeding supply," writes the Post.

Numbers

20 Cases in Rhode Island

132 Cases in Massachusetts

More than 2,800 cases in the United States

60 Americans have died

142,000 cases across the globe

5,400 deaths

Shutdowns and Lockdowns

Now, Italy and Spain are in lockdown -- nearly 110 million people in total.

France has shutdown, closing restaurants, cafes, cinemas, and clubs.

Under the measures announced in Spain on Saturday night by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, “People will not be allowed to leave their homes other than to buy food, pharmaceuticals, or other necessary products, or unless they have a compelling reason such as caring for the old or ill, travelling to a health centre, or essential work, including for financial institutions,” reports the Financial Times.

In addition, during a White House briefing on Saturday discussing the administration’s response to the outbreak, President Donald Trump was asked whether he was thinking about domestic travel limitations.

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Travel Chaos

On Friday, the Trump administration announced that those travelers re-entering the United States would be screened for the coronavirus and this is creating massive backlogs -- at some airport hours or delays.

"Airports around the country were thrown into chaos Saturday as workers scrambled to roll out the Trump administration’s hastily arranged health screenings for travelers returning from Europe.

Scores of anxious passengers said they encountered jam-packed terminals, long lines and hours of delays as they waited to be questioned by health authorities at some of the busiest travel hubs in the United States," reports the Washington Post

Emergency Insurance Opportunity

HealthSource RI has adopted a limited-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP), following Governor Raimondo’s State of Emergency declaration in response to the potential growth of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

This SEP will allow uninsured Rhode Islanders to purchase coverage through April 15, 2020. Coverage will begin on the first of the month following the application.

Rhode Islanders who wish to obtain coverage can do so by visiting www.healthsourceri.com and enrolling online, or by contacting the Healthsource RI call center Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm at 1-855-840-4774.  

“Ensuring Rhode Islanders have access to health coverage is critical to our mission and is especially important during this time,” said HealthSource RI Director Lindsay Lang. “Due to these unexpected and exceptional circumstances, and under the leadership of Governor Raimondo’s administration, HealthSource RI was able to work with the health insurance carriers offering plans through the exchange to develop a plan to make this special enrollment period available for residents who may be in need of health coverage.”

Cranston Failure 

Cranston Mayor Allan Fung is urging Cranston West High School students to heed the recently issued 14-day self-quarantine, after a student tested positive for coronavirus -- and Fung said he had heard reports some students might not be taking the quarantine seriously. 

In a message from City Hall on Saturday, Fung implored students to stay home. 

"Over the past 24 hours, I’ve been hearing that not everyone at Cranston West is taking the Department of Health quarantine seriously, and this needs to stop now," said Fung. "This is your first global pandemic to Cranston? Guess what, it’s mine, too."

"This crazy new virus appears to be very contagious, and if you have it, it can hop off of you, and on to your grandparents, or friends with weakened immune systems, and they could be in a lot of health trouble," he went on to say. 

"Go home, and stay home for the remainder of the 13 days," said Fung. "You even have my permission to sleep in."

Lunches for Providence Children

Beginning on Tuesday, the Providence Public School District is offering students free “grab and go” meals at eight school sites. These sites will continue to serve meals until Providence public schools reopen.

These following sites have been chosen geographically:

·         Asa Messer Elementary School, 1655 Westminster St.

·         Gilbert Stuart Middle School, 188 Princeton St.

·         Providence Career and Technical Academy, 41 Fricker St.

·         Mt. Pleasant High School, 434 Mt. Pleasant Ave.

·         Alvarez High School, 375 Adelaide Ave.

·         E-Cubed Academy, 812 Branch Ave.

·         Juanita Sanchez High School, 182 Thurbers Ave.

·         Hope High School, 324 Hope St.

Each site will be open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., beginning Tuesday, March 17.  

Service lines will be located at the front entrance of each school—No families will be allowed into the buildings. Sodexo staff will hand each student a packaged lunch and a breakfast.

To qualify for meals, children must reside in Providence and be personally present at the distribution site.  ​No ID is required.