7 Major Coronavirus Developments — Number of Cases Doubling in 4 Days — March 30, 2020
GoLocalProv News Team
7 Major Coronavirus Developments — Number of Cases Doubling in 4 Days — March 30, 2020
Rhode Island is facing the beginning of a disturbing trend -- every four days the number of cases of those testing positive for coronavirus has doubled. From the data provided on Wednesday to Sunday the number of cases rose from 132 to 294. This increase in cases is up 122%. The number of cases doubled in the previous four days as well from Saturday, March 21 to Wednesday, March 25 -- from 66 cases to 132 -- 100%.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIf this pace continues, Rhode Island could have an estimated 5,000 cases by the middle of April.
WATCH: Former RI Director of Health Dr. Michael Fine on GoLocal LIVE at 12 PM on Monday
RI Department of Health Warns of Limited Supplies of Safety Equipment
In an email to healthcare workers, RI Department of Health writes, "Access to personal protective equipment (PPE) remains a challenge due to international supply problems. Many primary care providers (PCPs) are currently unable to safely assess patients with possible COVID-19 symptoms due to the shortage of PPE. Many larger primary care groups and health centers have designated a specific site for patients in need of respiratory symptom assessment. In addition, many urgent care centers have designated sites as respiratory clinics where patients can be referred for assessment by a PCP or can make an appointment to be seen."
READ BELOW 7 Major Coronavirus Developments for Monday, March 30, 2020
7 Major Coronavirus Developments — Number of Cases Doubling in 4 Days — March 30, 2020
Dr. Anthony Fauci's Modeling
Fauci said Sunday that based on models, the United States could eventually see 100,000 or more deaths from coronavirus. The U.S. has already had more than 2,500.
"Whenever the models come in, they give a worst-case scenario and a best-case scenario. Generally, the reality is somewhere in the middle. I've never seen a model of the diseases that I've dealt with where the worst case actually came out. They always overshoot," Fauci, told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union."
"I mean, looking at what we're seeing now, you know, I would say between 100,000 and 200,000 (deaths). But I don't want to be held to that," he said, adding that the US is going to have "millions of cases."
Numbers
294 Cases in Rhode Island
4,955 Cases in Massachusetts
3 Deaths in RI
48 Deaths in Massachusetts
143,724 Cases in the United States
2,592 Deaths in the United States
732,592 Global Cases
34,873 Global Deaths
157,463 Global Recoveries
RI Closes Daycares
Governor Gina Raimondo announced on Sunday that effective Monday, March 30, the state is suspending all childcare licenses until April 4.
Watch her press conference here.
What to Do with the Coronavirus Waste
The Wall Street Journal looks at the growing amount of contaminated waste.
"As coronavirus spreads across the U.S., the trash industry is girding for a potential rise in infectious waste while grappling with concerns about workers’ exposure to the pathogen.
The U.S. is looking to China, where daily medical-waste volumes jumped sixfold in Wuhan as more people contracted the virus, prompting the government to deploy dozens of portable waste-treatment facilities. Chinese officials recently said medical-waste facilities in 29 cities were at or near full capacity.
In the U.S., waste-treatment companies say hospitals are already generating more trash that needs to be specially treated, while the pandemic is also challenging regular household collection.
Stericycle Inc., one of the country’s largest medical-waste processors, says it has seen an influx of masks, gloves and gowns in recent weeks. The company, which steam-sterilizes infectious trash before it is landfilled or incinerated, also started handling waste from new sources such as cruise ships, where passengers were quarantined."
Rhode Island's Narrow Testing
According to a directive to the healthcare community issued on Sunday, RIDOH is recommending testing for all of the following people with symptoms of COVID-19:
Hospitalized patients
Healthcare workers, including Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals
Residents of long-term care facilities
Patients 65 and older
Patients with underlying conditions placing them at higher risk for COVID-19 complications
First responders (police, fire, and non-EMS) and other critical infrastructure workers
Wall Street -- Stock Futures Monday, CVS' Big Week
The S&P Futures are looking slightly up on Monday morning.
European and Asian markets were sightly down in Monday trading.
The Wall Street Journal flagged CVS' big week:
"CVS Health Corp.
Pharmaceuticals are still plentiful but cleaning supplies and paper products are under more strain. That was the message Tuesday from the chief executive of CVS Health, who spoke virtually at The Wall Street Journal’s Health Forum. He said the company’s supply of pharmaceuticals remains steady even as the new coronavirus roils global manufacturing and distribution markets and that the pharmacy giant hasn’t experienced any difficulty securing important medications for people with chronic disease. But the pandemic has taxed its operations in other ways. Its retail operations for household basics are under strain as demand intensifies for cleaning supplies and other products. The company is seeking to fill 50,000 positions and offering its workforce bonuses and child care to keep them on the job. CVS shares added 2.4% Tuesday."
GoLocal LIVE Coverage Monday
12 noon Dr. Michael Fine, former RI Director of Health
1 PM, Governor Gina Raimondo' Press Briefing
2 PM Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor
