7 Major Coronavirus Developments — 50% More Nursing Homes With Virus Than Previously Disclosed
GoLocalProv News Team
7 Major Coronavirus Developments — 50% More Nursing Homes With Virus Than Previously Disclosed
Data released this week by the Rhode Island Department of Health provides ranges of patients impacted - not the exact number - showing that as many as nearly 1,000 nursing home residents have contracted the disease.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe data unveils that 31 nursing homes and assisted living facilities have one or more cases. Previously, Health had only released the names of 20 facilities -- those with 5 or more cases.
This week, Politico reported, “American nursing homes will now be required to report coronavirus cases directly to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as to patients and their families...The directive from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services marks a significant change in practice. The CDC has not formally tracked the number of COVID-19 cases that spread inside homes for vulnerable elderly patients. Thousands have died.”
The new data shows that Orchard View Manor has between 125 and 129 cases and now reports between 30-34 deaths.
In addition, Golden Crest in North Providence has had between 94-99 cases and 25-29 deaths.
WATCH: Former RI Director of Health Dr. Michael Fine on GoLocal LIVE at 12 PM on Friday
“It's important that patients and their families have the information that they need, and they need to understand what's going on in the nursing home,” said CMS' Seema Verma said at a White House briefing.
For weeks, the Raimondo administration has until now refused to disclose all information. On April 16, the Rhode Island Health Department had told GoLocal in an email, “We have moved away from reporting on facilities with isolated cases. This is because this has created some confusion in the past. In these instances, we are encouraging nursing homes to take the lead on communicating with residents and families.”
On Wednesday night, the Raimondo administration reversed its policy after GoLocal cited the federal requirement. "We are going to put a comprehensive spreadsheet online tomorrow," said the Health Department in an email.
READ 7 Major Coronavirus Developments BELOW
7 Major Coronavirus Developments — April 24, 2020
Did Sweden Do It Right?
Much is being made of Sweden's coronavirus strategy that focused on building herd immunity and placed limited restrictions of businesses or schools.
Sweden’s top epidemiologist defended his country’s controversial coronavirus strategy on Friday, saying the Nordic European country is in fact better prepared now to handle a second wave of the virus.
“We hope this will make it easier for us in the long run,” Anders Tegnell told BBC Radio. “We can easily continue doing what we are doing now.”
Thanks to a “trust-based” plan designed by Tegnell, Sweden has taken on the pandemic with far fewer restrictions than its neighbors: Most people go to work; schools, gyms and restaurants remain open; and only unnecessary travel is discouraged.
That has yielded some promising results, he said. About one-fifth of Sweden’s ICU beds have remained empty, allowing the hospital system to take new patients at any time. According to scientific estimates, about 15 to 20 percent of Swedes have developed immunity, he added, enough to effectively flatten the curve.
Stimulus 3.5 Approved
The U.S. House of Representatives approved the newest federal funding package.
The $484 billion bill, passed by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday followed by the House on Thursday, provides additional funds to two depleted small business-relief programs, offers additional assistance to hospitals, and funds an expansion of testing capacity for states.
The legislation passed 388 to 5 -- four Republicans and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York voting against it. Rep. Justin Amash (I., Mich.) voted “present."
Rhode Island Congressman Jim Langevin (D-2) said in a statement, “Congress’s action today is particularly important for Rhode Island. Our state is experiencing surging unemployment numbers, and many of our small businesses and healthcare institutions are facing hardship and uncertainty. This ‘Phase 3.5 package’ rightfully replenishes the Small Business Administration’s depleted Paycheck Protection Program that we created last month as part of the CARES Act, but quickly ran out of money due to overwhelming demand."
Schools Are Closed in RI for Rest of Academic Year
Governor Gina Raimondo has announced that Rhode Island will continue with online learning.
MA Governor Charlie Baker closed schools earlier in the week.
RI's Helpline: Parents looking for support as their students engage with distance learning can access a new helpline through the Rhode Island Department of Education and Highlander Institute at 909-414-4927. More information can be found here highlanderinstitute.org
Georgia Open for Business
Much of the country is waiting to see the impact of Georgia removing restrictions against most businesses.
Many public health experts have voiced deep concerns about the decision and predict it will create a spike in cases.
According to the University of Washington model, Georgia has not hit its peak yet.
Trump's Comments Are Rejected
“I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute, one minute,” President Donald Trump said during Thursday’s coronavirus press briefing.
“And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning? Because you see it gets inside the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.”
Those comments have been rejected by all health professionals.
Numbers
6,256 Cases in Rhode Island
46,023 Cases in Massachusetts
189 Deaths in RI
2,360 Deaths in Massachusetts
886,709 Cases in the United States
50,243 Deaths in the United States
2,728,294 Global Cases
188,804 Global Deaths
761,331 Global Recoveries
GoLocal LIVE, Friday, April 24, 2020
10:30 AM - Rebecca Couto da Silva, Update from Bolzano, Italy
12:00 PM - Dr. Michael Fine, Former RI Director of Health
12:30 PM - Robert Whitcomb, GoLocal Columnist
1:00 PM - Governor Gina Raimondo Press Briefing
