7 Major Coronavirus Developments — Raimondo Pushes PHASE II Forward — May 31, 2020
GoLocalProv News Team
7 Major Coronavirus Developments — Raimondo Pushes PHASE II Forward — May 31, 2020
As of May 25, Rhode Island did not meet federal guidelines for reopening, according to an analysis conducted by ProPublica - an independent journalism website.
"A few weeks ago, I outlined the four data points we’re watching closely as we track the trends of this virus. These are the metrics that, taken together, tell us whether the virus is continuing on its downward trajectory and it’s safe to lift more restrictions, or whether we’re seeing a resurgence and we need to pump the brakes," said Raimondo this week.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"Three weeks ago, we lifted the stay-at-home order. We know it takes about two weeks to see the impact of any policy changes we make. That means that, if our behavior during the first week of Phase 1 caused an increase in the spread of the virus, we would see that reflected in the data by now. Fortunately, that’s not what we’re seeing. Today, I’m excited to announce that all four of these metrics are where we want them to be. Because of that, we can officially move into Phase 2 on Monday," added Raimondo.
A number of questions have been raised, however, about the schedule and preparation of the reopening.
Restaurant owner Bob Burke told GoLocal the state's plans for restaurant dining are insufficient.
Burke said there is "not a chance" he would go out to eat in the state right now, as restaurants are currently allowed outdoor dining with restrictions -- and will be allowed to open with indoor dining on Monday.
See Slideshow: 7 Major Coronavirus Developments Below
Burke, who owns Pot au Feu in Providence, made the comments following an online "town hall" held by Commerce RI on Thursday.
"A Thursday 'Town Hall' for a Monday opening — are you kidding me? Workers and customers are at risk," said Burke.
"People are doing what you expect them to do in bad times. Workers are staying out, owners are trying to stay open. Decisions are being made on who’s making the most money — and people are going to get hurt," said Burke. "People are going to restaurants where standards are unclear."
"I would eat at Pot au Feu because since March 16, 2020, it has been the safest place to eat in Rhode Island," said Burke. "We continue to surpass every health and safety standard that the state sets to assure our workers and customers that we will make our workplace and food the safest in the state."
But Raimondo says the state's data shows RI is ready to loosen restrictions.
"As we enter Phase 2, we’re going to continue keeping a close eye on these four metrics, and if we continue on the path we’re on, then I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to enter into Phase 3 in July. But if we start getting lax about the public safety precautions, then we may need to take a step back," said Raimondo.
"I’m excited about what’s ahead in Phase 2. Nearly every sector of our economy will see some form of reopening – from hairdressers and barbers to nail salons, indoor dining at restaurants, malls, gyms and outdoor recreation. We’re able to do this because we’ve worked collaboratively with the industries and health professionals to come up with a set of guidelines to help you open responsibly and keep employees and customers safe," she adds.
See Slideshow: 7 Major Coronavirus Developments Below
7 Major Coronavirus Developments — May 31, 2020
U.S. Supreme Court Rules Against Churches
In Rhode Island, a conservative think tank has threatened to sue Governor Gina Raimondo over how churches are being treated in the reopening plan. But, that issue is now moot.
As the WSJ reports:
The Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision rejected a California church’s request to set aside public-health orders capping attendance at services, issuing opinions shortly before midnight Friday.
The decision revealed sharp differences between Chief Justice John Roberts, who joined liberal justices in the majority, and other conservatives over the response to Covid-19.
The South Bay United Pentecostal Church, in Chula Vista, Calif., contended that the caps, to 25% of capacity or a maximum of 100 persons, discriminate against religion because some secular businesses, such as supermarkets, factories and restaurants, weren’t held to similar limits.
With many Christian clergy determined to hold Pentecost services on Sunday, the church’s brief warned that enforcing such public-health orders held the 'potential for widespread civil unrest.' The brief quoted President Trump’s statement last week that 'I will override the governors' if they fail to lift limits on in-person religious services."
Banks Shifting Resources to Deal with Loan Defaults
"The top four US banks by assets — Bank of America (BofA), JPMorgan Chase, Citi, and Wells Fargo — are reportedly restructuring employees' roles so they can handle troubled or defaulted loans," reports Business Insider.
"Banks stand to lose out on major revenue for several months because of the coronavirus relief options they've extended, like mortgage deferrals. To protect against that, they've increased loan loss provisions: Chase, Citi, Wells Fargo, and BofA collectively allocated $24.1 billion in Q1 2020 to cover future loan losses.
Banks will need to gain a holistic picture of customers' financial situations to determine who they should nudge back toward repayment — and for that, they'll likely need all hands on deck to sift through the thousands of accountholders who opted into some deferral programs."
Dangers of Opening Too Soon
Scientists are warning that the decisions to reopen are being made for political and economic reasons.
Professor John Edmunds said it was a "political decision" to ease measures; Sir Jeremy Farrar said the NHS test and trace system should be "fully working".
From Monday schools will reopen and up to six people can meet in England, with other nations also easing measures.
The government said it had followed the data and evidence at all times.
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), which advises the government, has published details of its confidential meetings.
It includes minutes of 34 Sage sessions, going back to 22 January, and a series of scientific reports.
They show one Sage meeting on 23 April estimated there would be only 1,000 cases per day by mid-May.
Instead, estimates by the Office for National Statistics suggest there are currently 8,000 cases per day in England alone. Those figures do not include cases in care homes or hospitals.
Another Chain Files for Bankruptcy - This One in Healthcare
The corporate bankruptcy filings continue from JC Penney to Hertz car rental. Now, it is a retail healthcare company.
The Wall Street Journal reports:
Vision Group Holdings, the management company behind two leading Lasik surgery brands, filed for bankruptcy protection and launched a sale process aimed at placing the business into new hands as its surgical centers reopen.
Carrying $160 million in debt, Vision, the holding company operator of the Lasik Vision Institute and TLC Laser Eye Center chains, said it filed for chapter 11 on Friday over the “temporary and devastating shutdown” of the company’s roughly 120 Lasik centers due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a sworn declaration, interim Chief Executive Lisa Melamed said Vision has fired more than 800 employees, roughly two-thirds of its workforce, when elective surgeries were effectively banned across much of the country. As stay-at-home restrictions are now gradually easing, Vision is hopeful the bankruptcy will provide liquidity to reopen most locations “and pave the way to a successful sale of the company’s assets,” she said.
Numbers
14,819 Cases in Rhode Island
96,301 Cases in Massachusetts
711 Deaths in RI
6,768 Deaths in Massachusetts
1,783,132 Cases in the United States
104,166 Deaths in the United States
6,184,267 Global Cases
371,366 Global Deaths
2,754,386 Global Recoveries
How We Failed Nursing Home Patients
Former President of Rhode Island Hospital Dr. Joe Amaral writes a critical analysis of the failure to protect nursing home patients:
"My head has been spinning since writing “A Western World Tragedy”. The implications of 30-80% of the now 100,000 deaths in the United States occurring in patients from nursing homes and long care facilities are staggering and surreal. Grandparents, parents, siblings, relatives, and friends are gone. Death under any circumstance is a tragedy to those left behind but it is even worse when they are not present in the final moments.
How could this be? Mother Nature has a cruel way of showing her dominance over us. No matter how strong and smart we think we are, we do not rule."
No Go for East Side Art Festival
Governor Gina Raimondo's administration has ruled that the PVD Artisans Market scheduled for June 6 at Lippitt Park on the East Side of Providence is not allowed.
In an email to GoLocalProv, Commerce RI's spokesman Matt Sheaff said, "At this time, this event would not be allowed as events with more than 15 people are not allowed in Phase II. However, we are exploring options and potential guidance that would allow for outdoor retail to occur in the next couple of weeks.”
Arts festivals across the state have canceled their events due to Raimondo's executive orders.
As a result of the decision, the event has been postponed. Under the existing regulations - this event would not be able until PHASE III.
