7 Major Coronavirus Developments — RI Exposed Due to Outdated Tech — May 17, 2020

Updated U.S. Death Projections 

The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) has updated its projections to 147,040 COVID-19 deaths by August 4, 2020.

IHME is one of the models used by the White House and the State of Rhode Island.
 

Slow Recovery for Auto Industry 

The Wall Street Journal is reporting it will be a slow recovery for U.S. automakers:

"Like many in the U.S. auto industry this month, Peter Anthony is busy trying to get his auto-supply business running again after a multiweek shutdown.

But orders from car makers are just trickling in. He had called back only about 5% of his 2,000-employee workforce as of last week, and doesn’t expect to return to profitability soon.

'No supplier out there is making money right now,' said Mr. Anthony, whose Chicago-based UGN Automotive makes carpeting and insulation for vehicle interiors. 'Everyone is going to have to be really flexible.'

Auto makers and their vast network of parts suppliers are determined to get back to work. But like businesses across the country, they are facing both complications and costs around worker safety and depressed customer demand."

RI Continues to be Among Top Per Capita for Cases and Deaths

Rhode Island ranks 4th for cases per 1 million population

Rhode Island ranks 8th for deaths per 1 million population

Does Summer Help Slow Virus?

"New research has bolstered the hypothesis that summer’s heat, humidity, abundant sunshine and opportunities for people to get outside should combine to inhibit — though certainly not halt — the spread of the coronavirus," reports the Washington Post.

"But infectious disease experts add a cautionary note: Any benefit from summer conditions would likely be lost if people mistakenly believe the virus can’t spread in warm weather and abandon efforts that limit infections, such as social distancing.

“'The best way to think about weather is as a secondary factor here,' said Mohammad Jalali, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School who has researched how weather affects the spread of viruses."

Return of Disney Getting Closer

"Walt Disney Co. will partially reopen its Disney Springs entertainment and shopping complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida on May 20, it said late on Saturday.

Disney and unions representing workers at Florida’s Walt Disney World reached an agreement on safeguards to protect employees from the coronavirus, a union statement said on Thursday, removing one of the company’s hurdles to reopening its popular theme parks," reports Reuters.

Rhode Island Restaurants Open Monday for Outdoor Dining

On Monday, Rhode Island restaurants open for outdoor eating with a slew of restrictions.

The limitations include:

- Tables must be 8 feet apart from one another, with a table number limit per restaurant of 20
- No more than 5 people in a party
- Restaurants must use paper/disposable, or blackboards or electronic menus
- No walk-ups, only reservation
- Those making reservations must provide all their contact information in case there needs to be contact tracing

Numbers

12,434 Cases in Rhode Island

84,933 Cases in Massachusetts

489 Deaths in RI

5,705 Deaths in Massachusetts

1,507,798 Cases in the United States

90,113 Deaths in the United States

4,743,444 Global Cases

313,704 Global Deaths

1,826,290 Global Recoveries