7 Major Coronavirus Developments — RI Gets D- Grade, Nursing Home Issues and Record Deaths

Trump Ups His Predictions - Now Says 100,000 Will Die

President Donald Trump warned this weekend in an interview that as many as 100,000 people could die of coronavirus in the US.

He made the remarks during  a two-hour virtual "town hall."

More than 67,000 people have already died with Covid-19 in the US.

Trump said he is optimistic about the development of a vaccine. The President said one could be ready by the end of this year. 

"I think we're going to have a vaccine by the end of the year," he told Fox News. "The doctors would say, well you shouldn't say that. I'll say what I think... I think we'll a vaccine sooner rather than later."

Financial Markets Tumble Monday

Friction between the United States and China is sparking financial markets to tumble on Monday.

"Global stock markets and oil prices fell Monday as U.S.-China tensions escalated over blame for the possible origin of the coronavirus pandemic," reports the Wall Street Journal.

"Futures tied to the S&P 500 retreated 1%, suggesting U.S. shares could fall Monday. In Europe, the pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 fell 2.3%, playing catch-up after most European markets were closed Friday for the May 1 holiday.

The Trump administration stepped up assertions that the new coronavirus originated at a laboratory in the Chinese city of Wuhan, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying Sunday that he has seen 'enormous evidence' for this. The White House will release a 'conclusive' report on the topic, according to President Trump," writes WSJ.

Regional Buying

Sunday, the Raimondo administration announced that  Rhode Island joined a multi-state collaborative to purchase personal protective equipment and other medical supplies. The coalition of states, including Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania, will identify regional need for medical supplies, work together to reduce costs and stabilize the supply chain.

Specialty Nursing Home Announced

The Department of Health announced Sunday that it had established a second "Specialty Nursing Home."

A GoLocal investigation unveiled that the state's first "Specialty Nursing Home had been cited for nearly 50 violations by federal regulators.

"Oak Hill has been cited 45 times for violations in recent years, according to federal reports compiled by ProPublica. Those 45 violations are the largest number of violations of any nursing home in the state during the time period.

The corporation that owns the facility says most of the violations took place under the previous owners, but a GoLocal review finds that the current corporate ownership has been cited for issues across the country at their facilities," GoLocal reported.

Health has now announced that Oakland Grove Health Care Center, in Woonsocket, has become the State’s second nursing home to become a COVID-19 specialty nursing home. Along with previously named Oak Hill Health and Rehabilitation Center in Pawtucket, Oakland Grove will accept patients who are being discharged from the hospital and who are COVID-positive but no longer require acute-level care.

Oakland Grove has been cited 10 times by federal regulators between 2017 and 2019, according to data collected by Pro Publica. The facility was fined $7,803 for its violations

"This strategy allows COVID-positive patients leaving the hospital to receive specialized rehabilitation and step-down, post-acute care while reserving hospital beds for patients who need acute-level care. Current Oakland Grove residents who do not have COVID-19 symptoms will be located in a separate unit of the facility," according to Health.

J. Crew Files for Chapter 11

What is expected to be the first of many retailers, J. Crew on Monday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

"Under the terms of the Transaction Support Agreement ("TSA"), the Company's lenders will convert approximately $1.65 billion of the Company's debt into equity.

To facilitate the restructuring contemplated by the TSA, the parent company of J.Crew Group, Inc., Chinos Holdings, Inc. and certain affiliates, have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia," said the company in a press release.

Numbers

9,477 Cases in Rhode Island

68,087 Cases in Massachusetts

320 Deaths in RI

4,004 Deaths in Massachusetts

1,188,826 Cases in the United States

68,606 Deaths in the United States

3,582,892 Global Cases

248,567 Global Deaths

1,160,131 Global Recoveries

GoLocal LIVE, Monday, May 4, 2020

11:00 AM - Evan Smith, Discover Newport discussing the impact of the virus on the tourism industry

12:00 PM - Dr. Michael Fine, Former Director of RI Dept. of Health

3:00 PM - Governor Gina Raimondo Briefing

EDITOR'S NOTE: Raimondo does not allow Rhode Islanders to hear reporters' questions. Nearly all governors across the country and the White House allow reporters to ask questions directly and for the public to hear the questions and the responses.