7 Major Coronavirus Developments — RI Minorities Suffer 60% of All Coronavirus Cases — April 20
GoLocalProv News Team
7 Major Coronavirus Developments — RI Minorities Suffer 60% of All Coronavirus Cases — April 20
As previously reported by Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, Hispanics comprise 45% of those testing positive — while comprising approximately 15.9% of the state’s population, according to U.S.Census data.
African-Americans comprise 12 percent of the positive tests and are 8.4% of the population.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTRacial Breakdown of Those Testing Positive, According to the Rhode Island Department of Health - April 19, 2020
Hispanic (any race): 45%
Non-Hispanic black/African American: 12%
Non-Hispanic white: 40%
Non-Hispanic other: 3%
(Non-Hispanic multiple races: <1%)
WATCH: Former RI Director of Health Dr. Michael Fine on GoLocal LIVE at 12 PM on Monday
Two weeks ago, GoLocal wrote in an editorial, "In Michigan and Illinois, more than 40% of deaths are among African Americans, who make up just 14% and 15% of their populations, respectively. In Louisiana, African Americans represent 70% of deaths but account for only 33% of the state’s population."
Last week, the Rhode Island Legislative Black and Latino Caucus called for the state to step up and release racial data.
"Whether this is due to economic factors, lack of medical resources, non-access to proper nutrition, or underlying conditions that affect minority communities more than others, it is becoming clear that COVID-19 is ravaging minorities more than any other group. The public and its leaders need this data in order to stop this troubling pattern and this is why we are urging Governor Raimondo and Dr. Alexander-Scott to release this important data so that we have the whole picture of the impact of COVID-19, particularly on Rhode Island’s minority residents,” said Rep. Jean Philippe Barros (D-Dist. 59, Pawtucket), Chairman of the RI Legislative Black and Latino Caucus last week.
READ 7 Major Coronavirus Developments BELOW
7 Major Coronavirus Developments — April 20, 2020
Department Stores' Demise
Neiman Marcus is expected to file for bankruptcy this week and that may be the first of many department stores to file for bankruptcy, receivership or, at best, announce the closure of more stores.
"America’s department stores are on a sinking ship, racing for a lifeboat that might not be big enough for all of them.
For J.C. Penney, the bankruptcy clock is ticking after it skipped a mid-April interest payment. Its turnaround plans have been sidelined by the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced the closure of all of its stores. Macy’s, with liquidity drying up, has tapped advisors at investment bank Lazard and law firm Kirkland & Ellis to explore options that include new financing. Nordstrom in early April raised $600 million by placing a handful of its real estate assets into a separate company and borrowing against the new entity by issuing bonds," reports CNBC.
Numbers
4,706 Cases in Rhode Island
38,077 Cases in Massachusetts
150 Deaths in RI
1,706 Deaths in Massachusetts
765,914 Cases in the United States
41,124 Deaths in the United States
2,428,317 Global Cases
166,453 Global Deaths
643,230 Global Recoveries
Sports Could Be Crushed By Second Wave
The Wall Street Journal writes that the busy fall sports schedule could be severely impacted by the so-called "second wave" of the coronavirus.
The September sports calendar is suddenly packed. In addition to the usual Saturdays and Sundays filled with college and professional football, the lineup now includes the Kentucky Derby, the Tour de France, two rescheduled marathons, golf tournaments and tennis Grand Slams. And that could deal another blow to an industry already reeling from the unprecedented disruptions of the coronavirus pandemic.
Those blockbuster sports events are scheduled right in time for a bigger problem: the second wave of the virus.
There has always been a second wave in the epidemics that have interrupted American life over the last century, from influenza to AIDS, and top infectious disease experts have been warning for weeks that history will likely repeat itself in the coronavirus pandemic.
The return of this new coronavirus is the darkest shadow hanging over the future of sports, concerts and every kind of mass gathering that was commonplace before. If there is no second wave, it would break a streak of centuries.
“Second waves are inevitable in pandemics when you don’t have a vaccine,” said Carlos Del Rio, head of the global-health department at Emory University, who chaired the panel that guided the National Collegiate Athletic Association to shutting down sports this spring. “Any disease when you have an epidemic, when you loosen up prevention, you’ll have a second wave.”
East Providence Announces Grim News
"There are now 32 residents of Orchard View Manor that have lost their lives to COVID-19 virus. Staff put up a memorial display as a procession of hundreds of vehicles with police, Fire, family and community supporters drove by to pay respect to lives lost and nursing home staff," tweeted East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva.
Over the weekend, DaSilva signed an order that all city residents must wear face coverings while in public.
Shake Shack Returns $10M PPP Funds
As the federal PPP funds are now exhausted, some companies are coming scrutiny for taking the funds -- intended for small businesses. After criticism, Shake Shack has announced it is returning its funds, announcing the following.
Shake Shack, like all restaurant businesses in America, is doing the best we can to navigate these challenging times. We don’t know what the future holds. Our people would benefit from a $10 million PPP loan but we’re fortunate to now have access to capital that others do not. Until every restaurant that needs it has had the same opportunity to receive assistance, we’re returning ours.
Danny Meyer is CEO Union Square Hospitality Group, Founder and Chairman of Shake Shack
Randy Garutti is CEO of Shake Shack
GoLocal LIVE Schedule for Monday, April 20, 2020
10:00 AM - Aaron Renn, Urbanist
11:00 AM - Cortney Nicolato, CEO United Way of RI
12:00 PM - Dr. Michael Fine, Former RI Director of the RI Department of Health
1:00 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.
