7 Major Coronavirus Developments — Raimondo Says RI's Projections Are Worse — April 1, 2020
GoLocalProv News Team
7 Major Coronavirus Developments — Raimondo Says RI's Projections Are Worse — April 1, 2020
Governor Gina Raimondo said Rhode Island's modeling shows a higher number and a later surge. "Our model looks a little different. Our model would suggest that the peak is further out but also higher. Having said that we're still working the model -- none of these models are precise enough at this point," said Raimondo on Tuesday.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTRhode Island state officials have repeatedly refused to release the state's modeling. GoLocal requested copies of the modeling starting on March 2, 2020.
"I am writing in response to your request for “copies of your modeling for the number of RI's that could be impacted -- best and worst-case scenarios.' The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) has determined that the records you have requested are not subject to disclosure because they fall into the category: R. I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(K) (“Preliminary drafts, notes, impressions, memoranda, working papers, and work products…”)," wrote Joseph Wendelken with the Department of Health on March 18 in an email to GoLocal.
Raimondo refused to give specifics on the Rhode Island modeling.
WATCH: Former RI Director of Health Dr. Michael Fine on GoLocal LIVE at 12 PM on Wednesday
On Tuesday, the White House and CDC released the federal government's model. SEE BELOW
READ BELOW 7 Major Coronavirus Developments for Wednesday, April 1, 2020
7 Major Coronavirus Developments — Wednesday, April 1, 2020
National Guard at the Convention Center
The National Guard has been onsite at the Dunkin' Donuts Center and the Rhode Island Convention Center reviewing the potential use of the facilities for an overflow hospital.
On Monday, National Guard officials were onsite.
PHOTO: GoLocalProv.com
White House Releases Projections: 100,000 to 240,000 Deaths
On Tuesday, the White House released CDC projections on the number of deaths due to COVID-19.
The projections stated that 100,000 to 240,000 are likely to die.
Dr. Anthony Fauci has been discussing these numbers or higher for weeks.
Numbers
488 Cases in Rhode Island
6,620 Cases in Massachusetts
8 Deaths in RI
89 Deaths in Massachusetts
188,592 Cases in the United States
4,064 Deaths in the United States
868,846 Global Cases
42,443 Global Deaths
179,388 Global Recoveries
Italy's Ongoing Saga
According to the Wall Street Journal:
Italian authorities believe the country’s coronavirus epidemic, the world’s deadliest, is slowing down appreciably after three weeks of national lockdown, a hopeful sign for other Western countries that are following approaches similar to Italy’s with a time lag.
But Italian officials and health experts said it will take until after Easter to cut new infections enough to begin loosening the lockdown and reopen parts of Italy’s economy.
“We seem to be arriving at a sort of plateau, which shows that the measures are working,” said Silvio Brusaferro, president of the National Health Institute, Italy’s main disease-control center.
Expanded Testing By Appointment Only
Rhode Island state officials issued the following about expanded testing:
Testing had previously focused on healthcare workers (including EMS), hospitalized patients, and people who live in congregate living settings (such as nursing homes). With three additional remote swabbing sites (“drive-through testing sites”) now operational Rhode Island is expanding testing to three additional populations: people who are older than 65, people with underlying medical conditions, and critical infrastructure workers (such as police officers and firefighters).
To be tested someone must have symptoms. If someone in one of these groups has symptoms that they think need medical care, they should call their doctor. Someone cannot be tested in Rhode Island without being directed to a testing site by their doctor.
Locations include: Rhode Island College, University of Rhode Island and the Community College of RI.
United Nations Declares Coronavirus "Greatest Challenge Since WWII"
“We are facing a global health crisis unlike any in the 75-year history of the United Nations — one that is killing people, spreading human suffering and upending people’s lives,” the United Nations declared in a report calling for global solidarity in the fight.
“This is much more than a health crisis,” the report added. “The coronavirus is attacking societies at their core.”
PHOTO: Robert Sargent
GoLocal LIVE Wednesday
11 AM Cortney Mahoney Nicolato, President & CEO at United Way of Rhode Island to discuss 401 Gives
12 Noon Dr. Michael Fine, former Director of RIDOH
2:30 PM Governor Gina Raimondo's Press Briefing
2:30 PM Ken Doctor, news industry analyst and the author of Newsonomics, will discuss the impact of the economic crisis on media
4 PM Brown University's Dr. Daniel Moreno De Luca, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
