Coronavirus in RI: Pick Bars or Schools Says Dr. Fine — 5% of RIers Infected Die From Disease

Coronavirus in RI: Pick Bars or Schools Says Dr. Fine — 5% of RIers Infected Die From Disease

Dr. Michael Fine is warning that Rhode Island is not doing enough to control the spread of the coronavirus -- which he says is going to adversely impact the opening of schools.

“I think our job needs to be to close bars and inside dining…and then drive the number of infections per 100,000 to five and then we can get schools going and opening bars and restaurants again,” said Fine, the former Rhode Island Director of Health. 

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“We, not only as a state but as a nation, we are trying to have our cake and eat it too. I just don’t think it is going to work,” said Fine.

According to Governor Gina Raimondo's metrics, many of Rhode Island's largest communities -- including many of the schools in the urban corridor -- would not be able to open on September 14, if numbers continue at their existing level.

Providence, Central Falls, Pawtucket, Cranston, and other communities would not be able to open their schools.

"We ought to be pouring resources into those communities to help them get the transmission back to next to nothing. They need their schools -- everyone needs their schools -- but they need their schools most intensely," said Fine of urban schools. 

Raimondo's Delays

Raimondo spoke to delaying the start of schools in Rhode Island -- and the announcement of what that will look like. 

"Is the school ready to open under the new protocols? To that end I want to thank administrators who have been working hard to make sure schools are ready to open," said Raimondo. "It’s a herculean task — a lot of work and detail. Have you made facilities upgrades for better airflow? Have you readjusted traffic flow — are there special precautions in place for at-risk faculty and at-risk students?"

Raimondo said that people have asked her about schools reopening in Rhode Island after photos from states such as Georgia showed students in close proximity -- with some of those schools now switching to distance learning. 

"[People say], have you seen those pictures of the schools in Georgia in the weeks of opening? No one’s wearing masks, no social distancing," said Raimondo. "That’s not Rhode Island — we’re in a much better place in Rhode Island. That’s what we don’t want to do. We won’t open schools until they’re safe. That’s why we’re making so hard to make sure the precautions are in place here."

"We’re pushing back the start date of public schools and statewide calendar by two weeks — kids will begin school year on September 14," said Raimondo. "We’re doing this because it gives schools a little more time to be ready, to make sure they have enough PPE and masks, so that they have a way to keep windows open or have airflow, get kids to and from schools safely."

For some schools, they are still scrambling to secure supplies. Blackstone Valley Prep told GoLocal this week that buying safety supplies are difficult and expensive.

“We are bidding for basic materials on the open market against everyone from Brown, Harvard, and Moses Brown. I am going to lose [that bidding war] seven days a week,” said Chiappetta.

“It is like the states fighting against each other for ventilators and PPE in the spring. Now, schools are fighting each other. There is no plan,” he added.

The total increase in cost at Blackstone Valley Prep -- one of the top-performing charter schools in Rhode Island that serves a highly diverse population of students -- is upward of $2 million increase cost.

For the school, the $2 million is a big number -- a 6% increase in costs over last year’s budget.

Numbers

Rhode Island continues to be the state with the 5th highest death rate and as RI crossed over the 20,000 positive case threshold -- and the state continues to report that 5% of all infected in the state have died. To date, 20,335 have been infected and 1,021 have died.