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And so it begins - @GovRaimondo says we have a lot to cover today. She’s joined by @AInfanteGreen and as always Dr. Nicole Alexander Scott
“I want to remind you people die every day in Rhode Island because of the virus, it’s not gone,” @GovRaimondo says
Data shows small spike in cases over the past few days. “Today we’re back below a 2% test positive” following that spike
“We want it be able to pinpoint what’s driving these increases...” RIDOH has done a deep dive into contact tracing of more than 4,000 positive cases. “One thing is crystal clear: we’re partying too much” @GovRaimondo says
Cases are traced back to a house party, large birthday party at a restaurant, baby shower, sports banquet... list goes on - gov says pattern is the same: more than 25 people not wearing masks, friends and family in close contact
“Sometimes we’re finding 7-10 positive cases from each party - if you’re doing this, I need you to #KnockItOff” - @GovRaimondo
“Your right to have a party should not infringe on their right to live,” the gov says talking about individuals on ventilators
Gov says this is particularly true for people between 20 and 30 years old. So - are we going forward a phase or backward a phase...
**Today is the end of #Phase3 in R.I.**
“I have a decision to make” as to whether we go forward or back, @GovRaimondo says
“I have a decision to make” as to whether we go forward or back, @GovRaimondo says
Hospitalizations have plateaued... but here’s what the gov says “gives us pause”: the R value, which is the number of people that one positive person infects - want to see it 1.1 or lower...
“In the past few days we’ve seen that number increase to about 1.3 or 1.4.” Believe that’s directly attributable to these social gatherings that are “too large”
#Breaking: “We cannot move forward to Phase 4,” @GovRaimondo says. She is EXTENDING Phase 3 for another 30 days with one change - social gathering limit is LOWERED from 25 to 15
Indoor settings like restaurants will still have a max of 125 people and outdoor 250. AS FOR WEDDINGS: 50 indoor, 100 outdoor
We need to get back to work and allow our children to get back to schools safely, gov says. So again, “social gatherings” will be limited, indoor and outdoor, to 15 people.
Now talking about bars... “there no reason for not complying” now. Enforcement will be increased to monitor overcrowding. “If you’re not following the rules, we’re going to shut you down.”
Biggest problems are in restaurants that have a bar, and crowds are being allowed “around the bar”. If you find yourself in a crowd, “leave”, gov says
Phase 3 guidelines for restaurants and bars:
-bars can’t operate like bars
-you can have a bartender but no bar seating, OR, you can have bar seating for dinner but no bartender.
- you CAN have both seating and a bartender at a bar, WITH plexiglass between
-bars can’t operate like bars
-you can have a bartender but no bar seating, OR, you can have bar seating for dinner but no bartender.
- you CAN have both seating and a bartender at a bar, WITH plexiglass between
You cannot have STANDING drink service. “We’ll be sending out more inspectors and cracking down on the bad actors.”
Over a third of the 100 establishments inspected last week were not up to par. Starting today, the state will be publishing a list of restaurants not following rules at http://reopeningri.com
The majority of restaurants are complying by the rules, gov says.
“I don’t want to shut you down, I want everyone to be in business... if it doesn’t get better, I’ll have no choice” but to cut back on capacity, @GovRaimondo says. “Consider this almost like a last warning.”
Also asking people of #RhodeIsland to avoid crowding and call the tip line if they see establishments not following guidelines
Alright, now SCHOOLS...
Gov says we’re seeing the negative effects of kids not being in school, and “of course they should be in school, but what’s it going to take to make it so they can safely be in school?”
Gov says we’re seeing the negative effects of kids not being in school, and “of course they should be in school, but what’s it going to take to make it so they can safely be in school?”
“We’re not going to let anyone go back to school in person if it’s not safe.” Two months ago, childcare centers were opened in R.I., gov says... strict guidelines there are working
“We have now more than 75% of our childcare system open,” more than 1000 employees have been working for 8,000 kids in this care for the last two months. Total of 12 positive cases among children and 14 among adult staff members.
In those cases, gov says cleaning was immediately done and information immediately recorded.
Scheduled to start school in five weeks. @GovRaimondo says she was on the phone with all superintendents this morning... clear criteria and guidelines are being establishment and “a plan ready to change on a dime if we see spikes”.
630 new positive cases throughout the last week, 59 per hundred thousand - gov is comparing those numbers to states like FL & LA, saying we’d be having a much different conversation if we were there
“We are listening to experts as we think about reopening school.” A group of academic experts is working with the state to look at “metrics” to guide decisions... gov will go through them
Here are those metrics:
