2020-05-04

175 new cases, 9652 total. 21 new deaths, 341 total. deaths ranged from 40s-60s: 1 in 40s, 2 in 60s, 1 in 70s, 8 in 80s, 8 in 90s. 339 hospitalized, 84 in ICU, 61 on ventilators. 601 discharged. 2209 tests Sunday, 78136 total tests. RI is opening sooner than our neighbor states but Phase 1 won't look very different from today. Slow & Steady, Flexible and Patient. Keey your network small, wear mask, 6-ft social distance, etc.  Phase 1 will probably be 14 days. In-person retail will open with restrictions: 1 person/3-sq ft., contactless payment. Visual depictions of the plan are on the ReOpening RI slides, page  6. Restaurants will have limited opening in Phase II. In Phase 1, take out and curbside pickup will continue. Phase II some outdoor seating by reservation only and with no common objects, including menus and silverware. Office workers should continue to work at home if possible, avoid communal areas, staggered shifts or pods, stay in same team, screen everyone every day, more frequent cleaning. Phase I emphasizes getting healthcare workers back to work, hospitals opening up for deferred elective surgery. Phase I prohibits visitation at congregate settings and hospitals. Dr Alexander-Scott explained ongoing testing strategy. Everyone with symptoms should be tested with results in 48 hours or less. Rapid outbreat responsiveness, and test people in community starting where people are face to face. Doing atest at 4 Stop & Shops of employees only on voluntary basis.
https://www.ri.gov/press/view/38277

http://ritv.devosvideo.com/show?video=bf7eb6c8a258&apg=71865d99

https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20200504/raimondo-hopes-to-allow-...

Dr. Michael Fine was interviewed on this date by Josh Fenton on GoLocalProv specifically about Central Falls, the smallest and most densely populated city in RI at 1.2 square miles (land) and 19,376 people in the 2010 census,  and the 27th most densely populated incorporated place in the US. With 503 confirmed infections to date, the rate of infection per 100,000 people is about the highest in the country ("about 2.6% of the population is positive. In New York City it's 2.1%"). The virus is especially dangerous in densely populated places where numerous people live in small apartments (making isolation difficult/impossible when one family member gets sick) and work in low-paying service jobs that are at higher risk of exposure to the virus. A problem is that the testing by residence municipality is not available, nor data by municipality for hospitalization. People are dying at home also in Central Falls, which particularly upsets Dr. Fine. Much more work is necessary to reach this population effectively. A few neighborhoods in both Pawtucket and Providence are also densely populated. In contrast, for example Barrington, RI has 16,310 residents in 8.4 sq. miles (land) - and a much high per capita income, and has only 33 cases.