Weekly COVID-19 Briefings

RI Dept. of Health (RIDOH) Announcements from Jan. 8 include:

• Following the announcement of Gov. Raimondo as the Biden administration's pick as the next U.S. commerce secretary, Lt. Gov. Dan McKee is ready to lead the effort against the virus as he ascends to the governor's office upon Raimondo's expected confirmation. During her Jan. 8 press briefing, RIDOH Director Alexander-Scott indicated that Lt. Gov. Dan McKee is committed to continuing the RIDOH COVID-response team.
• On Monday, Jan. 11 RIDOH expects to be able to update outpatient providers on the earliest date they can receive vaccine doses. It is expected that signups could occur by the end of January 2021.
• RIDOH provided an update on the current status of RI COVID-19 vaccine efforts, announcing 29,743 people have received one dose of vaccine. Close to 1,800 people have received two doses of vaccine and are fully immunized against COVID-19. Supply is very limited. The state is receiving approximately 14,000 doses each week - enough for just over 1% of RI's population. 
• December 23 - RIDOH is working with municipalities to hold a series of Regional Points of Dispensing (PODs) to vaccinate prioritized populations. RIDOH is seeking licensed medical professionals with prescribing privileges to volunteer at these PODs, but also appreciate other volunteers. To volunteer, please complete this survey. Not everyone who completes the form will be contacted either because of scheduling limitations or because RIDOH may have sufficient volunteers.

• December 18 - Governor Raimondo announced the state's current "Pause" will end on Monday, December 21. Due to the 3-week Pause, the test-positive rate in RI is also decreasing
• December 18 - Governor Raimondo announced that by December 28, the state expects to begin rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine to nursing homes and open 5 regional clinics (locations TBD)
• December 11 - The RI Dept. of Health released updated requirements for quarantining. A person must quarantine if they have been in close contact with COVID-19 (within 6 feet of someone with COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes in a 24-hour period):

• November 5 - With the U.S. hitting its first day of over 100,000 daily positive cases, Governor Raimondo announced 566 new confirmed cases in Rhode Island, and 8 deaths. The Governor noted data is trending in the wrong direction – see images in the full newsletter.
• November 5 - Governor Raimondo announced new restrictions in Rhode Island that take effect on Sunday, November 8 – see images in the full newsletter.
• November 5 - RI Dept. of Health has worked to find community immunizers willing to offer flu vaccine to homebound patients. Patients who are not able to leave their home can contact participating community immunizers serving particular communities: 
  • South County Home Health, 401-782-0500 (East Greenwich-Westerly with provider order)
  • Coastal Medical at Home Program, 401-330-2480 (Coastal at Home Program patients only)
  • Scituate Health Alliance, 401-721-6102 (Scituate residents only)
  • Cumberland EMS, 401-408-4068 (Cumberland residents only)
  • Visiting Nurse Home & Hospice, 401-682-2100 ext. 1470 (Nan Heffenreffer will provide services statewide for all other residents)

• October 9 - The state reminds Rhode Islanders that all state test sites will be closed on Monday, October 12 (this includes the Convention Center, Cumberland Stop & Shop, Newport Stop & Shop, and the Block Island Fire and Rescue Barn. There will be no available appointments on portal.ri.gov. All state K-12 test sites will also be closed on Monday, October 12. Sites will reopen on Tuesday, October 13. Rhode Islanders with symptoms needing to get tested should call their primary care provider, pediatrician, or local respiratory clinic.  
• October 7 - Governor Raimondo emphasized that when an effective and approved vaccine is ready for distribution, the state will use CARES Act funds and FEMA dollars to set up and deploy a statewide distribution plan for the COVID-19 vaccine. The Governor will be convening a subcommittee of the state's Vaccine Advisory Committee. The subcommittee will be tasked with an independent methodology for determining the safety and efficacy of the available COVID-19 vaccines, and provide expertise and recommendations for how to most equitably and effectively distribute the vaccine(s). The subcommittee includes epidemiologists, PCPs, pharmacists, pediatricians, LTC advocates, ethicists, nonprofit leaders, school leaders, faith leaders.
• October 1 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced $20 billion in new funding for providers on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. Under this Phase 3 General Distribution allocation, providers that have already received Provider Relief Fund payments will be invited to apply for additional funding that considers financial losses and changes in operating expenses caused by the coronavirus. Previously ineligible providers, such as those who began practicing in 2020 will also be invited to apply, and an expanded group of behavioral health providers confronting the emergence of increased mental health and substance use issues exacerbated by the pandemic will also be eligible for relief payments. Applications are open now.
• September 30 - The RI Department of Health launched an extensive campaign to vaccinate 90% of Rhode Islanders against the flu. Flu shots will become available at hundreds of community clinics, schools, COVID-19 testing sites (for asymptomatic people), pharmacies, nursing homes, doctors' offices, and other sites throughout the state. Flu vaccination will lower the chance that someone will have to deal with the serious health consequences of the flu and that Rhode Island's healthcare system will be overburdened with both flu and COVID-19 patients in the coming months. For a list of vaccination clinics and general information about the flu, visit www.health.ri.gov/flu. Evening school clinics are open to the entire community. For information about the flu in Spanish, visit health.ri.gov/gripe. People with additional questions can call RIDOH's Health Information Line at 401-222-5960 / RI Relay 711.

• September 10 - Governor Raimondo confirmed again every school district in Rhode Island has been cleared for full in-person learning for the first day of school on Monday, September 14, except for Providence and Central Falls. A full list of the state's 12 testing sites dedicated for the K-12 education system can be found at www.back2schoolri.com.
• September 9 - HHS reminded communities the application has been extended for Provider Relief Funds until Sunday, September 13. There is only one portal open to all eligible providers, regardless of billing. The Portal is referred to on the HHS website as the Provider Relief Fund Phase 2 General Distribution. All providers must make an application to the Phase 2 portal by the Sunday deadline, including providers who previously submitted an application to the Medicare portal, but who have not yet received ~2% of revenues from patient care. 
• September 9 - Governor Raimondo emphasized the seasonal flu vaccine is more important than ever given the ongoing pandemic, stressing the previous 55% adult flu vaccination rate and 75% pediatric rate will not be good enough for this upcoming flu season. The state will be partnering with schools to bring flu shots into schools and health equity zones in urban communities, as well as nursing homes, grocery stores, and working with cities and towns to offer free flu shots. The state is ordering 150,000 additional doses of the flu vaccines for Rhode Islanders.
• September 2 - Governor Raimondo extended her executive order continuing expanded telemedicine services to October 3.
• August 31 - Governor Raimondo announced the launch of www.takeitoutsideri.com, a new initiative that is allowing groups and local businesses to reserve open space at RI local and state parks.

• 08/13/2020 - Governor Raimondo met with Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health via Facebook Live, discussing plans for school, the health benefits of in-person learning, and the precautions that need to be in place to be confident in the safety of Rhode Island schools. Their conversation is now available to be viewed via Facebook or YouTube. Governor Raimondo highlighted concerns surrounding increased child obesity rates, lower vaccination rates, and other pediatric health concerns that the state is working to address during this pandemic.
• 08/12/2020 - Based on recommendations from the RI Department of Health and RI Department of Education, the Governor is delaying the reopening of schools by two weeks (now scheduled to reopen on Monday, September 14 with the school year concluding on June 25, 2021. The Governor is also pushing back the deadline for determining if a school district will start the school year in-person (or online) from August 16 to August 31. This deadline extension allows the state to make decisions with the best and most up-to-date testing data.
• 08/12/2020 - Governor Raimondo announced that state is looking to outsource some of the contact tracing infrastructure to quickly ramp-up capacity to meet the needs of the RI Department of Health. Currently, RIDOH and the RI National Guard have between 100-200 people dedicated to the state's contact tracing program/capabilities.
• 08/07/2020 - RIDOH reiterated that asymptomatic testing has been expanded to every Rhode Islander 18- to 39-years-old. This age group has a higher rate of positive test results than other age groups, and they are more likely to have the virus without having any symptoms. Rhode Islanders within this age group should visit portal.ri.gov to schedule a test.

• 08/05/2020 - Governor Raimondo announced Rhode Islanders must adhere to new travel restrictions for several neighboring states: MA, NJ, CT and NY. Rhode Islanders will need to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival or provide proof of a negative test result within 72 hours. Read more about MA's travel order here.
  • Due to the new travel restrictions, the Governor and RIDOH are launching a new rapid testing program at the RI Convention Center. Starting this afternoon, folks that need a rapid test will be able to schedule a test at www.portal.ri.gov and should receive their results in 24-48 hours.
  • The Governor announced increased enforcement of the inbound travel restrictions to RI, especially since the most recent testing data revealed that 11% of new positive cases were traced back to out-of-state travelers.
  • Beginning August 9, anyone from the states below who check-in at a RI hotel or rental property will need to sign a certificate of compliance verifying that they have a negative test result or that they intend to quarantine - or they will not be able to stay.
• 08/05/2020 - Due to recent increases in positive cases among 18- to 39-year-olds, RIDOH is urging individuals within this age group to schedule a free asymptomatic COVID-19 test through portal.ri.gov. If someone in this age group (or someone they have been in contact with) has attended a social gathering, traveled to a hot spot, or works in a high-contact setting, they are eligible to schedule an asymptomatic test. They may now select "I am part of an age group that has been asked to get tested" as a reason for requesting an appointment through the online scheduling system.
• 08/05/2020 - EOHHS has received complaints from consumers about reopened provider practices charging patients fees for costs related to personal protective equipment (PPE) and other CDC infection control recommendations in response to COVID-19. Provider practices should not bill or collect fees from patients for increased costs associated with COVID-19. Unless otherwise stipulated, the Medicaid Program reimbursement is considered payment in full. The provider is not permitted to seek further payment from beneficiaries over the Medicaid Program rate.