Rhode Island Set to Lift Restrictions in "Phase One"

According to Governor Gina Raimondo's administration:

Retail: Non-critical retail stores that have been closed will be allowed to reopen in-person operations, including for limited in-person browsing. Pre-ordering and in-store pick-up will still be encouraged as the safest option. Retailers will be able to have one person browsing for every 300 square feet of space. Every staff member and customer will need to wear a mask at all times. 
Offices: Everyone who can work from home should continue to work from home. In the meantime, employers should begin taking steps immediately to prepare for eventually bringing more employees back into the office. 
Restaurants: Later in phase 1, limited outdoor in-person seating options at restaurants will be allowed. 
Healthcare: In phase 1, anyone who has deferred healthcare needs, including well-visits and specialty care should call their primary care provider. Telehealth is still the best option if possible. 

White House Watched Model

"A model, closely watched by White House officials, raised its fatality projections on Monday to more than 134,000 American deaths by early August from Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

The model, from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, more than doubled its previous projection of about 60,000 total deaths, an increase that it said partly reflects 'changes in mobility and social-distancing policies,'" reports the New York Times.

“There remains a large number of counties whose burden continues to grow,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Dispute Over Another Model

The White House is disputing a claim that a new government projection anticipates 3,000 deaths a day - up from the daily average of 1,750.

The White House denies that the higher projections are a part of the government's analysis.

Deaths Up in Rhode Island

For the past two out of three days, Rhode Island has reported 20 or more deaths. 

Housing Prices Up

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that new data from the National Association of Realtors show housing prices continue to show strength.

"The economy is shrinking, businesses are closing and jobs are disappearing due to the coronavirus pandemic. But in the housing market, prices keep chugging higher.

Home prices plunged during the last recession after a housing crash caused millions of families to lose their homes. Home values could start to erode again, especially when mortgage forbearances end, some economists warn.

But that hasn’t been the case so far. The median home price rose 8% year-over-year to $280,600 in March, according to the National Association of Realtors. While buyer demand has softened and sales fell 8.5% that month from the prior month, the supply of homes on the market is contracting even faster, recent preliminary data shows."

Numbers

9,652 Cases in Rhode Island

69,087 Cases in Massachusetts

341 Deaths in RI

4,090 Deaths in Massachusetts

1,213,010 Cases in the United States

69,925 Deaths in the United States

3,665,403 Global Cases

252,944 Global Deaths

1,206,314 Global Recoveries

GoLocal LIVE, Tuesday, May 5, 2020

10:00 AM - Zach Levesque, Northpointe Bank -- State of Real Estate in RI

12:00 PM - Dr. Michael Fine, Former Director of RI Department of Health

1:00 PM - Governor Gina Raimondo Briefing

3:00 PM - Professor Jennifer Lawless, Chair of the University of Virginia Political Science Department

EDITOR'S NOTE: Raimondo does not allow Rhode Islanders to hear reporters' questions. Nearly all governors across the country and the White House allow reporters to ask questions directly and for the public to hear the questions and the responses.