As RI Opens Bars, Top Health Expert Warns Lifting Restrictions is “Courting Disaster”

As RI Opens Bars, Top Health Expert Warns Lifting Restrictions is “Courting Disaster”

Monday's GoLocal vaccination update provides the most up-to-date information and data on the Rhode Island vaccination program as well as emerging national and global developments.

 

1. RI Has Record Number of Unused Doses - Now, More than 87,000 Doses

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One state that can’t complain about federal supply of vaccine doses is RI. Each week the backlog gets worse and worse.

According to the Centers for Disease Control the RI Department of Health has received 228,650 doses and only administered 141,155 — 87,495 have not been used, now a record in RI.

 

2. UK Variant Cases Increase in MA - Is RI Testing Enough

The number of UK variant cases detected in Massachusetts jumped to 29. British and now U.S. scientists are warning that the variant is more deadly.

Dr.. Michael Fine, the former warns that the UK variant may already be in Rhode Island, but raises concerns that RI is not doing enough DNA testing to detect the variant B.1.1.7. — the so called UK Variants, READ THE FULL STORY

 

3. As RI loosens Restrictions and Opens Bars, Public Health Experts Say Courting Disaster

This Friday, Governor Gina Raimondo lessened restrictions on bars and restaurants in direct conflict with the advise of public health experts.

Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Georgetown University, said relaxing restrictions now would be “courting disaster.” She urged Americans to “be extra vigilant” about mask wearing, distancing and avoiding enclosed spaces.

“You don’t want to get any variant,” Dr. Rasmussen said, “but you really don’t want to get B.1.1.7.”