AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I
WOULD LIKE TO GET US GOING WITH
QUESTIONS.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
WE BEGIN WITH A QUESTION FROM
JIM HOMMEL.
GOVERNOR, I HAD A BUSINESSMAN
TELL ME
HE CAN'T FIND HAND
SANITIZER OR MASKS FOR HIS
EMPLOYEES.
CAN THE STATE HELP HIM AND OTHER
BUSINESSES SECURE SOME TO
PURCHASE?
GOVERNOR RAIMONDO: EXCELLENT
QUESTION.
FRANKLY, IT IS WHY I STARTED HE CAN'T FIND HAND
TO
MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT TWO WEEKS
BEFORE I THINK PEOPLE WILL GO
BACK TO WORK, SO BUSINESSES WILL
START TO MAKE THEIR PLANS.
THE ANSWER IS
YES, BUT I AM NOT
SURE HOW MUCH.
THIS
MORNING WE WORKED ON THIS.
WE ARE TRYING TO PROCURE
ADDITIONAL CLEANING SUPPLIES,
MASKS, MAY BE THERMOMETERS, IN
A
CERTAIN QUANTITY THAT WE COULD
INITIALLY
A
CERTAIN QUANTITY THAT WE COULD
INITIALLY DISTRIBUTE BUSINESSES,
TO HELP THEM GET GOING.
HOWEVER, IN THE LONG RUN, THAT
WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
BUSINESSES.
SO WE ARE WORKING OUR TAIL OFF
NOW TO HELP WITH REOPENING, TO
PROVIDE A LIMITED NUMBER OF
SUPPLIES SO OAKS CAN THE OPEN
AND GET THEIR FEET UNDER THEM.
BUT IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
BUSINESSES TO START DOING THAT,
SO THAT BEST OF THIS WOULD BE A
GOOD TIME TO THINK ABOUT MAKING
THAT HAPPEN AND MAKING THOSE
PLANS.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE MORE TO SAY
ABOUT THAT WITHIN THE NEXT TWO
DAYS TO A WEEK.
STEPHEN OF UNITED MONTHLY
ASKS, WILL THE STATE AUDITOR
GENERAL THE AUDITING HOW
CORONAVIRUS IS SPENT FOR
COMPLIANCE, OR WILL THERE BE
ANOTHER ENTITY OVERSEEING HOW
THE FEDERAL MONEY IS SPENT?
GOVERNOR RAIMONDO: AS MONEY WILL
BE OVERSEEN BY THE FEDERAL
INSPECTOR GENERAL, GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTING OFFICE AND UNITED
STATES TREASURY.
SO WE WILL BE REQUIRED, STARTING
I BELIEVE IN JULY, TWO GIVE A
MONTHLY UPDATE TO THAT
-- TO
GIVE A MONTHLY UPDATE TO THE
TREASURY DEPARTMENT THAT HAVE AN
AUDIT THROUGH THAT.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A
PUBLIC-FACING WEBSITE FOR THE
PEOPLE OF RHODE ISLAND, AND I
INTEND TO HAVE EXTENDED DIALOGUE
WITH OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO
SOLICIT THEIR VIEWS, AS WELL AS
STAKEHOLDERS IN RHODE ISLAND.
IF WE ARE GOING TO HELP
HOSPITALS, I WANT TO HEAR FROM
HOSPITALS.
IF WE ARE GOING TO HELP EUNICE
APOLOGIES, I WANT TO HEAR FROM
MUNICIPALITIES.
WE ARE, BY LAW, REQUIRED TO
FOLLOW FEDERAL GUIDANCE, AND
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE
GOING TO DO.
NBC 10 ASKS, DO YOU EXPECT
RHODE ISLAND'S PEAK TO BE
SOMETIME NEXT WEEK, LIKE THE
MODEL SHOWED ME THIRD?
GOVERNOR RAIMONDO: AT THE MOMENT
IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE IN A
PLATEAU.
SO WHILE WE HAD BEEN, MUCH LIKE
EVERY STATE, PREDICTING THE
SHAPE OF A CURVE WHICH WAS LIKE
A HILL, APPEND DOWN, IT -- A
HILL, UP AND DOWN, IT
LOOKS LIKE
WE ARE IN A PLATEAU, AND THEN
COMING DOWN.
SO WE ARE PROBABLY AT OUR PEAK
NOW, AND I
THINK OF IT HAS A
STABLE SITUATION, A LOTTO --
A
PLATEAU, AND I AM WAITING FOR
THE DAY WHEN WE START TO SEE IT
DECLINE.
HANNAH DICKINSON OF WPI ARE
R
I CHANNEL 12 IS
GETTING RESPONSES FROM VIEWERS
WHO SAY THEY ARE RUNNING OUT OF
FOOD WHAT DO YOU DO TO MAKE SURE
FOOD BANKS GET AN INCREASE IN
SUPPLIES?
GOVERNOR RAIMONDO: I HAVE NOT
HEARD THAT, ALTHOUGH IT IS HARD
-- IT IS HEARTBREAKING AND NOT
SURPRISING.
THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND
TRAINING, WE ARE AHEAD AS FAR AS
I CAN TELL OF EVERY OTHER STATE
IN HOW QUICKLY WE ARE GETTING
OUT OUR LIMIT CHECKS IN THE
PANDEMIC ON EMPLOYMENT
ASSISTANCE.
THEY ARE PROCESSING THE CHECKS
ON AVERAGE IN ABOUT 11 DAYS.
IF YOU HAVE
NOT RECEIVED YOUR
STIMULUS CHECK, THE $600, OR
YOUR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
CHECK, HANG IN THERE A LITTLE
LONGER.
BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO ARRIVE,
ALMOST CERTAINLY WITHIN DAYS.
AND THAT SHOULD HELP.
I AM IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH
TEAMS AND WITH THE FOOD BANK.
THEY ARE IN
GREAT SHAPE,
ACTUALLY.
THANK YOU, TO THE FOOD BANKS.
AND WE ARE DEFINITELY HELPING
THEM RAISE MONEY.
WE ARE ALSO HELPING THE UNITED
WAY AND THE RHODE ISLAND
FOUNDATION.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU, IF YOU
ARE A FAMILY LISTENING AND YOU
ARE STRUGGLING, CALL 211.
211 IS A UNITED WAY HOTLINE.
TELL US WHAT YOU NEED, AND WE
WILL MAKE SURE YOU GET SOME
HELP.
MIKE BELLMORE OF WHATSAPP
NEWPORT SAYS THE NEWPORT FOLK
FESTIVAL AND NEWPORT JAZZ
FESTIVAL RESULT IN AN ECONOMIC
IMPACT OF 58 MILLION DOLLARS
ANNUALLY FOR RHODE ISLAND.
HOW CAN RHODE ISLAND AND RHODE
ISLANDERS SUPPORT EVENTS TO MAKE
SURE THEY SURVIVE NEXT YEAR?
GOVERNOR RAIMONDO: GOOD
QUESTION, AND I HAVE BEEN IN
CONTACT WITH JAY SWEET, WHO RUNS
THE FOLK AND JAZZ FESTIVAL, AND
DELIVERED THE TOUGH NEWS THAT
THEY WILL HAVE TO CANCEL THIS
YEAR.
HE WILL BE IN TOUCH
WITH HIS
FOLLOWERS AROUND HOW YOU CAN
HELP, AS WELL
I THINK EVERY
FESTIVAL THAT CANCELS.
I JUST ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY, IF
YOU CAN, HELP THEM OUT.
I AM SURE THEY ARE ASKING YOU TO
DONATE YOUR TICKET, IF YOU
DONATE YOUR TICKET BACK IF YOU
PURCHASED IT, IF YOU CAN DO
THAT, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU
COULD.
WE ARE GOING TO CERTAINLY LOOK
FOR WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP THEM.
AS I EXPLAINED, SOME OF OUR
STIMULUS MONEY.
I AM GOING TO TAKE A REALLY HARD
LOOK AT ALL THE TOURISM INDUSTRY
AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO
HELP.
AND I WOULD ASK EVERY RHODE
ISLAND OR TO HELP IN ANYWAY YOU
CAN.
IF YOU CAN MAKE A DONATION,
ALMOST EVERYONE OF THESE
FESTIVALS AS A FOUNDATION.
PLEASE, IF YOU ARE A
CORPORATION, IF YOU ARE A
WEALTHY INDIVIDUAL, IF YOU CARE
ABOUT THE ARTS, MAKE A DONATION
IF YOU CAN.
IF YOU WANT A TICKET THEN CAN
DONATE THAT BACK, DO THAT IF YOU
CAN.
OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
PAUL PARKER OF "THE PROVIDENCE
JOURNAL," AND HE SAYS
THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF DATA HELP SHOWS
NEW HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS PEAKED
APRIL 16 AND HAVE TRENDED LOWER
SINCE.
WHAT SHOULD RHODE ISLANDERS MAKE
OF THIS TREND?
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR RHODE
ISLANDERS TO BE ENCOURAGED TO
SEE THAT THE STAY-AT-HOME ORDER
OMMA AND PEOPLE FOLLOWING IT,
WORKS -- STAY-AT-HOME
ORDER, AND
PEOPLE FOLLOWING IT, WORKS.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS TO DOUBLE
DOWN AND STICK WITH THAT.
IF FOLKS INTERPRET THAT AS
SAYING, WE CAN LOOSEN UP NOW AS
OPPOSED TO JUST THINKING ABOUT
HOW TO PLAN FOR GOING FORWARD,
THAT NUMBER CAN CERTAINLY
CHANGE.
ALL THIS IS DYNAMIC,
AND IT IS
CRITICAL FOR EVERYONE TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THE WORK YOU ARE
DOING TODAY TO FOLLOW THE
STAY-AT-HOME ORDER IS WHAT
ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO BE
HOPEFUL ABOUT HOSPITALIZATIONS
STABILIZING.
BUT EACH DAY CAN CHANGE.
EVERY DAY MATTERS.
SO WE WANT TO REALLY BE CLEAR
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
MAINTAINING THE STAY-AT-HOME
ORDER.
WE TALK ABOUT HOW THIS VIRUS
SPREADS, AND THOSE NUMBERS CAN
CHANGE IF PEOPLE START
COMING
TOGETHER MORE.
SO CONTINUING TO FOLLOW THE
DIRECTIVES RIGHT NOW IS WHAT IS
GOING TO KEEP US GOING IN THE
SAME DIRECTION.
BRUCE
OF WA BK NEWPORT ASKS,
WILL YOU NAME WHO ON YOUR
ADVISORY GROUP IS BEING
CONSULTED ON HOW TO REOPEN THE
ECONOMY?
GOVERNOR RAIMONDO: I THINK WE
HAVE, BUT THE ANSWER IS YES, AND
WE WILL GET THAT INFORMATION TO
YOU.
I THINK THE SECRETARY OF
COMMERCE PUT OUT AN
ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT I WILL CHECK.
THE NEXT QUESTION, NURSING
HOMES ARE WORRIED ABOUT STAFF
DISSENSION WITH HAZARD PAY
LIMITED TO $20 OR LESS PER
EMPLOYEE.
PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL ARE AT
EQUAL OR GREATER RISK THAT MAY
END UP EARNING LESS THAN THOSE
WITH HAZARD A.
WHY NOT JUST A STRAIGHT
PERCENTAGE ACROSS THE BOARD FOR
FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES?
GOVERNOR RAIMONDO: IT IS AN
EXCELLENT POINT ON ONE WE
WRESTLED WITH.
THERE IS NO PERFECT SOLUTION, SO
IT WAS A BALANCE, A BALANCE OF
TALKING TO NURSING HOME
ADMINISTRATORS AND LOOKING AT
THE DATA OF WHICH ARE THE SHIFTS
MOST DIFFICULT TO FILL, AND
WHERE THEY HAVE THE BIGGEST
SHORTAGES OF WORKERS.
SO A MIX OF THAT ALONG
WITH
LIVING WITH AN ARMY.
WE HAVE A LIMITED BUDGET, SO
IT
WAS A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO MEET
OUR BUDGET NEEDS, HELP NURSING
HOMES DO THEIR JOB, AND HELP
FOLKS OUT WHO ARE WORKING,
MAKING $10,
$11, $13, $14 PER
HOUR, AT THE LOWEST END OF THE
PAY SCALE.
SO IT ISN'T PERFECT, I HEAR THAT
CONCERN, AND WE DID THE BEST WE
COULD.
ETHAN OF THE VALLEY BREEZE
SAYS, RELATED TO EVENTS BEING
CALLED OFF THIS SUMMER, WHY
COULDN'T A PARADE BE ORGANIZED
WHERE FAMILIES ARE SPACED OUT
ACCORDINGLY ALONG THE ROUTE?
THAT SEEMS DIFFERENT THAN A
CONCERT OR FESTIVAL.
GOVERNOR RAIMONDO: I WILL ANSWER
AND THEN TURN IT OVER TO THE
EXPERT.
THESE ARE EXACTLY THE QUESTIONS
THAT WE ASKED.
WHY CAN'T WE DO THIS?
WHY CAN'T WE DO THAT?
I LOVE THESE PARADES.
I GO TO THE FESTIVALS ALL SUMMER
.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I WANT
TO DO.
HAVING SAID THAT, WHEN I LOOK AT
THE ECONOMIC PAIN
THAT IS BEING
FELT AROUND RHODE ISLAND RIGHT
NOW,
THE PROSPECT OF EVER AGAIN
HAVING TO CLOSE DOWN THIS
ECONOMY IS A TERRIBLE ONE THAT I
AM GOING TO DO EVERYTHING TO
AVOID.
FURTHERMORE, WHEN I THINK ABOUT
GETTING KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL IN
SEPTEMBER, I REALLY WANT THAT TO
HAPPEN.
SO ALTHOUGH I LOVE PARADES AS
MUCH AS ANYBODY, I HAVE TO
LISTEN TO THE ADVICE OF OUR
PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS, WHO ARE
TELLING ME IT IS JUST TOO GREAT
OF A RISK, AND YOU COULD BE
RIGHT BACK WHERE YOU WERE SIX
WEEKS AGO IF YOU TAKE THAT KIND
OF A RISK.
SO WHEN I HEAR THAT AND FACTOR
IT ALL TOGETHER, IT SEEMS LIKE
THE RIGHT THING FOR ONE SUMMER
TO CANCEL PARADES AND FESTIVALS,
EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THAT IS AN
INCREDIBLY SPECIAL PART OF THE
RHODE ISLAND SUMMER.
WE ARE GOING WITH WHAT THE
SCIENCE IS TELLING US RIGHT NOW.
WE KNOW THAT AS PEOPLE COME
TOGETHER, EVEN WITH THE BEST
INTENTIONS, A LARGE CROWD SUCH
AS A PARADE SIGNIFICANTLY
INCREASES THE RISK OF THE VIRUS
BEING TRANSMITTED FROM ONE
PERSON TO ANOTHER.
SPREADING OUT IS CHALLENGING TO
DO IN A PARADE SETTING,
PARTICULARLY WHERE CHILDREN ARE
INVOLVED.
AND THE RISK THAT IS AT STAKE
WITH THAT TYPE OF EVENT
OUTWEIGHS THE BENEFIT OF THE
VERY IMPORTANT TRADITIONAL EVENT
THAT COULD OCCUR.
BUT HOPEFULLY WILL HELP RHODE
ISLAND IN A LONG RUN, SO THAT WE
CAN MAINTAIN MANY MORE EVENTS IN
THE FUTURE, WHILE WE TAKE IT
CAUTIOUSLY, CAREFULLY AND SAFE
AT THIS EARLY POINT.
MICHAEL OF MOTIF
MAGAZINE
ASKS, WHAT WILL SMALL ARTS
VENUES AND THEATERS FOR LIVE
MUSIC BE ABLE TO DO DURING
REOPENING PHASES WHERE SPACE
LIMITATIONS CAUSE REDUCED
CAPACITY AND MAKE OPERATING
ECONOMICALLY INFEASIBLE?
IS THERE A PHASE WHERE CAPACITY
RETURNS CLOSE TO NORMAL, AND
WHEN MIGHT THAT HAPPEN?
GOVERNOR RAIMONDO:
I'M GOING TO
ASK YOU, MICHAEL, AND EVERYONE
TO WAIT A BIT MORE.
AND I WILL HAVE MORE SPECIFIC
GUIDANCE.
ON MONDAY, I PLAN TO INVOKE THE
ENTIRE PRESS CONFERENCE TO
GETTING TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF
DETAIL AROUND DIFFERENT
INDUSTRIES, AND WHAT PHASE ONE
WILL LOOK LIKE.
SO JUST HANG ON A BIT LONGER,
AND WE PLAN TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE
AROUND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE PER
SQUARE FOOT, DIFFERENT
REGULATIONS FOR DIFFERENT VENUES
, IS A BAR DIFFERENT THAN A
RESTAURANT?
IT IS A
DETAILED SET OF
EXERCISES WE ARE GOING THROUGH
RIGHT NOW.
I WANT EVERYBODY BACK TO WORK.
THAT IS HOW I COME OUT THIS.
HOW DO I GET EVERYBODY BACK TO
WORK AS FAST AS POSSIBLE?
AND THEN WE HAVE TO LAY OVER
THAT WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE IN THE
INTEREST OF HEALTH.
PUBLIC EXPERTS -- PUBLIC HEALTH
EXPERTS WEIGH IN, AND WE DO WHAT
THEY TELL A SPIRIT SO HANG ON A
BIT LONGER NEXT WEEK, I WILL
HAVE A LOT MORE TO SAY AND EVERY
DAY FROM NOW ON, I WILL HAVE
MORE TO SAY AROUND ALL THESE
QUESTIONS THAT ARE STARTING TO
CALM UP.
TARA FROM WPRO
RADIO SAYS,
GOVERNOR, YOU SAID YOU WERE
SHOCKED PRESIDENT TRUMP TOLD
PEOPLE TO "INGEST BLEACH."
SINCE PEOPLE ARE RELYING ON
ACCURATE INFORMATION, WILL YOU
RETRACT YOUR COMMENTS?
GOVERNOR RAIMONDO: WELOL, I
WILL TRACK -- WELL, I WILL
RETRACT THE EXACT WORDS
BUT I WILL NOT RETRACT WORDS
FROM THE PRESIDENT THAT PUTTING
ANY SORT OF DISINFECTANT INTO
OUR BODIES IS NOT HEALTHY AND
NOT ACCURATE.
KRISTIN FROM THE NEWPORT
BUZZ
SAYS, CAN YOU SHARE WITH US WHEN
YOU ENVISION EACH PHASE OF YOUR
PLAN TO REOPEN THE RHODE ISLAND
ECONOMY TO BE COMPLETED?
SIX MONTHS, 12 MONTHS,
LONGER,
DO YOU HAVE A BEST-CASE
SCENARIO?
GOVERNOR RAIMONDO: THE REAL
ANSWER IS, IT DEPENDS.
IT DEPENDS.
IF WE REOPEN AND THINGS TO
STEADY AND OUR HEALTH SYSTEM IS
NOT OVERWHELMED, AND ALL OF OUR
TESTING AND CONTACT TRACING AND
SYMPTOM TESTING IS WORKING, THEN
WE OPEN MORE.
AND THEN WE OPEN SOME MORE IF WE
ARE STABLE AND NOT OVERWHELMED.
THAT IS HOW WE LOOK AT IT.
IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SAY NOW
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE UNTIL WE
LIVE IT TOGETHER PREACH SECOND
LIKE -- LIVE IT TOGETHER.
SECONDLY, ONCE WE HAVE A
RELIABLE THERAPEUTIC, MEDICINE
OR SET OF MEDICINES OR A
COCKTAIL, THAT IS A GAME
CHANGER.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, I DON'T KNOW.
FINALLY, WHEN THERE IS A VACCINE
WIDELY AVAILABLE, THAT IS A GAME
CHANGER.
WHETHER AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS,
WE DON'T KNOW.
THERE IS SPECULATION NOW, WILL
THERE BE A SEASONAL INCREASE?
HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO IN THE
FALL?
HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO IN THE
WINTER?
WE DON'T KNOW.
SO WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS, ON
MONDAY OF THIS WEEK I PROVIDED A
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION AND
ENCOURAGED EVERYBODY TO GO
ONLINE AND LOOK AT IT.
IT TELLS YOU HOW WE ARE THINKING
ABOUT IT.
AT EVERY STEP, THERE IS A
CHECKLIST, OUR CASES STABLE?
HOSPITALIZATIONS STABLE,
MORTALITY STABLE, IS TESTING
WORKING?
ARE WE ABLE TO TRACK SYMPTOMS?
SO WE ARE GOING TO MONITOR IT
FOR A GUIDE THE FIRST STAGE, WE
ARE LOOKING ABOUT 14 DAYS OF
STABLE TREND.
PHASE ONE, ANOTHER 14 DAYS OF
STABLE TREND.
AND THEN,
PROBABLY ANOTHER 14
DAYS THEREAFTER.
SO THAT IS A ROUGH ESTIMATE.
I HOPE WE GET TO A PHASE FOUR,
WHERE WE GO BEYOND GATHERINGS OF
50 AND FEWER, WHICH IS GOING TO
HAVE TO TAKE -- OR FEWER.
WHERE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE
IT A WEEK OR A MONTH AT A TIME.
THIS IS FROM TED AT WPRI.
MANY VIEWERS SAID THERE WERE
SHOCKED WHEN WPRI REPORTED
YOUR
DEPARTMENT WAS COUNTING HOSPITAL
FOR TALENT EASE AS HOSPITAL
DISCHARGES.
DO YOU NOW SEE WHY THAT WOULD
HAVE MISLED RHODE ISLAND IS
ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THESE
CASES?
YES, WE DEFINITELY DO.
WE PROVIDED LANGUAGE ON THE
WEBSITE TO ADD CLARITY TO THAT.
THE SPREADSHEET WE HAVE POSTED
ONLINE LISTS PEOPLE WHO DIED IN
HOSPITALS AS DISCHARGED.
THIS IS BECAUSE OUR NUMBERS ARE
PULLED FROM HOSPITAL DATA SETS,
AND WITHIN THOSE HOSPITAL DATA
SETS, THEY USE THESE CHARGE
CODES, AND THOSE CODES INCLUDE
PEOPLE WHO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL
BECAUSE THEY HAVE UNFORTUNATELY
PASSED AWAY, AS THAT CODE.
SO WE HAVE UPDATED THE
SPREADSHEET.
IT WAS ALREADY THERE, AND WE ARE
WORKING TO MAKE THAT CLEARER,
SO
THAT THE DATA ALIGNS WITH HOW
PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT WORK WITH
HEALTH DATA ON A REGULAR BASIS
OR MAY
MAY -- OR WHO MAY HAVE
UNDERSTOOD THAT DIFFERENTLY,
NATURALLY, CAN UNDERSTAND HOW WE
ARE DESCRIBING THE WORD
DISCHARGED.