(HE)
FIRST, BREAKING NEWS ---
GOVERNOR GINA RAIMONDO HAS
DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY
FOR RHODE ISLAND --- AMID
CONCERNS ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS.
(MM)
SHE'S ALSO ANNOUNCED----- NEW
MEASURES TO MAKE SURE
PEOPLE----- WHO HAVE TO STAY
HOME, CAN RECEIVE PAY.
HERE'S THE LATEST NUMBERS.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS
----THE NUMBER OF POSITIVE CASES
IN RHODE ISLAND REMAINS AT THREE
--- THE GOVERNOR SAYS---- THE
RISK TO MOST RESIDENTS REMAINS
LOW.
(HE)
HEALTH DIRECTOR DOCTOR--- NICOLE
ALEXANDER SCOTT SAYS---- THEY
HAVE SIX TESTS STILL PENDING,
AND 53 HAVE TESTED NEGATIVE.
SHE SAYS ABOUT 2-HUNDRED 90
PEOPLE ARE IN SELF-QUARANTINE.
(HE)
EYEWITNESS NEWS REPORTER ROB
NESBITT JUST GOT OUT OF THE
GOVERNOR'S BRIEFING --- AND
JOINS US LIVE WITH WHAT ELSE WAS
ANNOUNCED.
THE GOVERNOR LET THE PUBLIC KNOW
THAT THERE ARE INSURANCE PLANS
AVAILABLE TO THEM IF THEY ARE
REQUIRED TO TAKE TIME OFF FOR
COVID19. SHE SIGNED A STATE OF
EMERGENCY JUST A FEW HOURS AGO
TO PROVIDE MORE FEDERAL
RESOURCES IN THE STATE.
SINCE THREE PEOPLE TESTED
POSITIVE FOR COVID19, THE NUMBER
OF THOSE SELF QUARANTINING AT
HOME HAS GROWN TO 290 IN RHODE
ISLAND ACCORDING TO THE STATE'S
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. GOV
RAIMONDO SAYING THAT SHE HAS
ASKED FOR HELP FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE MORE
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TO THOSE
HAVING TO TAKE TIME OFF FROM
WORK. SHE ALSO SAYS THE STATE
WILL BE ALLOWED TO TAP INTO A
STOCK PILE OF PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, BUT THAT
THE PUBLIC SHOULDN'T PANIC
BECAUSE THEIR RISK OF GETTING
THE VIRUS REMAINS LOW.
"I felt it was prudent to
declare a state of emergency so
number one, we can access the
National Guard quickly if and as
necessary and number two, so
that we are in the very best
position to get federal aid that
may be or become available. We
shouldn't panic, there is no
widespread community
transmission. I want every tool
at my disposal in order protect
Rhode Island."
AN ASSISTANCE PHONE LINE AND
EMAIL HAS BEEN SET UP BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING
TO ASSIST PEOPLE REGARDING THE
CORONAVIRUS AND EMPLOYMENT
ISSUES.
BOTH OF THOSE ARE AT THE BOTTOM
OF YOUR SCREEN THE PHONE LINE IS
STAFFED MON-FRIDAY.
REPORTING LIVE IN PROVIDENCE,
ROB NESBITT, EYEWITNESS NEWS.
(HE)
MASSACHUSETTS IS NOW REPORTING
41 POSITIVE CASES OF COVID-19
--- MOST OF WHICH ARE LINKED TO
THE 'BIOGEN CONFERENCE' IN
BOSTON LAST MONTH.
(MM)
SO FAR --- THERE ARE NO REPORTED
CASES IN BRISTOL COUNTY.
MEANWHILE, LIFESPAN --- RHODE
ISLAND'S LARGEST HOSPITAL
OPERATOR, IS RESTRICITING
VISITORS.
AS OF TODAY---- *NO* VISITORS
WILL BE ALLOWED IN---- ANY ADULT
UNITS AT LIFESPAN'S HOSPITALS.
(HE)
HASBRO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND
BRADLY HOSPITAL WILL ALLOW ONE
PARENT -- PER PATIENT .
PEOPLE COMING TO THE E-R -- CAN
BE ACCOMPANIED BY *ONE ADULT*
ONLY.
["In a situation like this where
the prevalence of the infection
is not yet well known, I think
it's better to be over-cautious,
and limit the flow of those
people, rather than expose
people unneccessarily to the
illness."]
(HE)
LIFESPAN SAYS EXCEPTIONS WILL
ALSO BE MADE FOR GUARDIANS AND
DECISION-MAKERS IN SPECIAL
CASES.
(MM)
AND THE PROVIDENCE DIOCESE HAS
ANNOUNCED THIS YEAR'S ----"FAITH
FORMATION CONVOCATION" ---HAS
BEEN CANCELED, OUT OF AN
ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION.
THE DIOCESE SAYS ANYONE WHO
PURCHASED TICKETS WILL RECEIVE A
FULL REFUND.
(HE)
RHODE ISLAND'S EDUCATION
COMMISSIONER SAYS -- THEY ARE
TAKING STEPS TO PROTECT THE
STATE'S SCHOOLS FROM COVID-19.
APPEARING ON DAN YORKE STATE OF
MIND, COMMISSIONER ANGELICA
INFANTE-GREEN SAYS THEY'VE BEEN
COMMUNICATING WITH BOTH PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS --- TO MAKE
SURE THEY ARE TAKING PROPER
PRECAUTIONS, INCLUDING REGULAR
CLEANING.
AND SHE SAYS THAT INCLUDES
SCHOOL BUSES.
["We're also working with the
bus companies, cleaning, after
every run, morning and
afternoon, so our kids as safe
as much as we can keep them
safe."]
(HE)
LAWMAKERS HAVE ASKED THE
EDUCATION COMMISSIONER TO SET UP
PROTOCOLS FOR REMOTE LEARNING,
AS A PRECAUTION -- IF MORE
up.
(HE)
AS CONCERNS OVER THE CORONAVIRUS
GROW--
GOVERNOR GINA RAIMONDO AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH--
HAVE ANNOUNCED ADDITIONAL
PROTECTIONS AND RESOURCES
AVAILABLE TO RHODE ISLANDERS.
(MM)
BOSTON AND NEW HAVEN HAVE
CANCELLED THEIR SAINT PATRICK
DAY PARADES THIS WEEKEND.
HERE IS THE VERY LATEST.
(HE)
GOVERNO RAIMONDO HAS ANNOUNCED A
STATE OF EMERGENCY HERE IN RHODE
ISLAND.
(MM)
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS----
THE NUMBER OF PRESUMPTIVE
POSITIVE CASES IN RHODE ISLAND
REMAINS AT THREE --- THE
GOVERNOR SAYS THE RISK TO MOST
RESIDENTS REMAINS LOW.
(HE)
HEALTH DIRECTOR DOCTOR NICOLE
ALEXANDER SCOTT SAYS THEY HAVE
SIX TESTS STILL PENDING, AND 53
HAVE TESTED NEGATIVE.
SHE SAYS ABOUT 2-HUNDRED 90
PEOPLE ARE IN SELF-QUARANTINE.
(MM)
EYEWITNESS NEWS REPORTER ROB
NESBITT IS LIVE IN PROVIDENCE--
WITH MORE.
ROB?
THE GOVERNOR LET THE PUBLIC KNOW
THAT THERE ARE INSURANCE PLANS
AVAILABLE TO THEM IF THEY ARE
REQUIRED TO TAKE TIME OFF FOR
COVID19. SHE SIGNED A STATE OF
EMERGENCY JUST A FEW HOURS AGO
TO PROVIDE MORE FEDERAL
RESOURCES IN THE STATE.
SINCE THREE PEOPLE TESTED
POSITIVE FOR COVID19, THE NUMBER
OF THOSE SELF QUARANTINING AT
HOME HAS GROWN TO 290 IN RHODE
ISLAND ACCORDING TO THE STATE'S
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. GOV
RAIMONDO SAYING THAT SHE HAS
ASKED FOR HELP FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE MORE
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TO THOSE
HAVING TO TAKE TIME OFF FROM
WORK. SHE ALSO SAYS THE STATE
WILL BE ALLOWED TO TAP INTO A
STOCK PILE OF PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, BUT THAT
THE PUBLIC SHOULDN'T PANIC
BECAUSE THEIR RISK OF GETTING
THE VIRUS REMAINS LOW.
"I felt it was prudent to
declare a state of emergency so
number one, we can access the
National Guard quickly if and as
necessary and number two, so
that we are in the very best
position to get federal aid that
may be or become available. We
shouldn't panic, there is no
widespread community
transmission. I want every tool
at my disposal community
transmission. I want every tool
at my disposal in order protect
Rhode Island."
AN ASSISTANCE PHONE LINE AND
EMAIL HAS BEEN SET UP BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING
TO ASSIST PEOPLE REGARDING THE
CORONAVIRUS AND EMPLOYMENT
ISSUES. BOTH OF THOSE ARE AT THE
BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN
(401-462-2020 &
DLT.COVID19@DLT.RI.GOV). THE
PHONE LINE IS STAFFED