The Providence Community Library (PCL) will be hosting the Smith Hill Community Development Corporation (SHCDC) and the Rhode Island National Guard to bring free, twice-weekly, Covid testing to the parking lot area of the Smith Hill Library on Candace Street. People who take the 15-minute rapid test at the Smith Hill Library can view their …
Now that’s a mask. Conceal/Reveal, an installation of creative masks, is now on display in the sidewalk window of the new state archive building downtown on Broad Street. This past summer, the Providence Art Club invited Rhode Islanders to participate in this collaborative creative project. The goal of this project is twofold — first, to …
On December 14th, the Washington Post sent a reporter to Rhode Island for a look at one field hospital, much like those all across the country: “Inside a Rhode Island field hospital, preparing for the worst of the pandemic.” Rhode Island has two field hospitals: One is in Providence and one is in Cranston where …
This is a rapid testing site for asymptomatic people only. No appointment is necessary and you get your results within about 15 minutes. The Department of Health’s “Holiday Pop-Up Testing” was designed to catch the holiday shoppers, although this particular site is not linked to a shopping venue in an any way. What I can …
[Update: Reports coming in that this program has gotten off to a rough start. Appointments may be needed? Hopefully this is getting straightened out.] The Department of Health (RIDOH) has posted a list of free rapid testing events in Rhode Island with results promised within 8-12 hours via email or phone. Appointments are not required. …
[To the commenters: Please go to Rhode Island on Pause for assistance.] In anticipation of the upcoming two-week “pause” and its attendant economic pain, Governor Raimondo announced that the state will be spending $100 million of the federal Covid-relief funds. Half of the money will fund grants to small businesses. From the ProJo: The new …
Just a reminder in case you have some planning to do: Last week Governor Raimondo announced “Rhode Island on PAUSE.” (That does not appear to be an acronym. I think it’s just yelling.) The pause will start Monday, November 30 and run through December 13th, if not longer. And judging from the crowds traveling this …
Surprise, surprise. There’s been a Covid outbreak at local NBC affiliate, WJAR-TV, the station owned by Sinclair Broadcasting, a.k.a. Trump TV. According to the ProJo, anonymous sources are reporting that at least six people have tested positive in the last two weeks. One person who would go on the record was Fletcher Fischer, the business …
You can tell this photo is not current because, as of yesterday, the line for the Covid testing center extended into nearby intersections creating traffic problems. (WPRI) So, if at all possible, avoid driving in the area of the R.I. Convention Center on West Exchange Street. And you need to have an appointment to get …
From the Office of the Governor comes another supplemental declaration regarding the Revised Phase III reopening, effective today, Sunday, November 8. The document covers international and domestic travel restrictions as well as the following (voluntary) Stay-at-Home advisory. Effective Sunday, November 8th, all Rhode Island residents are advised to stay home from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 …
Governor Raimondo has announced that the state will be hiring 100 new people to assist with the Department of Health’s contact tracing system. Recent hiring has brought the the full-time tracing team up to 300 people. The state has contracted with Knowledge Services to run the hiring, but you will work on-site at the Department …
Brown University has announced the launch of Brown Takes Care, an initiative aimed at providing guidance to its incoming students regarding Covid-19 that “. . . will directly engage students, faculty and staff as storytellers and influencers to promote essential health practices to fight COVID-19, both on campus and in the greater Providence community.” Storytelling?! …
The state has opened a new drive-up testing site downtown in the Convention Center parking garage . . . rain or shine. The site can not accommodate large vehicles like trailers and RVs. You must make an appointment. The ProJo reports: The site will replace the Rhode Island College testing site, which did its last …
We keep looking back to the 1918 flu for insights into our present situation, but prior to that catastrophe, public health officials had been struggling with the deadly bacterial contagion tuberculosis for many decades. And it was two female doctors right here in Providence, co-founders of the Providence League for the Suppression of Tuberculosis, who …
The Governor has announced the third phase of the state’s gradual reopening plan; it includes updates on restaurants, team sports, as well as an alert on people traveling here from out-of-state. Let’s not get too overconfident here, but only two states are reporting a decline in new coronavirus cases: Connecticut and Rhode Island! Nice to …
Nibbles gets it. In a nutshell: My mask protects you. Your mask protects me. And according to a new report from Reuters: . . . research, led by scientists at the Britain’s Cambridge and Greenwich Universities, suggests lockdowns alone will not stop the resurgence of the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, but that even homemade masks can …