COVID-19 UPDATE 3/25/2020
PORTSMOUTH EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
CENTER
Phone: (401) 643-0379
In an Emergency dial 911
Email: covid@portsmouthri.com
SITUATION TO DATE (Numbers
are cumulative):
·
World
(Center for Systems Science and
Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University)
o Cases: 460,250
Deaths: 20,807
·
USA
(Center for Systems Science and
Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University)
o Cases: 62,873
o Deaths: 894
·
Rhode
Island
(RI Department of Health)
o Cases: 132
o Deaths: 0
·
Newport
County
(RI Department of Health)
o Cases: 10
o Deaths: 0
·
Staff
o Cases: 0
o Deaths: 0
o Quarantined: 0
o 72 Hour wait: 1
ACTIONS TO DATE:
·
Portsmouth Playgrounds. To reduce the threat of exposure and spread
of COVID-19, all Portsmouth Playgrounds are closed until further notice. Parks remain open to recreation that adheres
to social distancing guidelines.
·
New RI Grocery and Retail Store Guidelines. The Department of Business Regulation will be
issuing new guidelines which will reduce the number of people who can be inside
retail stores and grocery stores. These establishments
will be required to count the number of people inside, enforce limits, and
clean more frequently.
o
More information will be posted on the Department of Business Regulation Website.
o
This guideline may result in lines outside
grocery stores, but people should not take this to mean there are food
shortages.
o
The Governor is asking consumers to shop online,
with local companies, whenever possible.
·
Employees and Employers affected by
COVID-19. Employees out of work or
unable to work, or employers forced to limit or cease operations due to
COVID-19 should review the RI Department
of Labor and Training Website for relief options. Quick facts are located here.
·
People returning to communities in Rhode
Island from out of state. All
citizens returning to their property from out of state are urged to follow
strict adherence to WHO, CDC, and RI DOH COVID-19 guidelines
and self-quarantine upon arrival for 14 days.
Please protect your neighbors and do your part in preventing the spread
of this virus.
·
Real ID Deadline pushed back. The October 1st, 2020 deadline requiring
citizens have Real ID compliant driver's licenses and other identification
cards in order to board an airplane has been pushed back. No new deadline for compliance has been set. The Federal Government will announce a new
date soon.
·
There is still a nationwide call for Personal
Protective Equipment. If you are a
researcher, supplier, manufacturer, business, organization, or individual in
possession of needed items and willing to donate or sell them, please visit COVID
19 Medical Supply Donations.
WE
ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS OF PORTSMOUTH TO STAY INFORMED:
·
The Town of Portsmouth is establishing a
community emergency food bank to serve the needs of those affected by the
COVID-19 situation. The Food Bank is
being established at the St. Barnabas Church Parish Center (1697 East Main Rd,
Portsmouth). To establish the Food Bank,
the Town is requesting that DONATIONS ONLY be accepted between 8 AM and 4 PM
starting Wednesday March 25th through Monday March 30th. A schedule for continuing donations after
March 30th will be released soon.
o
People in immediate need of food can call
401-293-5565 or go to https://stbarnabasportsmouth.weconnect.com/contact
o
For more Information on the donation program
contact Wendy Bulk at wbulk@portsmouthri.com
or 401-787-0281.
·
Care.com
is providing three months of free, premium access to their site in support of
Rhode Island Front Line workers looking for child or senior care. Those in need should click here. Additionally, Rhode Island residents
interested in becoming caregivers can visit Care.com/rigive register. This program is exclusively for residents of
Rhode Island.
·
All citizens are strongly urged to continue
following the CDC’s guidance on handwashing and social distancing. You can read
more about those guidelines by clicking
here.
·
Grab and go breakfast and lunches will be
available for all Portsmouth students in the main foyer of Portsmouth Middle
School, Monday-Friday, between the hours of 9:00-10:30am.
·
HealthSource RI is offering a Special Enrollment
Period available to Rhode Islanders losing health coverage due to a change in
employment status.
o
Rhode Islanders who wish to obtain coverage can
do so by visiting www.HealthSourceRI.com
and enrolling online, or by contacting the HealthSource RI call center
Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm at 1-855-840-4774.
·
The RI Office of Innovation has released a digital
reference guide aimed to help those without home internet connection.
·
The RI Student Loan Authority has announced assistance with RISLA loan payments for
clients who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19.
·
Older Rhode Islanders needing help with food or
other resources are encouraged to call The Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging
(OHA) at (401) 462-4444 or 2-1-1 during normal business hours.
·
Portsmouth Senior Center has established a Meal
Site at their address - 110 Bristol Ferry Rd. Meals need to be made with a
24-hour reservation. Participants
can call Cynthia (Director-Portsmouth Senior Center) at 401-683-4106. If no answer call (401) 297-6102.
·
Small Businesses seeking relief information are
encouraged to call (401) 521-HELP. More
information can be found as Rhode
Island Commerce.
·
Portsmouth residents may call (401) 643-0379
seven days a week, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for general inquiries related to the
current health situation or for accessing municipal services
·
Residents may also email requests or inquiries
to covid@portsmouthri.com.
·
The town has established local information on
the town website, its NOTIFY ME system, and social media as follows:
o Town Website: www.PortsmouthRI.com – See the COVID-19 Alert at
the top and the “Spotlight” section that will direct users to other town web
pages with specific COVID-19 information.
o Notify Me®: Sign up for automatic
e-mail updates. On the town web home page click the “Notify Me®” button
and choose your topic.
o Facebook: Log on to the town
Emergency Management Facebook page (Portsmouth Emergency).
o Twitter: Log on to the
Portsmouth Emergency Twitter feed - @PortsmouthEmerg and use Hashtag
#COVID02871 for Portsmouth-specific tweets.
o Phone: The Emergency Operations
Center phone number is 401-643-0379. A volunteer is ready to assist
you. If you cannot get through, use email. We will get back to you.
o Email: Email COVID@PortsmouthRI.com and your message will be
routed to the appropriate town staff person to help.
o Town
Webpages:
§ https://www.portsmouthri.com/AlertCenter.aspx
§ https://www.portsmouthri.com/#spotlight
§ https://www.portsmouthri.com/1594/Portsmouth-Specific-Coronavirus-Informat
§
Portsmouth Emergency Management Blog
·
The United States Census is adapting or
delaying some operations to protect the health and safety of their staff and
the public. Information can be found
here: 2020 Census Operational
Adjustments Due to COVID-19.
·
The Portsmouth Dog Park will be closed until
further notice starting 5:00 p.m. today, March 23, 2020.
ACTIONS TO BE COMPLETED:
·
RI EMA Cost Tracking
·
Continue to identify food needs of special needs
population
o Establish
emergency food pantry and procedures
·
Continue daily tele-conferences with Governor’s
Office / RI DOH / RI Municipal Leaders
·
Plan, develop, and test streaming and remote
participation capability for Town Hall meetings.
