COVID-19 UPDATE

3/19/2020

PORTSMOUTH EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

Phone: (401) 643-0379

In an Emergency dial 911

Email: covid@portsmouthri.com

SITUATION TO DATE:

• World

(Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University)

• Cases:                   237,996
• Deaths:                9,819

 USA

(Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University)

• Cases:                   11,274
• Deaths:                157

 Rhode Island

(RI Department of Health)

• Cases:                   44
• Deaths:                0

 Portsmouth

(Portsmouth EOC)

• Cases:                   0
• Deaths:                0

 Staff

• • Cases:                   0
  • Deaths:                0
  • Quarantined:     3

ACTIONS TO DATE:

• EOC Streaming Capability successfully tested.
• Portsmouth Online Learning plan has been submitted to RIDE.
• Portsmouth School District distance learning begins Monday, March 23.  Families who need access to school buildings for the purpose or retrieving essential school items should follow directions promulgated by each School Principal.
• There will be an EOC brief Friday, March 20 at 09:00.  Instructions for those wishing to join remotely via “Goggle Meet” are attached.
• Portsmouth EOC has responded to a request for information from the RI Office of Healthy Aging.  Together with the OHA, the EOC is developing a plan to better understand and address Portsmouth’s food access needs and related work associated with those needs.
• Press release issued today regarding keeping citizens informed and helping those in need.
  • 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:
  • 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.
  • Notify Me®:  Sign up for automatic e-mail updates.  On the town web home page click the “Notify Me®” button and choose your topic.
  • Facebook:  Log on to the town Emergency Management Facebook page (Portsmouth Emergency).
  • Twitter:  Log on to the Portsmouth Emergency Twitter feed - @PortsmoutEmerg and use Hashtag #COVID02871 for Portsmouth-specific tweets.
  • 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.
  • Email:  Email COVID@PortsmouthRI.com and your message will be routed to the appropriate town staff person to help.
  • The Governor announced today that because the courts are closed for most matters through April 17, the process to evict someone cannot take place.
  • The Governor also made an urgent plea to anyone who might have supplies such as masks and swabs — whether dentists and research labs or manufacturing companies — to reach out and share them to help expand testing and protect medical personnel. The Health Department has created a page detailing exactly what supplies are needed and providing a form to fill out for donations.
    • https://rigov.wufoo.com/forms/covid-19-medical-supply-donations/
    • The U.S. SBA is offering low-interest loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).  The Portsmouth Business Development Director is working with Connect Greater Newport on Business related issues.
      • https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
      • For COVID-19 related claims, RI Department of Labor and Training (DLT) will waive the seven-day minimum amount of time that claimants must be out of work to qualify for TDI/TCI benefits.
        • For individuals under quarantine, DLT will waive the required medical certification.
        • Questions or Assistance: Call 401-462-2020 or email dlt.covid19@dlt.ri.gov
        • More information: https://commerceri.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID-19-Workplace-Fact-Sheet-3.9.2020.pdf
        • If you are out of work due to COVID-19 because of a shutdown or a quarantine and applying for unemployment benefits, ensure you check yes to the “Are you out of work because of coronavirus” question.
          • http://www.dlt.state.ri.us/
          • The federal government is providing 90 additional days to pay income taxes due, up to $1 million in taxes owed. During this deferral period taxpayers will not be subject to interest and penalties. 
            • The tax deadline for filing has been extended from April 15th to July 15, 2020.
            • https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus
            • The RI Public Utilities Commission has directed all electric, gas, water, and wastewater utilities regulated by the Public Utilities Commission to cease certain collections activities, including service terminations for nonpayment. This moratorium extends to 4/15/20 for residential customers and to 3/31/20 for non-residential customer accounts.
            • Town Website updated as required:
              • https://www.portsmouthri.com/AlertCenter.aspx
              • https://www.portsmouthri.com/#spotlight
              • https://www.portsmouthri.com/1594/Portsmouth-Specific-Coronavirus-Informat

ACTIONS TO BE COMPLETED:

• Continue to identify food needs of special needs population
• Continue daily tele-conferences with Governor’s Office / RI DOH / RI Municipal Leaders
• Plan and develop streaming and remote participation capability for Town Hall meetings.

ISSUE(S):

• Monitor and plan for loss of lifelines
• Prep for potential MEDS-POD deployment