Woonsocket Radio News Room

NORTH SMITHFIELD WEEKLY UPDATE

 

Dear Residents, Businesses, and Community Partners,

 

I hope you are doing well. As we mark almost a year since the first case of COVID-19 in Rhode Island, I want to thank our first responders, town staff, teachers, and community partners for always stepping up to help those in need. We are also thankful for residents doing their part to keep cases low in our community. It has been a difficult year, but there is an end in sight. Until we are all vaccinated, please continue to remain vigilant and safe.

 

Rhode Island’s COVID-19 positivity rate continues to remain low at 2.1% for the week, and 225,551 vaccinations have been administered statewide. 

 

Locally, we are proud to have vaccinated 160 residents 75 years and older. We have 160 more to vaccinate with our allotted amount from the RIDOH.

 

COVID-19 Vaccine

There are several options for Rhode Islanders 65 years of age or older to be vaccinated: 

 

1.     State Sites: Register for a vaccine at the two state sites in Providence and Cranston here: https://www.vaccinateri.org/ or call 844-930-1779.

a.      We will update you as additional locations open in Middletown, Woonsocket, and elsewhere. 

 

2.     Pharmacies: CVS and Walgreens are now accepting online reservations.

 

3.     Register for a Lifespan Clinic: http://bit.ly/LifespanVax

 

If you are unable to leave home to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, or are the healthcare provider or family caregiver of someone who is homebound, please inform RIDOH through the following form: http://bit.ly/homeboundvax.

 

For more information on vaccines, visit: https://covid.ri.gov/vaccination. Sign up for RIDOH’s weekly vaccination newsletter here.

 

COVID-19 Testing

Please consider getting tested on a weekly basis. Rapid and PCR testing is available at various locations throughout the state. A full list of locations is located here. To make an appointment click here.

 

COVID-19 Guidelines 

As a reminder, the state is operating under the following guidelines: 

 

·        Wear a mask when outside of your home, even in the outdoors.

·        Keep your social interactions limited to members of one additional household when indoors, and two additional households when gathering outdoors.

·        Self-isolate whenever possible. Work from home. Shop locally online.

 

Local Reminders

A reminder that there is a special election on Tuesday, March 2nd. For those who are voting by mail, ballots must be received by 8:00 pm on March 2nd. Early/emergency voting is open until March 1st until 4:00pm. 

 

·        Monday March 1st: 8am-4pm

·        Tuesday, March 2nd 7am-8pm

 

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced an exclusive access period for the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses with fewer than 20 employees for the next 14 days (starting 2/24). Find out more and apply, here: http://ow.ly/JVqi50DGZrY

 

Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation. 

 

Sincerely, 

 

Paul Zwolenski

Town Administrator

 

Strict curfews are now in effect as residents take to the streets following the fatal police shooting of a young, Black man named Daunte Wright in Minneapolis. The mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul have declared a state of emergency in their cities as well as the curfew that lasts until 6:00 a.m. local time tomorrow morning. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said "it doesn't have to be this way" as the unrest comes during week three of the George Floyd murder trial.       The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations is leading the probe into the deadly shooting at Austin-East Magnet School earlier today. Knoxville police say an officer was struck by a bullet while walking up to a possibly-armed suspect. The officer is expected to be okay.       A cardiologist testifying in the George Floyd murder trial says his death was "absolutely preventable." Speaking from the stand, prosecution witness Dr. Jonathan Rich said Floyd was "restrained in a life-threatening manner." The prosecution maintains that the knee of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin [[ SHO-vin ]] on Floyd's neck was the sole cause of death.        Former U.S. ambassador to the UN and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley won't run for president in 2024 if former President Trump decides to run. Haley noted she would talk to Trump about the decision before she made it, and said she had a great working relationship with the former President. She was also asked about Trump's disparaging comments against leaders like Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.        Former movie producer Harvey Weinstein is fighting extradition to Los Angeles were he must fight additional sex crimes charges. During a virtual appearance, Weinstein's lawyers argued he should stay in New York, where he's currently serving time for rape, because of his health issues. His lawyer claims Weinstein has a laundry list of health concerns that would make transporting him to California unsafe.       CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper is set to be the next guest host on "Jeopardy!" He will take over for current guest host and NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers on April 19th. Then "60 Minutes" correspondent Bill Whitaker will host from May 3rd until the 14th.       

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