Due to the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Newport County and Rhode Island, What’s Up Newp has launched a new COVID-19 live blog in order to provide critical information and updates to our community. This is a relaunch of the live blog. Earlier this year (from February through the end of June), we published a […]
Coronavirus Disease
Posted inNews
Watch | Governor Raimondo’s weekly COVID-19 update (Dec. 22 at 1 pm)
Governor Gina Raimondo and the Rhode Island Department of Health will host a press briefing at 1 pm on Tuesday, December 22 to provide an update on COVID-19 in Rhode Island.
Posted inNews
Watch | Governor Raimondo’s Weekly COVID-19 Press Briefing (Dec. 18 at 1 pm)
Governor Gina Raimondo and the Rhode Island Department of Health will host a press briefing at 1 pm on Friday, December 18 to provide an update on COVID-19 in Rhode Island. Watch it live below as it happens or anytime afterward. Updates here – Governor Raimondo: “Pause” ends on Sunday, reopening begins on Monday
Posted inCity & Government
Watch | Newport City Council Covid-19 Status Update (Dec. 17 at 4:30 pm)
Members of Newport City Council will convene for a virtual remote workshop on Thursday, December 17 at 4:30 pm. During the workshop, City Manager Joe Nicholson will provide an update on COVID-19 in Newport. What’s Up Newp will live stream the meeting below. To participate in the official meeting call 1-877-853-5247 or join via Zoom […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion | As Rhode Island nursing home deaths hit 1,000, the state’s staffing crisis worsens
The following was submitted by Raise The Bar on Resident Care, a coalition of nursing home caregivers, clergy members, community partners, nursing home residents, and family members working to end the staffing crisis in Rhode Island nursing homes. This week marks a bleak milestone for Rhode Island as nursing home resident and caregiver deaths surpassed […]
Posted inNews
‘Darkest red’ for the coronavirus surge: Task force pleads with states to do more
This article was originally published by the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit investigative news organization based in Washington, D.C. The White House Coronavirus Task Force this week added a new color to its maps — “darkest red” — as it tried to convey the severity of the surge in coronavirus cases and deaths in weekly […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green: Earliest students may return after holiday break is Jan 7.
Angélica M. Infante-Green, the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education for the State of Rhode Island, has notified all public school districts in the states that the earliest students may return after the upcoming holiday break is Thursday, January 7 for health and safety concerns. Colleen Burns Jermain, Ed.D., Superintendent of Newport Public Schools, sent […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Raimondo Administration announces additional grants to 200+ small business and organizations
By Rhode Island Commerce Today the Raimondo Administration announced more than 200 grants totaling more than $16 million to Rhode Island’s small businesses and non-profit institutions. The grants, deployed by Commerce and drawing upon CARES Act funding, are aimed to help businesses pivot their business models, safely shift to remote work, and support the state’s […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
All state-run COVID-19 testing sites will be closed on Thursday
In anticipation of Winter Storm Gail, the Rhode Island Department of Health announced this afternoon that all State-run COVID-19 testing sites will be closed tomorrow, December 17th. State-run testing sites are the sites that people schedule at through portal.ri.gov, as well as all K-12 testing sites. Both indoor and outdoor sites are closing tomorrow. When testing […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Middletown Public Schools to shift to full distance learning Dec. 21 – Jan. 8
Middletown has joined their fellow Aquidneck Island communities in shifting to distance learning to finish out 2020. Rosemaire Kraeger, Superintendant of Middletown Public Schools, sent the following letter to parents and guardians on Tuesday afternoon. Dear Parents and Guardians; […]
Posted inNews
R.I. hospitals authorized to begin vaccinating frontline workers against COVID-19
via Rhode Island Department of Health The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) has received a recommendation from the Rhode Island COVID-19 Vaccine Subcommittee for hospitals to begin vaccinating frontline hospital workers against COVID-19. This recommendation was made at an emergency meeting of the Subcommittee this morning. RIDOH has accepted this recommendation and has communicated […]
Posted inNews
Portsmouth public schools will shift to full distance learning beginning December 21
Beginning on Monday, December 21st through Friday, January 8th all schools in the Portsmouth School Department will shift to full distance learning. Tom Kenworth, Superintendent of Portsmouth Public Schools, sent the following letter to members of the Portsmouth School Department Community on Friday.
Posted inNews
Rhode Island nursing home cases reach new dashboard highs, PPE and staff shortages continue
The latest update of the AARP Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard finds Rhode Island’s nursing homes continue to face alarming trends. As COVID-19 brings to light longstanding flaws in the nation’s long-term care system, AARP’s Public Policy Institute also unveiled a new report in a series on strategies to improve the quality of long-term services and supports (LTSS). […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Governor Raimondo extends pause another week, announces new post-pause phase
Governor Gina Raimondo announced today during her weekly press briefing that the “pause” will continue for another week, through Sunday, December 20. Rhode Island entered a two-week “pause” on November 30. Governor Raimondo said, “if we stay home for one more week and honor the pause, I believe it will have the impact that we […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Watch | Governor Raimondo’s weekly COVID-19 press briefing (Dec. 10 at 1 pm)
Governor Gina Raimondo and the Rhode Island Department of Health will host their weekly press briefing today at 1 pm to provide an update on COVID-19 in Rhode Island. Watch the press briefing live below or on our Facebook Page.
Posted inCity & Government
Watch | Newport City Council Workshop: COVID-19 Crisis Update (Dec. 10 at 4:30 pm)
Newport City Council will meet at 4:30 pm on Thursday, December 10 to receive a COVID-19 crisis update from City Manager Joe Nicholson.
Posted inCity & Government, News
Survey: How well are you following COVID-19 recommendations?
With COVID-19 raging in Rhode Island and throughout the country and states implementing tougher rules, we wanted to see how well you are following basic recommendations. Loading…
Posted inCity & Government, News
VIDEO | LIVE ON WUN: Governor Raimondo’s weekly COVID-19 briefing (Dec. 3 at 1 pm)
Governor Gina Raimondo and the Rhode Island Department of Health will host a press briefing at 1 pm on Thursday, December 3 to provide an update on COVID-19 in Rhode Island.
Posted inNews
The Public’s Radio | Newport Hospital, southern RI hospitals see rise in patients, not yet at capacity
Newport Hospital is nearing full capacity, but staff members say COVID-19 patients are taking up a smaller proportion of beds than at some other Rhode Island hospitals. Read the full story by Antonia Ayres-Brown , Alex Nunes on The Public’s Radio here.
Posted inBusiness
Survey | COVID-19: How well are you doing as an individual, as a business owner?
With COVID-19 raging in Rhode Island and throughout the country, and states implementing tougher rules, we wanted to see how well you are doing, and whether you are accepting the government regulations. Answers to this survey may appear in a story on What’s Up Newp in the coming days. Loading…
Posted inArts & Culture, City & Government
Raimondo administration announces more than 45 grants to support small businesses & hospitality, arts & tourism industry
Today the Raimondo Administration announced more than 45 grants totaling nearly $3 million to Rhode Island’s small businesses and non-profit institutions. The grants are first round awards from the Administration’s hospitality relief program and business adaptation program. Additionally, Rhode Island Commerce announced that the last day to submit an application for the state’s Restore Rhode […]
Posted inCity & Government
Live On WUN | Governor Raimondo’s Weekly COVID-19 Press Briefing (Nov. 25 at 1 pm)
Governor Gina Raimondo and the Rhode Island Department of Health will host a press briefing at 1 pm on Wednesday, November 25 to provide an update on COVID-19 in Rhode Island. 6 pm | Governor Raimondo provided the following follow-up from her press briefing announcements this evening via email “Deciding to limit and close businesses […]
Posted inCity & Government
Speaker-nominee Shekarchi appoints House task force for COVID-19 vaccine
Speaker-nominee K. Joseph Shekarchi yesterday announced the establishment of a House of Representatives task force to oversee the state’s implementation of COVID-19 vaccine distribution. The purpose of the task force is to ensure that Rhode Island’s distribution of the vaccine is done in a timely manner following the CDC guidelines and that front-line workers, the […]
Posted inBusiness, City & Government, News
Senator DiPalma, Representative Tobon will call for stronger small business support at a virtual press conference on Monday
Senator Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton) and Representative Carlos E. Tobon (D-Dist. 58, Pawtucket) will host a virtual news conference Monday on the need for greater assistance for Rhode Island small businesses. According to a press release from the State of Rhode Island General Assembly, they will be joined by […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island Department of Health launches ‘Public Health Out Loud’ podcast
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is launching a podcast this week – Public Health Out Loud – as a new platform to help Rhode Islanders stay informed about an array of local and national public health issues. Envisioned as a continuation of the Facebook Live series done over the summer on COVID-19 and schools, the […]