[Summit] Gov. Raimondo's messages, charts & video : Rapid Testing for our Schools + Back to Work opportunities [Covid News no. 371]

[David Kolsky]

   ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Gina Raimondo <communications at governor.ri.gov>To:Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2020, 9:01:44 PM EDTSubject: Rapid testing for our schools
  
| Yesterday was the first day of school. It was also the first day of our new, dedicated Pre-K-12 testing system. |
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| Hi David,
Yesterday we sent our kids back to school, and we launched our new, dedicated Pre-K-12 testing system. To stay ahead of the virus and keep students, teachers, and other school employees safe, we've geared up to provide an additional 5,000 tests every day specifically for our school community. If you work at a school and you need a test, or if your child needs a test, you can schedule a same-day test by calling our dedicated Pre-K-12 COVID Test Scheduling Service at (844) 857-1814. The service is available seven days a week, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. This scheduling line is reserved for students, teachers, and staff who have symptoms, or who have been in close contact of someone who is positive. |

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| Individuals who are symptomatic and call this scheduling service will get two tests during their appointment: a rapid test, which will have results the same day, and a more definitive PCR test that takes an average of 48 hours to provide results. If they are getting tested because they were a close contact of someone with COVID-19, they'll only get the PCR test. We have tests being administered at 14 sites throughout the state and can accommodate both drive-up appointments or walk-up appointments. Appointments can be scheduled by parents, guardians, teachers, staff members, and students older than 16 years old. Children younger than 16 will need a parent or guardian to schedule the test for them. Those who are tested should expect to be out of school or work for a period of time, even if the result is negative. We aren't taking any chances with potential cases.  |

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| Click the graph to see check the Department of Health's COVID-19 data dashboard. |

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| These additional 5,000 tests are a crucial part of our strategy to get our students safely back in school. Today, I visited the East Providence Senior Center testing site to see how it was going, and I was so impressed by what I saw. We’re prepared to perform tests quickly and safely, enabling us to contain the virus while limiting the disruption in learning.
We're all in this together,
-Gina RaimondoGovernor
P.S.: Information is our greatest weapon in the fight against COVID-19. If you or someone you know wants to sign up to receive these emails, you can use this link. |

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|  Governor's Office | 82 Smith Street, Providence, RI 02903  |
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| Hi David,
As our kids go back to school, we’re also remaining laser-focused on getting Rhode Island back to work. We know that far too many Rhode Islanders are still out of work and struggling.  |

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Last week, supplemental unemployment assistance of up to $900 went out to thousands of Rhode Islanders who were certified for unemployment benefits in the first few weeks of August. And we’ve successfully lobbied the federal government for an additional three weeks of support. The Department of Labor and Training will be distributing an additional $300 per week to those who certified for unemployment benefits for the weeks ending August 22, August 29, and September 5.  
But we know this temporary relief isn’t enough. And that’s why we’ve taken bold action and launched Back to Work RI, an ambitious, first-in-the-nation initiative to supercharge our economic recovery and get Rhode Islanders job training with a guaranteed job at the end.  |

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| And as we think about ways to compete in this new economy and emerge from the crisis more resilient than before, public-private partnerships are a critical ingredient. We already have commitments from CVS, Electric Boat, Microsoft and others to create more than 3,000 good jobs here in Rhode Island—many targeted for people without a college degree.
But getting the right mix of employers involved is only one piece of the puzzle. For Back to Work to be successful, we also need to be able to match jobseekers with the right training opportunities.  |

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| Click the graph to see check the Department of Health's COVID-19 data dashboard. |

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| Earlier today, I announced a new partnership with Jobcase, the third-largest online jobseeker platform in the country, to help connect Rhode Islanders with Back to Work job training programs. 
More than 60,000 Rhode Islanders are registered and active on the site, and they’ve created a special Back to Work forum to share information and updates with members. So, if you’re interested getting updates about Back to Work, you can create a free Jobcase account and join the “Back to Work Rhode Island Group” today.  
We're all in this together,
-Gina RaimondoGovernor
P.S.: Information is our greatest weapon in the fight against COVID-19. If you or someone you know wants to sign up to receive these emails, you can use this link. |

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 Governor's Office | 82 Smith Street, Providence, RI 02903



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