Health care leaders in Rhode Island say the combination of the surge in coronavirus cases and staff shortages is creating an unprecedented crisis. Hospital officials say overcrowded emergency rooms are creating long delays and intensive care units are at capacity. They are hoping to get help from FEMA or the National Guard.
Meantime, all systems go for the Rhode Island School system to open to in-person learning. Officials say there is no great desire to remote learn unless it is absolutely necessary. But the State Health Department is looking to the first two weeks of January for a dramatic spike in covid cases following the holiday break. That could be a chief decider as to whether the schools will remain open to in- person learning.
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