GOVERNOR RAIMONDO IS GIVING
HER DAILY PRESS BRIEFING ON THE
CORONAVIRUS.
LET'S GO LIVE TO THE STATE LAW
-- STATEHOUSE.
GOV. RAIMONDO: I HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THE MOST
UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW
WE ARE DEALING WITH THE
CORONAVIRUS IN THE STATE OF
RHODE ISLAND.
AS A REMINDER, TOMORROW'S PRESS
CONFERENCE WILL BE AT 2:30.
2:30 TOMORROW AND WE WILL RETURN
AT 1:00 ON THURSDAY AND 1:00
THEREAFTER FOR EVERY DAY.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE DATA
DISPLAYED ON YOUR SCREEN
OR THAT
WILL BE DISPLAYED IN A MINUTE,
THE NUMBER OF NEW CASES AND THE
NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND
THE NUMBER OF ICU
HOSPITALIZATIONS IS HOLDING
STEADY.
WE ARE REALLY HOLDING OUR OWN
RIGHT NOW.
I HAVE NOT SEEN MUCH OF A
DECLINE WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE
AIMING FOR BUT ALSO NOT AN
INCLINE.
SO GOOD JOB TO EVERYBODY WHO IS
STAYING AT HOME AND WEARING A
FACE MASK, KEEPING YOUR CONTACT
TRACING NOTEBOOK, KEEPING SIX
FEET AWAY FROM FOLKS IF YOU HAVE
TO GO TO WORK, AND WASHING YOUR
HANDS CONSTANTLY.
REALLY CONTINUING TO CLAMP DOWN.
IT IS CLEARLY WORKING, IT IS
CLEARLY SAVING LIVES I -- AND I
WANT TO EMPHASIZE TO YOU EVERY
DAY IS IMPORTANT.
WHAT WE ARE LEARNING A LOT ABOUT
THIS, WE ARE LEARNING HOW TO
LIVE WITH THE VIRUS.
WE ARE LEARNING HOW TO DEAL WITH
IT.
EVERY DAY MATTERS.
WE ARE IN A FIGHT TO BRING OUR
INFECTION RATE WAY DOWN.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE DOING VERY
WELL.
I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH TO YOU
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT BETWEEN
NOW AND MAY 8
YOU REALLY FOCUS
ON OBEYING THAT STAY-AT-HOME
ORDER.
IF YOU DO, I THINK I WILL BE
ABLE TO LIFT THE STAY-AT-HOME
ORDER ON MAY 9 AND THAT WILL BE
VERY EXCITING FOR ALL OF US.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN EARLIER TODAY
GOVERNOR BAKER OF MASSACHUSETTS
WE KNOW THE STAY-AT-HOME ORDER
UNTIL MID-MAY.
I WOULD REALLY NOT LIKE TO HAVE
TO DO THAT IN RHODE ISLAND AND
THAT WILL DEPEND ON THE PEOPLE
OF RHODE ISLAND STAYING HUNKERED
DOWN FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF
WEEKS OBEYING THE STAY-AT-HOME
ORDER.
WE ARE WATCHING THE MOBILITY
DATA.
WE ARE WATCHING THE CROWDS IN
STORES.
WE ARE WATCHING THE TRAFFIC ON
THE STREETS.
WE HAVE SEEN A LITTLE BIT OF AN
UPTICK IN IT IS NOT WHAT WE WANT
TO SEE.
THE STAY-AT-HOME ORDER REMAINS
IN EFFECT.
HANG IN THERE WITH US.
OBEY THE RULES AND I HOPE
AND I
PLAN ON MAY 9 TO BE MAKING THE
STAY-AT-HOME ORDER WILL EXPIRE.
-- MAKING THE
ANNOUNCEMENT THAT
THE STAY-AT-HOME ORDER WILL
EXPIRE.
WE ALL NEED TO STAY HUNKERED
DOWN UNTIL NOW AND THEN.
A FEW ITEMS TODAY, I WANT TO
SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING
ABOUT HEALTHCARE.
OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A PUBLIC
HEALTH ISSUE.
HEALTHCARE IS TOP OF MIND FOR
EVERYBODY.
IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT THAT WE
MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS
ACCESS TO HIGH AFFORDABLE
HEALTHCARE.
THAT IS DOUBLY SO NOW AS WE ARE
DEALING WITH A HEALTHCARE CRISIS
AND IT MEANS WE HAVE TO DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE
THAT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO
HIGH-QUALITY HEALTH.
-- HEALTHCARE.
HEALTHCARE OF ALL KINDS,
MEDICAL
AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE.
I SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER
EARLIER THIS MONTH MANDATING
THAT HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES
COVER TELEMEDICINE FOR ALL
VISITS, FOR ALL PRIMARY CARE AND
ALL SPECIALIST AND THAT THEY
COVER IT IN THE SAME WAY THAT
THEY COVER IN
PATIENT AND IN
OFFICE VISITS.
THAT SEEMS TO BE GOING VERY WELL
SO THANK YOU TO PROVIDERS WHO
ARE CHANGING THE WAY YOU DO
BUSINESS AND EMBRACING
TELEHEALTH.
A BIG THANK YOU TO INSURANCE
COMPANIES WHO HAVE REALLY
EMBRACED THIS AND ON THE RIGHT
THING THROUGHOUT THIS CRISIS AS
WE WORK TOGETHER TO MEET THE
HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF RHODE
ISLANDERS.
HAVING SAID
THAT, WE NEED TO DO
MORE.
WE NEED TO DO MORE TO SUPPORT
OUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS DURING
THIS CRISIS.
ALMOST EVERY DAY I TALK ABOUT
OUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.
DOCTORS, NURSES, NURSING
ASSISTANTS, EVERYONE OUT THERE
WHO IS IN SOME WAY TREATING
PATIENTS IS HAVING A HARD TIME.
NO MATTER HOW YOU SLICE IT, THEY
ARE HAVING A HARD TIME.
THEY ARE WORKING EVERY DAY.
THEY ARE TIRED.
MANY OF THEM ARGUING WITH
FINANCIAL ISSUES THEMSELVES AND
IN THEIR PRACTICES AND THEY ARE
ALSO DEALING WITH THE ANXIETIES
THAT THEY SEE IN THE PATIENTS
EVERY DAY.
AS A RESULT
, I HAVE DECIDED TO
TAKE ADDITIONAL ACTION.
YESTERDAY I SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE
ORDER THAT WILL ALLOW
REGULATIONS TO BE RELAXED WHICH
COULD BE STANDING IN THE WAY OF
PATIENTS ACCESSING THE CARE THEY
NEED IN THIS CRISIS.
WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE
CAN
TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE,
PATIENTS, AND RHODE ISLANDERS
CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE
HEALTHCARE CARE THAT THEY NEED
WHEN THEY NEED IT AND THAT OUR
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS DON'T HAVE
TO JUMP THROUGH HOOPS AND ANY
EXCESSIVE REDTAPE OR BUREAUCRACY
WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES TO BE
ABLE TO PROVIDE THE CARE YOU
KNOW PATIENTS NEED.
-- THEY KNOW PATIENTS NEED.
AS A RESULT, I SIGNED AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER WHICH IS IN
EFFECT IN RHODE ISLAND UNTIL MAY
27 WHICH IS DESIGNED TO CLEAR
THE WAY FOR PATIENTS TO GET
ACCESS TO CARE AND TO MAKE IT
EASIER FOR PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE
THE CARE THAT THEY KNOW IS
NECESSARY FOR PATIENTS WITHOUT
HAVING TO GO TO REDTAPE
SO THAT
THEY CAN FOCUS ALL THEIR TIME
TAKING CARE OF THEIR PATIENTS.
THE FOLLOWING ARE IN EFFECT
UNTIL MAY 27.
NUMBER ONE, I WANT ALL PATIENTS
TO KNOW AND ALL RHODE ISLANDERS
TO NOTE THAT OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS
FOR PRESCRIPTIONS WILL NOT
INCREASE DURING THIS TIME AND
THAT THE MEDICINE YOU ARE TAKING
NOW CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE
DROPPED FROM COVERAGE.
FROM NOW UNTIL MAY
27, INSURERS
CANNOT MAKE CHANGES TO WHAT
DRUGS THEY WILL COVER
UNLESS THE
CHANGES BENEFIT THEIR PATIENTS
AND THE DOCTOR SAYS IT IS
NECESSARY.
SECONDLY, I WANT TO MAKE A NOTE
ABOUT PROVIDER REFERRALS.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT A BURDEN IT IS
FOR PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS TO
PROVIDE A SPECIFIC REFERRAL TO A
PATIENT SO THAT PATIENT CAN GO
SEE A SPECIALIST TO RECEIVE
SPECIALTY CARE.
AS A RESULT OF THE
EO, INSURERS
WILL HAVE TO RELAX THIS PROCESS
TO ALLOW MUCH MORE TIME IN
LENIENCY -- AND LENIENCY.
THERE WILL BE NO REFERRALS
NEEDED FOR TELEHEALTH WHICH IS
CURRENTLY A MAJOR SOURCE OF
COMMUNITY CARE IN THE STATE.
AS A NOTE TO PRIMARY CARE
PHYSICIANS,
SPECIALISTS, AND THE
PEOPLE OF RHODE ISLAND ON
ACCOUNT OF THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER,
I AM REQUIRING INSURANCE
COMPANIES TO BE MORE LENIENT
IN
THEIR REQUIREMENTS AS IT RELATES
TO GETTING A REFERRAL TO A
SPECIALIST FROM YOUR PRIMARY
CARE PROVIDER.
JUST THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD.
ADDITIONALLY, I WANT TO MAKE A
NOTE ABOUT PRE-AUTHORIZATIONS.
PREAUTHORIZATION IS OFTEN
REQUIRED BY INSURANCE COMPANIES
IF A PROVIDER WANTS TO PERFORM A
PARTICULAR TEST OR PERFORM SOME
PROCEDURE, THEY HAVE TO GET WHAT
IS CALLED PREAUTHORIZATION FROM
THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
IT IS A WELL INTENDED PRACTICE
DESIGNED TO KEEP COST DOWN.
IT IS ALSO A GREAT BURDEN FOR
PHYSICIANS AND THESE PHYSICIANS
NEED OUR ATTENTION TO HELP LIFT
THOSE BURDENS AND LIFT THE
REDTAPE.
I DON'T THINK AT THIS TIME
HEALTHCARE SHOULD BE DELAYED
BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO GET PRIOR
AUTHORIZATION FROM
AN INSURER.
WE NEED TO BE IN THE BUSINESS OF
PROVIDING HEALTHCARE AND
SPEEDING THE DELIVERY OF
HEALTHCARE.
I HAVE ORDERED THAT
INPATIENT
HOSPITAL AND REHABILITATION,
LONG-TERM CARE, AND TELEMEDICINE
NOT BE SUSPENDED BECAUSE SOMEONE
DOES NOT HAVE PRIOR
AUTHORIZATION.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE WILL BE NO
PRIOR AUTHORIZATION PROTECTING
TREATMENT OF COVID-19.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE.
AS I SAY EVERYDAY,
THIS VIRUS IS
TAKING A TOLL ON ALL OF US AND
BEING ABLE TO SEEK MENTAL AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE IS JUST AS
IMPORTANT AS PHYSICAL
HEALTHCARE.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE RHODE
ISLANDERS ARE ABLE TO DEAL WITH
THEIR ANXIETY, DEPRESSION,
SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS, ALONG
WITH ANY OF THE MENTAL HEALTH
NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE AS THEY ARE
COPING WITH THE CRISIS.
AT THIS TIME, DUE TO THIS
EXECUTIVE ORDER, IN NETWORK
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDED
--
PROVIDERS, NEED TO BE TRUSTED TO
PROVIDE THE CARE THEIR PATIENTS
NEED WITHOUT BEING
SECOND-GUESSED.
NO REFERRALS WILL BE NEEDED FOR
PATIENTS TO ACCESS NEEDED MENTAL
AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE.
THE EXECUTIVE
ORDER IS
AVAILABLE.
THE HEALTH INSURANCE
COMMISSIONER WILL BE PROVIDING
FULL DETAIL TO PROVIDERS AND TO
INSURERS.
I WANTED TO GIVE THE PUBLIC A
FLAVOR OF THIS.
I HOPE IF YOU ARE A PHYSICIAN OR
A PROVIDER, THIS ALLOWS YOU TO
BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF KNOWING
THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE TO DO YOUR
JOB WITHOUT A LITTLE -- WITH A
LITTLE LESS BURDEN.
IF YOU ARE A PATIENT, I WANT YOU
TO BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF
KNOWING THAT DURING THIS TIME
YOUR NETWORK CANNOT BE CHANGED,
YOUR COVERAGE CANNOT BE CHANGED,
AND YOU WILL NOT BE HASSLED
BECAUSE YOU ARE TOLD YOU HAVE TO
WAIT FOR PREAUTHORIZATION BEFORE
YOU CAN GET THE HEALTHCARE THAT
YOU NEED.
TO INSURANCE COMPANIES, I KNOW
THIS IS A DISRUPTION TO YOUR
BUSINESS MODEL.
MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT
ALREADY WITH OUR INSURANCE
COMMISSIONER AND WITH MY
ADMINISTRATION.
YOU HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY
COOPERATIVE.
YOU HAVE HELPED ME DRAFT THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER AND I WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU.
FROM DAY ONE, YOU HAVE BEEN
TERRIFIC AND I WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU TO YOU FOR HELPING TO
PARTNER WITH US AND GET THROUGH
THIS CRISIS.
EVERYTHING I JUST SAID LASTS
UNTIL MAY 27.
I WILL RENEW IT IF I FEEL IT IS
NECESSARY AT THE END OF NEXT
MONTH.
I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE MORE
NOTES.
ONE RELATES TO OUR TECHNOLOGY.
ONE OF OUR WORK STREAMS IS
AROUND TECHNOLOGY.
WE KNOW WE WILL HAVE TO RELY
ADDITIONALLY ON TECHNOLOGY IN
ORDER TO HELP US GET THROUGH THE
CRISIS, AN ORDER TO HELP US WITH
CONTACT TRACING, SYMPTOM
MONITORING, ORDERING
APPOINTMENTS TO GET A TEST, ETC.
WE HAVE TO RELY ON NEW KINDS OF
TECHNOLOGY AND AS A RESULT, WE
HAVE BUILT A NUMBER OF
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
REACHING OUT TO COMPANIES TO
HELP PROVIDE US WITH THE
TECHNOLOGY THAT WE NEED.
ONE OF THOSE PARTNERSHIPS IS
WITH THE SOFTWARE COMPANY CALLED
SURVEY MONKEY.
A FEW WEEKS AGO, I TALKED ABOUT
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH A SOFTWARE
COMPANY CALLED SALESFORCE.
ON ACCOUNT OF THE WORK WITH
THEM, WE HAVE STATE-OF-THE-ART
SOFTWARE FOR COMPILING ALL OF
THE CONTACTS THAT WE TRACE AND
ENABLING THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND THE NATIONAL GUARD TO
HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO THAT
INFORMATION.
CONTACT TRACING IS ONE PIECE OF
THE PUZZLE.
ONCE WE HAVE CONTACT WITH AN
INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS TESTED
POSITIVE OR IS IN QUARANTINE
OR
HAS EXPOSURE TO SOMEONE WHO IS
POSITIVE, WE NEED TO KNOW HOW
THEY ARE DOING, WHAT ARE THEIR
SYMPTOMS.
IN ADDITION TO CONTACT TRACING,
WE ARE DOING SYMPTOM TRACKING
AND MONITORING.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHO IS
SICK, HOW LONG ARE THE SYMPTOMS
LASTING, WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS,
HOW SEVERE ARE THE SYMPTOMS,
WHEN HAVE PEOPLE RECOVERED?
THAT IS WHERE SURVEY MONKEY FITS
IN.
IT IS KEEPING IN
CONTACT WITH
ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR
CONTACT TRACING SYSTEM BY TEXT
SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY IN ORDER
TO SEE HOW THEY ARE DOING, WHAT
ARE THE SYMPTOMS, HOW THEY ARE
CHANGING, ETC.
THAT INFORMATION WILL BE SENT TO
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ON AN
AGGREGATE LEVEL SO THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OVER TIME
CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THE
DISEASE.
WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT
ARE THE SYMPTOMS, ARE THERE
CERTAIN SYMPTOMS OF CERTAIN
POPULATIONS, HOTSPOTS OF
SYMPTOMS, OVER TIME AS WE HAVE
MORE DATA ON OUR POPULATION, WE
WILL EVEN BE ABLE TO PREDICT IF
WE SEE A SPIKE IN SYMPTOMS IN
PARTICULAR AREAS OR POPULATIONS.
A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR TECH
TEAM.
IT IS AMAZING HOW QUICKLY THEY
ARE MOVING.
I WANTED REMIND EVERYONE IN
RHODE ISLAND THIS IS OFTEN ONLY.
NO ONE WILL -- OPT-
IN ONLY.
I WILL ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO IT.
THE DATA IS GOING RIGHT TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
I'M GOING TO BE TALKING A LOT
ABOUT THIS IN THE WEEKS AND
MONTHS TO COME.
THE NAME OF THE GAME'S DATA.
-- THE NAME OF THE GAME
IS DATA.
OVER TIME WE WILL KNOW WHAT IS
GOING ON STATEWIDE AROUND THESE
DEMS.
WE WILL BE INTERACTING WITH YOU
SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY.
THAT DATA WILL BE LIKE GOLD FOR
US AS WE TRY TO MANAGE THE
CRISIS AFTER THE ECONOMY OPENS
SO WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND
THIS.
I WOULD JUST SAY IF YOU ARE
CONTACTED BY SURVEY MONKEY, YOU
WILL BE GIVEN THE OPTION TO OP
T-IN. I'M URGING YOU TO SAY
YES,
TAKE THE SURVEYS, IT WILL KEEP
YOU HEALTHY AND YOUR FAMILY
HEALTHY AND YOUR WORKPLACE
HEALTHY AND GET EVERYBODY BACK
TO WORK AND KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE.
I WANT TO MAKE A NOTE ABOUT THE
DMZ. PREVIOUSLY, I HAD ANNOUNCED
90 DAY EXTENSIONS FOR ANYONE
WITH EXPIRATIONS IN THE MONTHS
OF MARCH AND APRIL.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY NOW THAT WE
ARE ALSO GIVING 90 DAY
EXTENSIONS FOR ALL EXPIRATIONS
THAT COME UP IN THE MONTH OF
MAY.
IF YOUR EXPIRATION DATE WAS
ORIGINALLY IN MAY, YOU WILL NOW
HAVE UNTIL AUGUST.
THIS APPLIES TO LICENSEES,
REGISTRATIONS, INSPECTIONS,
PERMITS, AND TEMPORARY PLATES.
I ALSO WANT TO TAKE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND EVERYONE
THAT THE DMV IN
-- IS OPEN, BUT
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
DO NOT SHOW UP TO THE DMV IN
CRANSTON UNLESS YOU HAVE AN
APPOINTMENT.
ALL OFFICES BESIDE CRANSTON ARE
CLOSED AND I WOULD ASK THAT YOU
ONLY MAKE AN APPOINTMENT IF YOU
ABSOLUTELY NEED TO.
AS I SAID, EVERYTHING THAT HAS
COME UP IN MARCH, APRIL, AND MAY
HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOR THREE
MONTHS.
NEARLY EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO DO
YOU CAN DO ONLINE.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY PUT MORE THINGS
ONLINE THROUGH THIS CRISIS SO I
WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO IT
ONLINE IF YOU NEED TO.
IF YOU NEED TO GO INTO THE DMV,
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.
GO IN AND FOLLOW ALL OF THE
SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES.
AS I TALK ABOUT THE DMV,
I AM
SURE I AM GENERATING A LOT OF
QUESTIONS IN YOUR MIND
S ABOUT
WHAT ABOUT TOWN HALLS, WHAT
ABOUT FIELD OFFICES FOR DHS,
WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF STATE
GOVERNMENT.
I WILL BE BACK TO YOU EITHER
LATER THIS WEEK OR THE BEGINNING
OF NEXT WEEK WITH BROADER
GUIDANCE ON HOW WE PLAN TO
HANDLE THE REST OF GOVERNMENT
SERVICES.
IF YOU COULD HOLD OUT A BIT FOR
THAT FURTHER GUIDANCE AND TODAY
I DID WANT TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE DMV
BECAUSE MAY IS AROUND THE CORNER
AND WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF
QUESTIONS.
I WOULD LIKE TO END WITH GOOD
NEWS AS IT RELATES TO PPE.
AS I SAID, THE MOST ENCOURAGING
THING TO ME THROUGHOUT THIS
CRISIS HAS BEEN THE WAY PEOPLE
HAVE PULLED TOGETHER.
NOT A DAY GOES BY THAT SOMEONE
DOES NOT DO SOMETHING
EXTRAORDINARILY GENEROUS OR KIND
OR PROACTIVE TO HELP AS WE DEAL
WITH THE CRISIS.
I MEAN NOT A DAY.
I AM CONSTANTLY OVERWHELMED BY
PEOPLE'S KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY
AS IT RELATES TO US AND TAKING
CARE OF NEIGHBORS.
TO THAT POINT, YOU MAY
RECALL
THAT ABOUT ONE WEEK AGO I
INDICATED THAT WE WERE QUITE
CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE WE WERE
WITH OUR GOWNS.
WE TALK A LOT ABOUT N95 MASKS
AND SURGICAL MASKS, BUT THE
TRUTH IS FULL PPE, FULL PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, ESPECIALLY
A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PIECES OF
EQUIPMENT THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY
TRYING TO SUPPLY.
RIGHT NOW, ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY,
ONE PIECE THAT IS IN GREAT
DEMAND AND SHORT SUPPLY IS
GOWNS.
AT THE END OF LAST WEEK, WE WERE
NOT IN A GREAT PLACE AS IT
RELATED TO GOWNS AND I WAS
CALLING FEMA AND OUR TEAM WAS
WORKING LIKE CRAZY.
BUT IT WAS GETTING TO A
SHORTAGE.
ENTER CHARLIE AND OWEN
MARROW.
THEY ARE HEROES IN MY MIND.
THEY OWN AND RUN MARROW SEWING
MACHINE COMPANY.
IT IS IN FALL RIVER
, BUT CHARLIE
AND OWEN LIVE IN RHODE ISLAND.
WE WERE PUT IN TOUCH WITH THE
COMPANY THROUGH POLARIS WHICH IS
A RHODE ISLAND-BASED NONPROFIT
THAT WORKS WITH MANUFACTURERS.
GOD BLESS
THIS SEWING MACHINE
COMPANY BECAUSE JUST WHEN WE
WERE NOT SURE HOW WE WERE GOING
TO GET THE GOWNS WE NEEDED TO
GET THROUGH THE NEXT FEW WEEKS,
CHARLIE SHOWED UP WITH THE GOWNS
THAT THEY MADE WITH CERTAIN
SPECIFICATIONS AFTER A LOT OF
TESTING.
HE SHOWED UP OVER THE WEEKEND
WITH MORE THAN 3000 GALLONS MADE
RIGHT ACROSS THE LINE IN FALL
RIVER.
EVEN BETTER THAN THAT,
WE HAVE
NOW ORDERED MORE THAN HALF A
MILLION ADDITIONAL GOWNS FROM
THAT COMPANY AND WE EXPECT THAT
THAT SUPPLY WILL HOLD US IN GOOD
STEAD FOR MONTHS TO COME.
I HAVE SAID TO YOU MANY TIMES, I
THINK WE ARE LITERALLY SCOURING
THE EARTH FOR PPE.
AND THAT IS TRUE.
WE ALL ALL OVER THE WORLD.
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING RIGHT HERE
IN OUR OWN BACKYARD.
THANK YOU TO CHARLIE AND OWEN
FOR STEPPING UP WHEN WE NEEDED
YOU MOST.
YOUR PRODUCT IS FANTASTIC AND WE
NEEDED EVERY BIT OF THE 3000 AND
WE NEED EVERY BIT OF THE HALF A
MILLION.
