Hi, just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in Steve Rao. Don't forget to add sr@steverao.com to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox!
You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails.
|
|
|
|
From the Council Office of Steve Rao
December 24, 2020
|
|
- NC Sets Hospitalization Record with 3,000 in Hospitals.
- 119,00 in United States expected to be in Hospital during the Holidays.
- California becomes first state to reach 2 Million Covid cases.
|
|
Download the “SlowCovidNC” App
|
|
|
Interview with Wake County Chair Matt Calabria |
Tune in on Sunday at 4 pm to Radio Mirchi to hear our State of Wake County Interview with Wake County Chair Matt Calabria! 99.9 FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM! |
|
HOLIDAY GREETINGS AND CELEBRATING THE MIRACLE OF MORRISVILLE! |
|
Dear Friends,
Komal, Sonia, Rayan and I hope you enjoy safe, quality time with your families during this Holiday Season although we all miss celebrating together in person.
It has been an honor to serve on the Council for the past decade. I continue to be amazed at the all of the progress we have made since I was elected, and I am honored to serve on a winning team, that is making the Live Connected/Live Well brand ring true for every citizen and business who calls Morrisville home.
This year, the Town of Morrisville was named as the tenth most livable city in America by Money Magazine! Number One is just around the corner. Nothing is impossible, when our Council works with engaged citizens and staff, to execute on major projects and do great work, even during this Pandemic. A renovated Morrisville Aquatics and Fitness Center, Wake County Library, a completed McCrimmon Parkway Extension, Wake Competition Ice Rink, a Professional Cricket Team, the commencement of the Morrisville Carpenter Road Project and our Smart City Initiative are just a few examples of the great work being done by our world class Staff and Council.
Parkside Elementary, a proposed Middle School/High School in the 7-year strategic CIP plan, and an early Career High School at Wake Tech RTP also demonstrate the tremendous progress we are making with schools in Morrisville.
Finally, In the midst of darkness and uncertainty of a global pandemic, it is the light and love of our hearts, which will continue to guide Morrisville, our state and nation to our brightest days ahead and to enable us to get through this uncertain time together. Nowhere is this light of love and hope more evident than the selfless service from our community leaders: the Hindu Society of NC preparing meals for our Wake County kids, Tamil Sangam donating 2000 N 95 masks to our Morrisville Fire Department or BAPS delivering PPE to First Responders around the state and of course, the dedication and service of our First Responders, Firefighters, Police Department and brave soldiers of our Armed Forces.
|
|
This type of selfless leadership demonstrates that our ability for our divine inner light to shine is not dependent on the darkness and uncertainty around us and will always shine brightly when we unite to help our community. Our light, our resilience will always allow us to overcome the greatest adversity.
Thanks to each of you, we continue to fly to the greatest heights, as the Miracle of Morrisville continues. Prepare the Cabin for Lift Off! We are ready for another great year and our own Morrisville Moon Shot!
We wish each of you a very safe and Happy Holidays as we look forward to getting back to a new normal in 2021.
Regards,
Steve S. Rao, Council Member At Large, Former Mayor Pro Tem, Town of Morrisville
|
|
Governor Cooper has modified the Stay at Home Order to allow Santa Clause to visit North Carolina this evening but he will have to wear a mask. We wish him a safe visit as he will be flying into some storms and also thank RDU Airport for their cooperation.
FAA has provided Santa a commercial Space License so he can visit International Space Station!
|
|
Trump rejecting Stimulus Relief Bill and Congress meeting today.
|
|
|
Governor Cooper Extends Rent Moratorium until Jan 31 and NC expected to $700 million in Rent Aid Under Stimulus Bill.
|
|
|
Restaurants and Bars can serve Take Out Cocktails per Cooper Executive Order. Sheriff Association says he does not have Authority. |
|
NC Churches asked to not hold Virtual Services and some churches are working on their own plans. |
|
Biden appoints Miguel Cardona as Education Secretary, First Latino to serve in the Post. |
|
|
Vote for the Town of Morrisville, NC as a Readiness Challenge Winner |
The Town of Morrisville plans to use sensors and controls to optimize a Connected Park Initiative and Smart Corridor Initiative.
3 things to know about the Town of Morrisville
Follow the link to view all the Finalist videos and VOTE for that city whose projects could help all cities learn.
- Voting closes on January 5 @ 5 pm ET
- Readiness Cohort Leaders will be announced on January 11th and will receive a Collaborative Engagement in Q1 - 2021.
Thank you in advance for your participation.
|
|
WRAL TechWire Article: Building a ‘smart’ Morrisville: Leaders have a plan – and it could be an award winner
|
|
|
SMART CITY STEERING COMMITTEE APPLICATION PROCESS IS OPEN! |
Recruitment for the Morrisville Smart City Steering Committee began on December 14, 2020 and run through January 4, 2021. Specialized recruitment and engagement will be completed during this period to seat 11 members (at least seven technical and four non-technical).
Council is scheduled to be briefed on the item at the January 12 meeting and will receive appointment packets for selection on January 13. Council will be asked to take action appointing any selected applicants at their January 26 meeting.
Term appointments for selected members are recommended to begin February 1, 2021 with appointments being staggered over two- and three-year appointment terms.
|
|
STIMULUS RELIEF BILL DETAILS |
|
The House passed a one-day government funding bill earlier Sunday night to avoid a government shutdown at midnight, and the Senate then passed the continuing resolution. President Donald Trump signed it shortly before midnight, buying Congress 24 hours before the next deadline.
Final Details of Deal:
- Direct payment checks of up to $600 per adult and child.
- Aid for struggling small businesses, including more than $284 billion for forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loans and $15 billion "in dedicated funding for live venues, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions"
- Stimulus Checks: $600 for each Adult and for each Dependent.
- $300 per week for enhanced unemployment insurance benefits.
- $325 billion for Small Business ($284 billion for PPP and $20 billion for Economic Injury Assistance Loans)
- $25 billion for rental assistance and an eviction moratorium extension.
- $82 billion for education providers like schools and colleges, including aid to help reopen classrooms safely.
- Child care assistance: $10 billion
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and child nutrition benefits: $13 billion
- Broadband access to help Americans connect remotely during the pandemic: $7 billion
- Vaccine distribution, testing and contract tracing efforts and health care workers: $20 billion.
- Rail and Transit: $1 Billion in Relief Funds to Amtrak.
- Airline Assistance: $15 Billion to cover airline salaries and benefits through March..
- US Post Office: $10 billion in assistance.
- A tax credit "to support employers offering paid sick leave.
A number of procedural steps still need to take place to clear the way for a vote in both chambers, with the potential to further slow the process.
Once the text is unveiled, the House Rules Committee will have to consider the package in a meeting that could take several hours. Then, they will have to schedule a House floor debate and set up votes in the chamber.
The Senate is more complicated because it requires consent of all 100 members to schedule a vote, and it's uncertain if that will happen if any member is unhappy with the bill or the process. If they can't get an agreement for a quick vote, McConnell will be forced to take procedural steps to set up a vote, a process that could take several days.
|
|
FDA Approves Emergency Use of Moderna Vaccine. |
|
The Moderna vaccine is set to begin distribution as soon as the FDA gives the green light.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told CNBC on Thursday that 5.9 million doses have been allotted for states and large cities and were ready to ship nationwide.
The rollout of the vaccines, however, will take months in a nation where the virus is running rampant and public health measures such as social distancing and mask wearing are being rejected by large parts of the population.
US officials have said they expect to have 40 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines by the end of the year – enough to inoculate 20 million citizens.
Both vaccines were about 95 percent effective at preventing illness in pivotal clinical trials with no serious safety issues.
Several states said they were told to expect far fewer doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine during its second week of distribution, prompting worries about potential delays in shots for healthcare workers and long-term care residents.
Senior Trump administration officials downplayed the risk of delays on Thursday, citing confusion about semantics, while Pfizer said its production levels have not changed.
Moderna’s vaccine does not require specialized refrigeration for transportation or storage, unlike the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which must be kept at -70 Celsius (-94 Fahrenheit) and could make storage in rural, lower-income areas more difficult.
|
|
How does the vaccine work? |
The Pfizer and Moderna Vaccines are a new type called an mRNA vaccine that uses a tiny fragment of genetic code from the pandemic virus to teach the body how to fight Covid-19 and build immunity.
The vaccine contains a small piece of the [Covid-19] virus's mRNA that instructs cells in the body to make the virus's distinctive 'spike' protein.
When a person receives this vaccine, their body produces copies of the spike protein, which does not cause disease, but triggers the immune system to learn to react defensively, producing an immune response against [Covid-19].
The vaccine is given as two injections, 21 days apart, with the second dose being a booster. Immunity begins to kick in after the first dose but reaches its full effect seven days after the second dose.
|
|
NC and the Covid19 Vaccine |
Secretary Cohen has revealed that 53 North Carolina hospitals--decided based on number of beds, number of health care workers in direct contact with COVID-19 patients, and county population--will receive the first shipment of 89,800 vaccines. That includes 11 hospitals identified as having enough ultra cold storage to keep the Pfizer vaccine for a number of weeks, should the authorization process be delayed.
It will first be given to health care workers in hospitals and long-term care facilities who treat or work with COVID patients and those who clean areas where COVID patients are present. The state estimates that population at up to 161,000 people.
As additional vaccines are approved, the state will get additional allocations and will expand distribution to others.
The second group targeted by the state will be residents of long-term care, people over the age of 65 who live in crowded situations such as jails and homeless shelters, and other adults who have two or more chronic conditions that put them at greater risk for a severe case of the coronavirus. That group is estimated to number up to 951,000.
Vaccinating the rest of those at high risk for exposure to COVID-19 will encompass another 1 to 1.5 million people – everyone over 65, those under 65 in crowded situations or who work in frontline jobs and don't have two or more chronic conditions.
The third phase makes vaccine available to anyone in an essential position, according to the state "workers in industries critical to societal functioning," and students in K-12 schools and colleges and universities.
The final phase would include the remainder of the North Carolina population.
|
|
NC Hospitals to Receive Covid19 Vaccine |
NC Hospitals to receive Vaccine
- Bladen Healthcare LLC (Bladen County Hospital)
- Caldwell Memorial Hospital
- CarolinaEast Medical Center
- Catawba Valley Medical Center
- Cumberland County Hospital System Inc (Cape Fear Valley Health System)
- Duke University Health System
- Henderson County Hospital Corporation (Margaret R. Pardee Memorial Hospital)
- Hoke Healthcare LLC (Hoke Hospital)
- The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority (CMC Enterprise)
- University of North Carolina Shared Services Agreement
- Wake Forest Baptist Health
|
|
Join me Sunday 4 PM on Radio Mirchi for another update on local issues.
99.9FM HD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!
|
|
|
Join me Monday at 10 am on International Broadcast Media TV for a global for World Edition, an update on global politics.
|
|
|
- For latest Covid 19 information, please dial 2-1-1 or 888- 892-1162.
- Get Updates by texting COVIDNC at 898211.
- For unemployment insurance, please visit NC Dept of Employment Security at https://des.nc.gov/.
- 1,380,370 NC citizens have applied for UI Benefits, 935,514 have been paid benefits, and $9 billion of benefits have been issued.
-
Apply for Wake Forward program at https://covid19.wakegov.com/wakeforward/.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported 5,609 new COVID-19 cases and 69 more deaths.
As of Monday, 10.7% of tests are positive, a slight decrease from the last two days but still more than double the state's benchmark of 5%. The percentage of positive tests has been hovering between 10.4 and 12.5% for the last two weeks.
Currently, 3,043 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, a new record for the state. Ten more COVID-19 patients were added to ICUs across the state in the last 24 hours for the highest number in at least a month: 696 adult patients. In the last 24 hours, 416 confirmed COVID-19 patients were admitted to hospitals statewide.
The majority of those hospitalized are over the age of 60 whereas the majority of cases are in the 25 to 49 age range.
CASES:
5,609 New Cases
+ N.C. = 494,511 Cases (Deaths = 6,360)
+ 10.7 %Positive Rate
+ Wake County = 41,523 Cases (Deaths=337)
+ US = 18.5 million Cases/326K deaths
+ Worldwide = 78.7 million/1.73 million deaths
+ Completed Tests: 6, 508,956
+ 3,043 Hospitalized
|
|
|
|
Council Member Rao holds office hours on Friday from 12:00-1:00 PM by appointment only at 100 Town Hall Drive in Morrisville.
|
|
Council Member Steve Rao
Town of Morrisville
Dedicated to transforming Morrisville into an ideal place to work and raise a family!
|
|
See what's happening on our social sites: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
