This Just In: State workers ratify contract with $3K vaccine bonuses

Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal. Today is Dec. 2; Newport's Touro Synagogue was formally dedicated on this date in 1763.

The state's largest employee union has approved a four-year contract that includes $3,000 bonuses for all workers vaccinated against COVID-19. The deal also includes 2.5% annual pay raises; the McKee administration has not yet released any estimates of what it will cost state taxpayers. J. Michael Downey, the longtime president of Rhode Island Council 94, says it was the most overwhelming ratification vote that he can recall.

The Rhode Island Department of Health today reported four coronavirus-related deaths and 973 additional cases of COVID-19, along with 17,261 negative tests, for a 5.3% positive rate. There were 170 COVID-positive patients in Rhode Island hospitals at last count, up from 169 reported yesterday, with 21 in intensive care. There have been average of 614 new cases a day in Rhode Island over the last seven days, up 20% from a week ago and up 50% from two weeks ago.

While the majority of people who contract COVID recover, a significant number develop the symptoms of "long COVID." Their numbers are growing in Rhode Island and across the nation, and they include people like Shannon Maynard, of North Kingstown, who first tested positive for the coronavirus over the summer. Months later, she says, "I have pain in my back and my neck and all of my muscles, every day."

The omicron variant of the coronavirus has now been identified in two U.S. cases. In the latest edition of his podcast with health-care reporter G. Wayne Miller, Dr. Ashish Jha discusses what we do and don't know about the variant, and why the virus mutates so readily in unvaccinated people.

The coronavirus outbreak that led Pilgrim High School in Warwick to go remote for two weeks last month was linked to a homecoming dance. But many high schools across the state had homecoming dances without triggering an outbreak. We spoke to several of them to find out how they balanced tradition with safety.

Several decades ago, the state of Rhode Island offered grants to improve shoreline rights of way by clearing brush, installing walkways and adding things like picnic tables and bike racks. In exchange, the towns were supposed to take steps to make the rights of way accessible to the public, and wherever possible, that was supposed to include parking. Barrington got one of those grants for Bluff Road – a dead-end street at the water's edge in the Nayatt neighborhood. So why is it still almost impossible to park anywhere nearby?

As the winter approaches, state Sen. Cynthia Mendes, who is running for lieutenant governor, has set up a tent outside the State House and promises to sleep there until "we are sure that the homelessness crisis has been resolved and no one would freeze to death this winter."

For the second time in less than a month, contamination has spilled into the Seekonk River from the site of a proposed soccer stadium in Pawtucket.

Finally, I tuned in late to last night's Celtics-76ers game, and wondered why Enes Kanter had the word "Freedom" across the back of his jersey. Here's the answer.

Have a great night. And remember, if you enjoy This Just In, please encourage a friend to sign up.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: State workers ratify contract with $3K vaccine bonuses