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Layoffs at Rhode Island factory as demand for N95 masks ebbs
May 26, 2021
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) A Rhode Island factory once praised by former President Donald Trump for ramping up production of N95 face masks in the early days of the pandemic is laying off nearly 500 workers as the pandemic eases and demand for the face coverings wanes.
A spokesperson for Honeywell International told WPRI-TV on Wednesday that about 470 jobs at the Smithfield facility are being cut.
Employees are being urged to apply for other jobs at the company and some eligible workers will receive severance, he said.
“We are now seeing a dramatic reduction in demand for N95s in the U.S. as many states are ending or scaling back mask mandates and vaccinations are being widely distributed,” Eric Krantz said in a statement. “For these reasons, Honeywell is adjusting its N95 operations and ceasing manual production of N95s at our facility in Smithfield.”
Rhode Island to remove mask rules for fully vaccinated Associated Press © Photo Illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images 3M brand N95 particulate respirators are displayed on a table on July 28, 2020 in San Anselmo, California.
Rhode Island will no longer require residents fully vaccinated against the coronavirus to wear masks and socially distance in most public settings starting Tuesday, Gov. Daniel McKee announced Friday.
The Democratic governor’s announcement came a day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced it was easing mask-wearing guidance for the fully vaccinated by allowing them to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings.
Journal Staff
The Rhode Island Department of Health on Friday reported two coronavirus-related deaths and 154 additional cases of COVID-19.
Of the 154 additional cases, 139 were people who tested positive for the first time on Thursday; 15 were people who tested positive for the first time on previous days.
That brings the total toll in the state to 2,700 deaths and 150,385 known cases.
The Health Department says another 13,223 vaccine doses were administered; 471,738 people (about 43.0% of the population) are fully vaccinated and 583,708 people (about 53.2% of the population) are at least partially vaccinated.
There were 92 COVID-positive patients in Rhode Island hospitals at last count, on Wednesday, down from 96 reported yesterday. Twenty were in intensive care; 14 were on ventilators.
McKee says eliminating $300 federal jobless benefit would be shortsighted NBC 10 NEWS
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Gov. Dan McKee said Thursday during the weekly coronavirus briefing that he supports letting workers keep some unemployment benefits while returning to work.
The governor said it would be shortsighted to eliminate the added $300 a week federal unemployment benefit, as some states are doing. Why give that back to the federal government? he said, saying that money brings close to $100 million a month into Rhode Island and is being spent in Rhode Island communities. We re basically hurting ourselves by not trying to protect those dollars, McKee said. Those are not coming out of our pockets. They re there for incentives to make sure that people can pay their bills.
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