Good evening,
Please find today's COVID-19 Daily Update below and attached. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Jeff Cohen
INFORMS Members In The News
Member: Pinar Keskinocak
Members: Pinar Keskinocak and Julie Swann
Members: Pinar Keskinocak and Julie Swann
Member: Sheldon Jacobson
Member: Julie Swann
Members: Pinar Keskinocak and Julie Swann
Member: Ed Kaplan
Member: Sridhar Tayur
Member: Pinar Keskinocak
Member: Pinar Keskinocak
Member: Pinar Keskinocak
Member: Pinar Keskinocak
Member: Vicki Bier
Member: Vicki Bier
U.S. Federal Policy Update
- Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced today the creation of a bipartisan coronavirus-focused committee in the House, with Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) as the Democrat in charge. The committee's focus will be to "ensure that taxpayer dollars are being wisely and efficiently spent to help save lives," with oversight authority over the Trump administration and its management of the coronavirus response.
- This evening, the Small Business Administration released an interim final rule describing the implementation of the $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program – which will be added to the SBA's 7(a) Loan Program. This program was created by Sections 1102 and 1106 of the CARES Act to aid small businesses.
- The Democratic National Committee is reportedly delaying their presidential convention from their original date of July 13th to August 17th, due to concerns surrounding the spread of coronavirus. This new date will mean that the Democratic convention will take place a week before the Republican party's convention.
- President Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act again – this time for six companies, in order to "more fully ensure that domestic manufacturers can produce ventilators needed to save American lives." These companies include: General Electric, Hill-Rom, Medtronic, ResMed, Royal Philips, and Vyaire Medical.
- Yesterday, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service released more information to ease the process for small- and mid-sized employers in implementing the paid sick and family leave tax credits. This additional information was posted as "Basic FAQs" on the IRS website.
- Reports have emerged that the IRS and Treasury Department are likely to start sending stimulus checks to Americans beginning on the week of April 13th.
- New unemployment figures were released this morning, and the data revealed that a record 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment in the past week.
Global Response
- Russian President Vladimir Putin announced today that the stay-at-home requirement would be extended for an additional three weeks – until the end of the month.
State Update
- President Trump officially approved disaster declarations today for Virginia and for the U.S. Virgin Islands territory.
- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced today that the state's stay-at-home order is now going to be extended up until May 1st.
- Similarly, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced today that their stay-at-home order would also be extended up until April 30th.
- Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt issued a stay-at-home order for the state today, lasting until April 30th.
- Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced a stay-at-home order today, which will be effective up until April 14th.
- Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed an executive order today stating that all schools in the state will utilize remote learning for schooling through the rest of the school year.
Economic Update (as of the close of markets)
- U.S. stocks closed higher today, largely due to hopes that the oil conflict between Saudi Arabia and Russia could improve because of a tweet from President Trump this morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average saw gains of 2.2%, the S&P 500 of 2.3%, and the Nasdaq Composite of 1.7%.
Latest Numbers
- In the United States: Over 236,339 cases and 5,648 deaths in 50 states, 4 territories, and Washington, D.C.
- Worldwide: Over 1,007,793 cases and 52,611 deaths in at least 204 countries and territories.
In the News
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Jeffrey M. Cohen, MBA
Director, Public Affairs & Marketing
INFORMS
jeff.cohen@informs.org------------------------------