Good evening,
Please find today's Daily COVID-19 Update below and attached. Please let me know if you have any comments or questions.
Thank you,
Ashley Smith
INFORMS Members in the News
Member: Julie Swann and Pinar Keskinocak
Member: Sheldon Jacobson
U.S. Federal Policy Update
- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced that the chamber will depart for August recess today and will return to D.C. if a deal is reached for the fourth coronavirus stimulus package (for which negotiations still remain stalled). Lawmakers in the Senate will follow the same protocol as the House of Representatives – receiving a 24-hour notice to return for votes. If the Senate doesn't have to return for a vote on a relief package, the chamber is scheduled to return to session on September 8th.
- For the first time since March, the Labor Department's weekly data found that less than a million Americans filed for first-time unemployment benefits over the past week – with approximately 963,000 people filing for the benefits.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield encouraged Americans that there are "four simple things" they can do "for their country right now" – 1) wear a mask, 2) social distance, 3) wash hands, and 4) be smart about crowds.
- The White House published a statement from White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany on the "safe reopening of America's schools."
- The Department of Defense published a release on Operation Warp Speed, stating that the public-private partnership is on track to deliver 300 hundred million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2020.
- After receiving his first briefing from health experts on COVID-19, presumptive Democratic Nominee Joe Biden indicated this afternoon that he believes a nationwide mask mandate should be implemented – urging that "every governor should mandate mandatory mask wearing for the next three months."
- National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins announced that he's expecting "interim, high-level recommendations" from the National Academy of Sciences regarding who will get priority for COVID-19 vaccines to be released by Labor Day weekend. However, Director Collins added that it is highly unlikely that a vaccine is approved by October.
Global Response
- World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that they predict that the COVID-19 pandemic "costs the global economy $375 billion per month and predicts a cumulative loss to the global economy over two years of over $12 trillion."
- Russian officials stated that they have "offered unprecedented cooperation" opportunities to the U.S. on its coronavirus vaccine but added that the "U.S. is not currently open" to their offer.
- Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez announced that Argentina and Mexico would partner together to produce between 150 million – 250 million vaccines for Latin America by early next year.
- Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra announced that the country will have to implement new coronavirus restrictions due to an uptick in cases – with an official decree requiring localized lockdowns in their provinces.
State Update
- New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (R) unveiled new recommendations for long-term care facilities, with a four-phase approach to reopening these facilities.
- Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D) announced that he would be extending the state's mask mandate beyond the current expiration date of this Saturday, August 15th.
- The Judicial Council of California announced that they had vote to extend their temporary emergency rules that prevent foreclosures and evictions through September 1st, due to ongoing economic difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (R) announced that he would be issuing guidance on high school athletics over the next few days.
- Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) announced that he would withdraw his lawsuit against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) over her action to implement a citywide mask mandate in Atlanta. He stated that while his office has "worked in good faith with Mayor Bottoms and she has agreed to abandon the city's Phase One roll-back plan," she "has made it clear that she will not agree to a settlement that safeguards the rights of private property owners in Georgia."
- Louis, Missouri Health Commissioner Fredrick Echols issued an order limiting the capacity of bars and restaurants to only 50% capacity – with a required 11:00 PM closing time. This order will expire on September 7th.
- Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) called on the Atlanta Chief Health Officer to examine the racial and cultural disparities of the impact of COVID-19 on the city's population, with a request that the department publish a report on the topic and convene an advisory council.
- Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Quinton Lucas (D) issued an extension of the COVID-19 state of emergency until at least January 16th, 2021.
Economic Update
- U.S. stocks were volatile today, with the three indices closing the day with mixed results. The Nasdaq Composite rose by 0.3%, while the S&P 500 fell by 0.2% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 0.3%.
Latest Impact Data
- In the United States: Over 5,414,370 cases and 170,359 deaths in 50 states, 4 territories, and Washington, D.C.
- Worldwide: Over 21,062,913 and 752,587 deaths in at least 204 countries and territories.
In the News
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Ashley Smith
Public Relations Specialist
INFORMS
Catonsville MD
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