Good evening. Please find below and attached today's Daily COVID-19 Update for April 1st. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Jeff Cohen
INFORMS Members In The News
Member: Pinar Keskinocak
Members: Pinar Keskinocak & Julie Swann
Members: Pinar Keskinocak & Julie Swann
Members: Pinar Keskinocak
Member: Pinar Keskinocak
Members: Pinar Keskinocak & Julie Swann
U.S. Federal Policy Update
- Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) convened a press call with reporters this afternoon, along with House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC), Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR). The call focused on their vision for the next coronavirus package, with a broad range of topic areas including infrastructure, broadband, healthcare, energy, water, climate change, state and local funding, labor, and election security. As far as timing goes, Speaker Pelosi stated that it's likely that a package could come together by the end of April.
- It remains unclear what timeline the House and Senate Appropriations Committees will pursue for FY2021 spending bills, given the legislative uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic. House Appropriations Committee spokesman Evan Hollander stated today that the committee is "in constant contact with subcommittee chairs and focused on engaging all of members as [they] develop phase four coronavirus response legislation and prepare fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills."
- House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) announced today that he is introducing legislation that would establish a bipartisan commission in Congress "to produce a full and complete accounting of the nation's preparedness and response to the novel coronavirus pandemic." The measure – which is co-sponsored by fourteen other committee Democrats – would create a commission of 25 members from House committees, who would conduct an 18-month investigation into the U.S.'s preparedness and actions amid the pandemic.
- Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden stated today that the Democratic National Convention could potentially be postponed due to coronavirus concerns with large group gatherings. He stated that "it's hard to envision" holding the convention, and emphasized the need to "listen to the scientists."
Global Response
- COP26 – the United Nations' global climate change conference – has officially been postponed due to the spread of coronavirus. Originally scheduled to take place in November in Glasgow, Scotland, the conference's postponement was announced via press release from the UK government.
- The World Trade Organization, World Health Organization, and the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization released a joint statement yesterday advising governments against trade restrictions in order to avoid food shortages around the world. The leaders stated that "uncertainty about food availability can spark a wave of export restrictions, creating a shortage on the global market."
- United Nations Secretary General António Guterres stated that the coronavirus pandemic is "the most challenging crisis that we have faced since the Second World War" in a virtual news conference late last night.
- Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said in a speech today that the country will be giving 10 million face masks to countries around the world impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Japanese pharmaceutical company Fujifilm Toyama Chemical kicked off a clinical trial for a coronavirus treatment today, with plans for the trial to last until the end of June.
- The international Wimbledon tennis tournament has officially been postponed to July 2021, according to an announcement released by the championship's organizers.
State Update
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued a stay-at home order today, which would close all nonessential businesses and advise that all residents stay home. Residents are allowed to exercise outside, but must be six feet apart. The order also advises against gatherings of more than ten people. The order will go into effect at midnight, and will last for thirty days.
- Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced this afternoon that he is issuing a statewide shelter-in-place executive order, which will go into effect on Friday. Governor Kemp also announced that all public schools will be closed for the rest of the school year.
- Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves also announced a shelter-in-place order today, which will also go into effect on Friday and will last until April 20th.
- California Governor Gavin Newsom announced in a news briefing today that public schools will be closed throughout the rest of the school year.
Economic Update (as of the close of markets)
- The market kicked off the second quarter with declines for all three indices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by approximately 4.4%, the S&P 500 also by approximately 4.4%, and the Nasdaq Composite by approximately 4.3%.
- Analysts stated that this drop in the stock market likely occurred because of President Trump's forecast in yesterday's press conference stating that 100,000 to 240,000 Americans could die due to the coronavirus.
Latest Numbers
- In the United States: Over 206,233 cases and 4,576 deaths in 50 states, 4 territories, and Washington, D.C.
- Worldwide: Over 897,000 cases and 44,000 deaths in at least 171 countries.
In the News (4/1/2020)
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Jeffrey M. Cohen, MBA
Director, Public Affairs & Marketing
INFORMS
jeff.cohen@informs.org------------------------------