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: Sheldon Jacobson
Member: Julie Swann
Member: Sheldon Jacobson
U.S. Federal Policy Update
- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced that the Senate is "certainly going to be in session next week," in order to come to a consensus in the ongoing negotiations for a fourth coronavirus stimulus package. The key negotiators from the House, Senate, and Trump administration have indicated that they've made some progress, but they still have differences on a number of provisions – including unemployment benefits, housing aid, and funding for state and local governments.
- Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Martha McSally (R-AZ) introduced a measure that would extend currently-expired unemployment insurance benefits through the end of the year, by gradually lowering the benefit amount over the next few months. This would begin with a $500-per-week benefit in August, followed by $400-per-week in September, and then an 80% wage replacement mechanism for October through December. However, in the October – December timeframe, states would be able to apply for a waiver if they are unable to pay the 80% replacement and can instead opt to pay $300 per week.
- The Internal Revenue Service announced that the agency would be issuing a $500 direct payment for each qualifying child of eligible individuals that used the agency's Non-Filers tool before May 17th.
- Pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson announced that they have agreed to supply 100 million doses of their COVID-19 vaccine in a $1 billion deal with the Departments of Defense and Health & Human Services.
- Democratic National Convention organizers confirmed that candidate Joe Biden will accept his presidential nominate virtually this month, as he is avoiding traveling to Milwaukee due to coronavirus concerns.
- Health & Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced that the "U.S. now has six vaccines that the government has placed major investments in," with "four of them having already reported out Phase 1 clinical trial results and two of them in advanced final Phase 3 studies."
State Update
- Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo announced that the state would be implementing heightened coronavirus restrictions, including a mandatory two-week quarantine for travelers from 33 "hot zone" states.
- New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that they would set up "quarantine checkpoints" for travelers driving in from states that are on the tri-state quarantine list.
- Chicago Public Schools System announced that their students would be starting the 2020-2021 school year with entirely remote learning.
- Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius announced that the district will not have fully in-person instruction in the 2020-2021 school year. However, the school system's official plan has not yet been finalized.
Economic Update
- U.S. stocks were on the rise today with all three indices reporting minor increases. The Nasdaq Composite closed up by 0.52%, the S&P 500 by 0.64% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 1.39%.
Latest Impact Data
- In the United States: Over 4,969,687 cases and 161,521 deaths in 50 states, 4 territories, and Washington, D.C.
- Worldwide: Over 18,944,391 and 709,844 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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