Good evening,
Please find today's Daily COVID-19 Update for June 18th below and attached. Please let me know if you have any comments or questions.
Thank you,
Jeff Cohen
INFORMS Members in the News
Member: Turgay Ayer
Member: David Shmoys
Member: Julie Swann
Member: Oguzhan Alagoz
U.S. Federal Policy Update
- The Labor Department released their new weekly data indicating that there were 1.5 million new unemployment applications filed last week.
- President Trump announced in a telephone interview late yesterday night that they "won't be closing the country again."
- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued updated guidance finding that employers cannot mandate that their employees take antibody tests before returning to the workplace.
Global Response
- The Chilean government announced that they would reinstate some coronavirus restrictions, due to a resurgence of cases. These measures include mandates that citizens can only leave their homes twice a week.
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez unveiled a $4.77 billion stimulus package intended "to reactivate and to stimulate the tourism sector."
- British Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced that as the government examines where to prioritize distribution of a future coronavirus vaccine, they are planning to "take into account which groups may be particularly vulnerable, including those from ethnic minority backgrounds."
- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the country would begin the testing process for a "completely voluntary" mobile application that will contact trace coronavirus cases and notify Canadians if they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive.
State Update
- The California, Florida, and Arizona state health departments announced that they had reached record highs for new, known coronavirus infections in a single day.
- Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed that the city's progression to phase two of reopening would permit restaurants and retail stores to reopen at 50% capacity, along with other social gathering places.
- Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announced that he would be extending the state's public health emergency status for another 45 days.
- California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an order mandating that the state's residents will be required to wear face coverings in "most settings outside the homes."
- Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced that wearing masks would be mandatory in seven counties in the Portland region.
- Arizona Governor Doug Ducey announced that local officials have the authority to implement their own rules for compulsory facial coverings on a county-by-county basis.
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that public school students will return to classrooms for in-person instruction in the fall.
- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced in his press conference today that he is considering implementing a quarantine orders for travelers from Florida.
- Miami Mayor Francis Suarez announced that he is "extremely concerned" about the recent uptick of infections in the city, stating that they are "going to do everything [they] can to keep Miami from becoming an epicenter."
Economic Update (as of close of the markets)
- U.S. stocks were volatile today, as the three indices closed with mixed results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.15%, while the S&P 500 rose by 0.06% and the Nasdaq Composite by 0.33%.
Latest Impact Data
- In the United States: Over 2,261,743 cases and 120,622 deaths in 50 states, 4 territories, and Washington, D.C.
- Worldwide: Over 8,565,665 million cases and 455,488 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------------------------------