Good evening,
Please find today's Daily COVID-19 Update for September 18th below and attached. Please let me know if you have any comments or questions.
Thank you,
Jeff Cohen
INFORMS In The News
Member: Anna Nagurney
Member: Sheldon Jacobson
Member: Julie Swann
Member: Julie Swann
U.S. Federal Policy Update
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan announced that the agency would extend the current restrictions on non-essential travel from the United States to Canada and Mexico at land border ports of entry – through October 21st.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated their testing guidelines to recommend COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic people who have come into close contact with anyone who has tested positive for coronavirus.
- Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams encouraged that the U.S. does not need to wait until a vaccine is approved to combat COVID-19 – stating that "we can do it right now," as "the tools to stop this virus are already in our communities."
- The Department of Agriculture announced that they would provide an additional $14 billion in CARES Act funding via direct payments to agricultural producers who have faced market disruptions and other negative ramifications because of Covid-19.
State Update
- Hawaiian Governor David Ige (D) announced that people can resume travel into the state, as long as they test negative for coronavirus within three days of entering Hawaii.
- The New York City Council passed legislation allowing restaurants in the city to implement a 10% surcharge on the receipts of all customers dining indoors and outdoors – entitled the "COVID-19 Recovery Charge."
Global Response
- World Health Organization Coronavirus Response Lead Maria Van Kerkhove stated that while "it's important to express concern when there's concern," that there is "some hope [that] this virus is controllable."
- The European Union announced that they have signed a contract to procure 300 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine currently under production by Sanofi-GSK.
- The British government announced that they would restrictions on social activities in certain parts of the United Kingdom – including the North West, Midlands, and West Yorkshire.
- Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei has tested positive for COVID-19.
- Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte warned that the number of available coronavirus tests in the country is less than the demand – stating that "it will still be a few weeks before everyone with complaints will again be able to be tested quickly."
- Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that they would increase its limit on the number of its residents that can return to Australia every week – raising the cap from 4,000 citizens to 6,000.
Economic Update
- U.S. stocks were on the decline today, with all three indices closing with losses. The Nasdaq Composite fell by 1.07%, the S&P 500 by 1.12%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 0.88%.
Latest Impact Data
- In the United States: Over 6,919,656 cases and 203,077 deaths in 50 states, 4 territories, and Washington, D.C.
- Worldwide: Over 30,653,147 and 955,191 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------------------------------