INFORMS Open Forum

Good evening,

Please find today's Daily COVID-19 Update for May 20th. Please let me know if you have any comments or questions.

Thank you,
Jeff Cohen


INFORMS Members in the News

• Jindal School Professor Does His Part to Flatten the Curve With His 3D Printer (Inside Naveen Jindal School of Management)

Member: Bin Hu

• This is what happens when you swim during the COVID-19 pandemic (Ladders)

Member: Julie Swann

• So you really want to see your friends? Here's how to assess the risk (Pacific)

Member: Julie Swann

• Temperature checks for airplane passengers: A bad idea (NY Daily News)

Member: Sheldon Jacobson

U.S. Federal Policy Update

• The CDC issued a comprehensive 60-page report summarizing the federal government's response to the pandemic – entitled "CDC Activities and Initiatives Supporting the COVID-19 Response and the President's Plan for Opening America Up Again."
• House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) published a Dear Colleague press release, formally authorizing the 45-day period during which House lawmakers can vote remotely – thereby codifying a "covered period" in accordance with rules changes adopted by the House last week.  
• President Trump tweeted this morning that the administration is "considering rescheduling the G-7 [summit] on the same or similar date" to be held at Camp David. For reference, when COVID-19 was established as a pandemic in March this year, President Trump announced that the summit would be held via videoconference in June.
• Vice President Mike Pence announced that the administration is "considering additional travel restrictions" from South America – particularly in Brazil. 

 

Global Response

• Despite easing some restrictions, the Spanish government announced that everyone over 6 years old is required to wear masks in public areas. The Spanish Health Ministry stated that they would disburse 9.6 million masks throughout the country.
• The Greek government announced that the country would open back up to tourists on June 15^th, after which they would gradually permit international flights beginning July 1^st. 
• New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern suggested that companies in the country should introduce flexibility mechanisms to their work models, ranging from remote work options to four-day work models and more.

 
State Update 

• As of today, all 50 states are engaged in some phase of reopening. 
• The White House published a memorandum in support of offering Utah with maximum National Guard support as they respond to the coronavirus pandemic. 
• Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent a letter to state agency heads requesting that they slash their budgets by 5% in order to appropriately combat the economic impacts of the pandemic. He wrote in the letter that "to prepare for this economic shock, [they] must take action today to ensure that the state can continue providing the essential government services that Texans expect."
• Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced that movie theaters and other public attraction venues will reopen on Friday, in the next phase of the state's reopening. 
• Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy announced that on Friday, they'd be "open for business across the state."
• After beginning phase one of their reopening process today, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced today that phase two of the reopening is currently scheduled for June 20^th. 
• California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that thirty of the state's 58 counties have now been allowed to move into the second phase of reopening in the state – with retail businesses opening for curbside pickup, shopping malls reopening, and manufacturing facilities reopening. 
• Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced that the state would be disbursing $300 million of CARES Act funding to city and county governments through the state's Department for Local Government. 
• Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that restaurants will be permitted to resume operations for outdoor seating on May 29^th. 
• The Missouri School Board Association released a draft of its plan to reopen schools in the state.
• South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster announced that popular attractions (zoos, museums, amusement parks, etc.) would be permitted to reopen starting this Friday. 
• Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries are reimplementing strict restrictions after a spike in coronavirus cases during Ramadan. These more restrictive measures include 24-hour nationwide curfews, more social distancing protocols, and more.

 
Economic Update (as of close of the markets)

• U.S. stocks rebounded today, with all three indices reporting gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 1.5 %, the Nasdaq Composite by 2.1%, and the S&P 500 by 1.7%.

Latest Impact Data 

• In the United States: Over 1,589,869 cases and 94,833 deaths in 50 states, 4 territories, and Washington, D.C.
• Worldwide: Over 5,077,173 million cases and 329,063 deaths in at least 204 countries and territories.

 
In the News                

• Lawmakers begin efforts to rework Paycheck Protection Program so businesses can have more flexibility (Washington Post)
• All 50 States Have Now Taken Steps to Ease Restrictions (Wall Street Journal)
• Wall Street climbs on stimulus hopes, as S&P, Nasdaq hit multi-month highs (Reuters)
• Scientists See Progress in Race to Develop a Vaccine (New York Times)
• Reopening tension pits state, local officials against each other in sign of what's to come (Politico)

Signal Insights: A Shift in Agenda – A Dozen Policy Sectors to Watch Post-Coronavirus 

Please visit the following Signal webpage for more resources and updates on the coronavirus pandemic: https://covid.signaldc.com/.

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Jeffrey M. Cohen, MBA
Director, Public Affairs & Marketing
INFORMS
jeff.cohen@informs.org
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