INFORMS Open Forum

4-8-20 Daily COVID-19 Update

  • 1.  4-8-20 Daily COVID-19 Update

    Posted 04-08-2020 20:31
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    Good evening,

    Please find today's Daily COVID-19 Update for April 8th below and attached. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

    Thank you,

    Jeff Cohen


    INFORMS Members In The News

    Member: Pinar Keskinocak

    Members: Mark Daskin and Emily Tucker

     

    U.S. Federal Policy Update

    • Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is pushing for unanimous consent to pass an additional $250 billion in funding for the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses.
    • House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer released a joint statement on priorities for an immediate emergency coronavirus package. The key funds being called for by congressional Democrats include: $250 billion for small business assistance (with $125 billion reserved for businesses owned by specific underserved communities), $150 billion for state and local governments, and $100 billion for healthcare systems. The two Democratic leaders also called for an additional 15% increase for maximum SNAP benefits.
    • The Labor Department's Occupational Safety & Health Administration issued a news release today, "[reminding] employers that they cannot retaliate against workers reporting unsafe conditions during the coronavirus pandemic." 
    • The Treasury Department has released an updated FAQ document regarding the Paycheck Protection Program. 
    • The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine sent their rapid expert consultation report to the White House on whether COVID-19 can survive in different seasons and temperatures. The expert report found that while some evidence suggests that coronavirus "may transmit less efficiently in environments with higher ambient temperature and humidity," this transmission efficiency will likely not result in a decline of the disease spreading – since there is a "lack of host immunity globally."
    • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci stated that it is essential that American citizens "continue the kind of mitigation that [they're] now doing generally throughout the country," emphasizing that "now is not the time to pull back at all – it's the time to intensify" precautionary measures such as social distancing. 

     

    Global Response

    • The World Trade Organization released a report predicting that global trade will decline by 13% – 32% over the course of 2020.
    • Saudi Arabia announced a temporary ceasefire for their military operations in Yemen starting Thursday at noon.
    • Iranian President Hassan Rouhani emphasized Iran's need for immediate financial assistance to combat the coronavirus pandemic, asking for the International Monetary Fund to quickly approve his $5 billion request. He also criticized the ongoing sanctions imposed by the United States, saying that the "White House is engaged in economic and medical terrorism."
    • European Union Finance Ministers met in an attempt to reach consensus on an emergency deal for combatting the pandemic's spread across the union. However, after a 16-hour meeting, the ministers were not able to reach an agreement – especially over questions surrounding the need for "coronabonds" and the separate issue of medical equipment being exported. 
    • Israel has banned intercity travel within its borders, shutting down its national road network.
    • Wuhan's lockdown officially ended today, with residents able to leave the city after being quarantined for 76 days. 
    • Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez announced that his government is mandating their country-wide quarantine to continue through the month of April. 
    • British officials noted that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's coronavirus treatment has led to an improvement of his condition, as he "remains clinically stable" and "is responding to treatment."

     

    State Update

    • President Trump approved a disaster declaration for Vermont. 
    • Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announced that cities in the state cannot create their own lockdown or social distancing policies. Instead, city leaders are only allowed to instruct "reasonable measures," such as curfews.
    • Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued an executive order extending their state of emergency through May 13th, with their stay-in-place order being extended until April 30th. 
    • Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced that all schools across the state will be closed for the remainder of the academic year. 
    • Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo announced that all non-essential businesses in the state will be closed through May 17th. 
    • New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that all of the state's voters will be able to vote by the absentee ballot this year. Their primary election date has been moved from April 28th to June 23rd. 
    • South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster issued an executive order allowing furloughed employees to be able to receive "COVID-19 Support Payments."  

      

    Economic Update (as of close of the markets)

    • The stock market opened to significant gains this morning, and these gains were able to continue through the day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 3.4%, the S&P 500 also by 3.4%, and the Nasdaq Composite by 2.6%.

    Latest Impact Data

    • In the United States: Over 423,135 cases and 14,390 deaths in 50 states, 4 territories, and Washington, D.C.
    • Worldwide: Over 1,507,846 cases and 88,165 deaths in at least 204 countries and territories.

     

    In the News (4/8/20)



    ------------------------------
    Jeffrey M. Cohen, MBA
    Director, Public Affairs & Marketing
    INFORMS
    jeff.cohen@informs.org
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    Attachment(s)

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    4-8 covid update.pdf   117 KB 1 version