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: Anna Nagurney
U.S. Federal Policy Update
- Following a meeting with the key negotiators for the next COVID-19 relief package, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin stated that while they're "not at the point of being close to a deal," they were able to "agree to a timeline by which [they're] going to try to reach an overall agreement." He stated that they hope to finalize an agreement by the end of this week, with an aim towards passing legislation next week. The four negotiators – Secretary Mnuchin, along with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi – are scheduled to meet again tomorrow.
- President Trump stated again this afternoon that he is "looking at" potentially signing an executive order aimed towards unemployment benefits or a payroll tax suspension.
- Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the Safe Authorization for Vaccines during Emergencies (SAVE) Act, which aims to increase transparency surrounding the approval process for an emergency use coronavirus vaccine. In announcing the bill, the lawmakers stated that they would "push for this bill's inclusion in the upcoming COVID-19 relief package."
- The White House published a readout from Vice President Mike Pence's briefing with all 50 U.S. governors on COVID-19 response and best practices to implement.
Global Response
- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that "the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the largest disruption of education ever," adding that "getting students back into schools and learning institutions as safely as possible must be a top priority."
- Australian State Premier Daniel Andrews announced that their Defense Department would be deploying 500 additional troops to enforce the mandatory stay-at-home orders currently in place in the state of Victoria.
- The French Culture Ministry announced that cultural events with more than 5,000 people will be authorized to resume beginning September 1st. They added that masks will be mandated, and social distancing protocols will be observed.
- The Prime Minister of Kosovo tested positive for coronavirus.
State Update
- 34 state attorneys general sent a letter to federal officials requesting that they take action to expand the supply and affordability of Remdesivir, which is the only pharmaceutical authorized to treat COVID-19. The letter was sent to Health & Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins, and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn.
- The governors of Maryland, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, and Virginia announced that they had reached a bipartisan interstate compact in partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation for three million rapid antigen tests.
- President Trump issued memoranda authorizing an extension of the National Guard for responding to the pandemic and facilitating economic recovery in nearly all 50 states.
- Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves issued a statewide mask mandate this afternoon, which is effective for the next two weeks. Governor Reeves emphasized that the action was mainly part of "a push to allow schools to safely reopen."
- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that he would be issuing a statewide executive order requiring children to wear masks when they return to school. However, children under the age of 2 or any children with behavioral or physical ailments that are furthered by wearing masks will be exempted from the mandate.
- New Jersey updated the list of states from which travelers are required to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival into the state – adding Rhode Island to the list and removing Washington, DC and Delaware.
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott reaffirmed his position that local school districts will make the decision on whether or not they'll open – not local governments. He stated that the "bottom line is that the people who know best about what both the needs are in their school district, as well as the capabilities of providing a safe learning environment, are the local school officials."
Economic Update
- U.S. stocks were on the rise today with all three indices reporting minor increases. The Nasdaq Composite closed up by 0.35%, the S&P 500 by 0.36% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 0.62%.
Latest Impact Data
- In the United States: Over 4,916,368 cases and 160,235 deaths in 50 states, 4 territories, and Washington, D.C.
- Worldwide: Over 18,674,332 and 702,974 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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