INFORMS Open Forum

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,
Jeff Cohen


INFORMS Members In The News

• Georgia businesses resist governor's call to reopen (Financial Times)

Member: Pinar Keskinocak

• Pandemic response holds lessons to combat future supply chain disruptions (San Antonio Business Journal)

Member: Prasad Padmanabhan

• Leveraging AI to Battle This Pandemic - And The Next One (Harvard Business Review)

Member: Anton Ovchinnikov

• Airport security in a post-COVID-19 world (The Hill)

Member: Sheldon Jacobson

U.S. Federal Policy Update 

• President Trump officially signed the $484 billion interim coronavirus relief package – the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (H.R. 266) – into law at noon today. 
• Following the signing by President Trump, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza issued a joint statement on the continuation of funding for the Paycheck Protection Program. They wrote that they will reopen applications for PPP loans starting on Monday, April 27^th from approved lenders on the behalf of eligible borrowers. 
• Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) released a Dear Colleague letter with an update on remote voting going forward. In the letter, Speaker Pelosi stated that Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Rules Committee Chair Jim McGovern (D-MA), Ranking Member Tom Cole (R-OK), House Administration Chair Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), and Ranking Member Rodney Davis (R-IL) are planning to meet this upcoming week to determine a path forward and also discuss how committees will complete their work. 
• The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced that the final procedural steps have been taken to allow the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to be officially implemented on July 1^st. In the announcement, Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer wrote that "the crisis and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates that now, more than ever, the United States should strive to increase manufacturing capacity and investment in North America," and the "USMCA's entry into force is a landmark achievement in that effort."
• The CDC announced late yesterday evening that the agency would be awarding $631 million to 64 state and local entities in support of their tracing and testing efforts in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Congressional Budget Office published a study today estimating that the federal budget deficit is estimated to grow to $3.7 trillion during Fiscal Year 2020. 
• The FDA issued a release announcing that the agency "cautions against use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for COVID-19 outside of the hospital setting or a clinical trial."

 

Global Response

• The World Health Organization announced its intent to convene a new effort on developing a COVID-19 vaccines and diagnostic measures. Leaders from Italy, the United Kingdom, Norway, South Africa, Malaysia, and others have stated that they will support the global effort. However, the U.S. Geneva mission spokesman stated that "there will be no U.S. official participation," but they "look forward to learning more about this initiative in support of international cooperation to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 as soon as possible."
• The World Health Organization also announced that it has seen a "fivefold increase in cyber attacks directed at its staff," which has led to the organization "migrating affected systems to a more secure authentication system."
• Italy is planning to start gradually reopening their businesses on May 4^th. 
• The Saudi Arabian military coalition announced that it would be extending its cease-fire on Yemen to attempt to control the spread of coronavirus. 
• The United Arab Emirates announced that they will be loosening some of their more restrictive COVID-19 response protocols to allow for easier movement during the holy month of Ramadan. 

 

State Update 

• President Trump officially approved disaster declarations for land and agriculture in Tennessee and Kentucky.
• Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer extended the state's stay-at-home orders until May 15^th, but eased restrictions on certain outdoor activities.
• Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced that he would not begin reopening the state before May 8^th at the earliest.
• Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced that the state will begin loosening some of its restrictions starting on May 4^th. 
• Authorities from New York, Ohio, California, Iowa, Utah, Oregon, and Arkansas have all individually announced that at least some elective medical procedures would be permitted to resume.
• Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced that she would allow the state's farmers markets to resume business. 

 

Economic Update (as of close of the markets) 

• U.S. stocks rose today, with all three indices reporting overall gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed higher by 1.1%, the S&P 500 by 1.4%, and the Nasdaq Composite by 1.6% 

 

Latest Impact Data

• In the United States: Over 911,249 cases and 51,516 deaths in 50 states, 4 territories, and Washington, D.C.
• Worldwide: Over 2.79 million cases and 196,433 deaths in at least 204 countries and territories.

 

In the News

• President Trump signs coronavirus aid bill for small business, hospitals (Roll Call)
• Coronavirus Projected to Trigger Worst Economic Downturn Since 1940s (Wall Street Journal)
• Trump pledges support for Postal Service after threatening its funding (The Hill)
• As U.S. coronavirus death toll tops 50,000, a handful of states edge toward reopening (Reuters)

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