Good evening,
Please find today's Daily COVID-19 Update for June 12th below and attached. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Jeff Cohen
INFORMS Members in the News
Member: Julie Swann
Member: Julie Swann
Member: Pinar Keskinocak
U.S. Federal Policy Update
- All 47 Senate Democrats – led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administration Administrator Jovita Carranza requesting them to consider "urgently-needed improvements to streamline and simplify the Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness application process to ensure the smallest and most underserved businesses are able to fully take advantage of the program."
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci cautioned states against moving through their reopening process too quickly, stating that "if you leapfrog over different phases, you increase the risk that you're going to have the kind of resurgence that we're seeing in certain states."
- The Department of Transportation announced that they would distribute 100 million facial coverings to airports and other transit agencies across the country. However, travelers are still encouraged to bring their own masks, since it's not guaranteed that they will have more available.
- The State Department announced that they will resume processing U.S. passport applications, starting with the current backlog of 1.7 million pending requests.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new recommendations urging precautions – such as handwashing, face coverings, and social distancing – for travel and close-contact activities.
Global Response
- World Health Organization Health Emergencies Program Executive Director Mike Ryan stated that the WHO is concerned regarding the spike in cases for countries that have begun their reopening processes – including the U.S. He stated that countries "have to find the balance of controlling this virus against the damage economically and socially of controlling this virus."
- French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Interior Minister Christophe Castaner released a joint statement that France would allow European travelers to resume entering the country beginning June 15th.
- The Australian government announced that their final round of restrictions would be lifted – allowing stadiums, concerts, and international students to return back to normal in July.
- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the country will mandate temperature checks for air passengers flying into the country.
- The British Office for National Statistics announced that their economy shrank by 20.4% in the month of April – which is the largest monthly decline in the UK's history.
State Update
- The state of California allowed schools, movie theaters, bars, and gyms to reopen today – as long as they follow certain coronavirus restrictions and social distancing protocols.
- Utah Governor Gary Herbert announced that he is pausing the state's reopening process, due to an uptick in coronavirus cases over the past two weeks.
- Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announced that the state would allow bars, movie theaters, and other entertainment venues to reopen at 50% capacity. Also as of today, they will be increasing restaurant capacity to 75%.
- Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced that the state is temporarily going to stop counties and cities from lifting their coronavirus restrictions, due to a spike in infections.
- Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson stated that the state will not publish a directive for all residents to wear masks since it is "not enforceable and not realistic," but emphasized that "it is important to wear masks."
Economic Update (as of close of the markets)
- U.S. stocks were on the rise today, with all three indices posting gains after yesterday's sharp losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 1.89%, the S&P 500 by 1.31%, and the Nasdaq Composite by 1.01%.
Latest Impact Data
- In the United States: Over 2,115,593 cases and 116,795 deaths in 50 states, 4 territories, and Washington, D.C.
- Worldwide: Over 7,718,990 million cases and 427,477 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------------------------------