INFORMS Open Forum

Good evening,

Please find today's Daily COVID-19 Update for June 9th below and attached. Please let me know if you have any comments or questions.

Thank you,
Jeff Cohen

INFORMS Members in the News

• Forgetting Contagion, Stocks Recover Their Losses (New York Times)

Member: John Birge

U.S. Federal Policy Update

• The Trump administration officially published an executive order on the Federal Register, aimed towards "accelerating the nation's economic recovery from the COVID-19 emergency by expediting infrastructure investments and other activities."
• The U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority announced that they would award $23.6 million to pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca – for the "development of a monoclonal antibody combination product against COVID-19."
• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) sent a letter to the Pandemic Accountability Response Committee requesting that they open an investigation on Project Air Bridge – the Trump administration's initiative to distribute personal protective equipment and medical supplies for COVID-19 response. In the letter, the lawmakers write that the initiative "has been marked by delays, incompetence, confusion, and secrecy involving multiple federal agencies," and thus the committee must "conduct a detailed investigation of the program using [the] authority granted under the CARES Act."
• Yosemite National Park officials announced that they will reopen the park on Thursday, with limitations on visitor capacities and restrictions on how many vehicles are permitted to enter the park.  

Global Response

• World Health Organization Expert Maria Van Kerkhove issued a clarification of previous statements made on asymptomatic transmission – stating that while "the majority of transmissions that [they] know about is [that] people who have symptoms transmit the virus to other people through infectious droplets," but they "do know that some people who are asymptomatic can transmit the virus on."
• United Nations General Assembly President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande announced that for the first time in 75 years, the assembly would not meet in person this September due to ongoing concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.
• Spanish Health Minister Salvador Illa announced that the country's government would mandate face masks be worn in public places until the coronavirus pandemic is officially established to be over.
• The Russian government announced that nonessential businesses will be permitted to reopen – with nearly all restrictions scheduled to be lifted by June 23^rd. 
• The French government announced that they would be providing a $16.9 billion economic rescue package for its aviation industry.
• The country of Slovakia announced that they would permit travelers from within the European Union to enter the country beginning tomorrow.
• Beginning June 15^th, the Greek government will permit travelers from Italy to visit the country.
• Parisian officials announced that the Eiffel Tower would reopen for visitation beginning June 25^th. 

 

State Update 

• The following 14 states have recorded their highest seven-day averages of new COVID-19 cases over the past week: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Kentucky, New Mexico, North Carolina, Mississippi, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.
• New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy officially lifted the state's stay-at-home order, and announced that nonessential retail and outdoor dining would resume operations beginning June 15^th. This will be followed by close contact businesses – such as personal care, fitness, and salon facilities – reopening on June 22^nd.

 

Economic Update (as of close of the markets)

• U.S. stocks had a volatile day, with indices closing the day with varying results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined by 1.1% and the S&P 500 by 0.8%, while the Nasdaq Composite rose by 0.3%.

Latest Impact Data 

• In the United States: Over 2,043,241 cases and 114,060 deaths in 50 states, 4 territories, and Washington, D.C.
• Worldwide: Over 7,302,526 million cases and 412,709 deaths in at least 204 countries and territories.

 

In the News                

• Republicans' big bet on the economy and in no rush to dole out more coronavirus relief (Politico)
• White House Adviser Sees Another Stimulus Bill From Congress Before August Recess (Wall Street Journal)
• S&P 500, Dow ease as focus shifts to Fed; tech pushes Nasdaq to closing record (Reuters)
• WHO seeks to clarify widely criticized statement on asymptomatic spread (The Hill)

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