DBIA’s mission is to provide the best resources available to help inform and empower our industry. In these uncertain times, that mission is even more important. As our communities fight the Coronavirus, we are working to find the best information available to help design-build teams navigate the unknown. This daily newsletter will provide the latest COVID-19 news for the AEC community.
Design-builders deliver in times of crisis and we will again.
If you have COVID-19 news impacting the AEC industry from your organization, state or community please email us.
August 28th
National
Top U.S. Officials Told C.D.C. to Soften Coronavirus Testing Guidelines-New York Times. The day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new recommendation that people without Covid-19 symptoms abstain from testing, there were conflicting reports on who was responsible. Two federal health officials said the shift came as a directive to the Atlanta-based C.D.C. from higher-ups in Washington.
New coronavirus cases are down nationwide. But the US is still averaging more than 900 deaths a day-CNN. New coronavirus cases are down across the US about 12% on average over the last seven days compared to the previous week, but the nation is still averaging more than 900 deaths a day. While some previously hard-hit states are seeing slight declines, cases are also rising across the Midwest.
States
California, Florida, New York, Texas will not follow new U.S. COVID-19 testing plan-Reuters. Several U.S. states are not heeding new federal health officials’ calls to reduce COVID-19 testing of some exposed to the virus. Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey and New York all plan to continue to test asymptomatic people who have been exposed to COVID-19.
U.S. coronavirus deaths hit 180,000 as Midwest sees emerging hot spots-Yahoo News. U.S. deaths from the coronavirus topped 180,000 across the United States on Thursday. This comes as states in the Midwest see rising cases, as Iowa and Minnesota reported record one-day increases in new infections.
Florida
Florida adds 3,269 new COVID-19 cases as the death toll rises to more than 10,800-Miami Herald. The state Department of Health on Thursday confirmed 3,269 additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the state’s known total to 611,991. There were also 135 Florida resident deaths announced, bringing the resident death toll to 10,868.
Texas
Texas struggles with Covid tests as contact tracers bombarded-The Guardian. As Texas flung open its doors before much of the country, it needed to lean on “doctors and data to provide the safest strategies.” That has not worked out. Only four months later, Texas is nearing the grim milestone of 12,000 deaths from Covid-19, after being walloped by the virus for much of the summer.
Industry
The 10 large construction markets most devastated by COVID-19-Construction Dive. New research shows that U.S. commercial and multifamily construction starts plunged 22% during the first six months of 2020. The data also showed that out of the country’s major markets, only one — Phoenix — was spared from COVID-19 declines.
Strategically planning your firm past the COVID-19 pandemic-Building Design+Construction. As AEC firm leaders consider worst-case scenarios and explore possible solutions to surmount them, they learn to become nimble, quick, and ready to pivot as circumstances demand. Practice may not make perfect, but it certainly makes you more prepared.
Though this is the last day of our Daily COVID Update, the Design-Build Delivers blog will continue to provide the design-build news you need! We also want to get to know our blog readers more, so if you have a minute, tell us about how we can serve you best throughout these challenging times. Please take our short survey.