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 4th
National
COVID-19 is more widespread than ever in the US but there are some states doing things right-CNN. US leaders have struggled to enforce social gathering rules and mask mandates as residents push for a return to normal life amid a rampant spread of coronavirus. But while people may be tired of the pandemic, there’s still a long way to go, health officials say.
Coronavirus updates: UN warns of ‘generational catastrophe’ amid school closures-ABC News. Over 18.2 million people across the globe have been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to data compiled by at Johns Hopkins University. The actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to testing shortages, many unreported cases and suspicions that some national governments are hiding or downplaying the scope of their outbreaks.
Lack of Public Data Hampers COVID-19 Fight-Route Fifty. Skyrocketing cases, clashes among federal leaders and a hodgepodge of state data have left many Americans asking how the United States will get back to anything resembling normal life. The answer is straightforward, epidemiologists say: wearing masks, social distancing, more testing — and better data.
States
Coronavirus cases are climbing in Midwest states with previously low infections-Washington Post. The coronavirus is surging in several Midwestern states that hadn’t previously seen high infection rates while average daily deaths remained elevated in states hit with a resurgence of the disease. Missouri, Montana and Oklahoma are among those witnessing the largest percentage surge of infections over the past week.
States Are Broke And Many Are Eyeing Massive Cuts. Here’s How Yours Is Doing-National Public Radio. The COVID-19 pandemic could swipe roughly $200 billion from state coffers by June of next year, according to the Urban Institute. Record-high unemployment has wreaked havoc on personal income taxes and sales taxes, two of the biggest sources of revenue for states.
Louisiana
Louisiana: The rare case of a state ravaged twice by COVID-19-USA Today. A powerful resurgence of COVID-19 infections in Louisiana is hitting the state harder than its first wave in spring. This makes it the only state in the nation to experience two devastating spikes of the virus. The state leads in COVID-19 cases per capita, continuing to outpace even Florida, Arizona and New York, where dramatic surges of the virus have occurred since the outbreak began in March.
Mississippi
Mississippi on track to become new US coronavirus hotspot, experts say-WREG-TV. The state of Mississippi is on track to be the No. 1 state for new COVID-19 cases per capita in the country. Dr. Ashish Jha, the director of the Harvard Global Medical Institute, took to Twitter with an alarming message. In a thread posted over the weekend, Dr. Jha said Mississippi has the second-highest number of new cases per capita, just behind Florida, but Mississippi continues to go up, while Florida slowly inches down.
Industry
Transportation spending faces competition under Brookings’ COVID-19 infrastructure plan-Transportation Today. Major transportation projects would have to share spending under a new infrastructure stimulus strategy unveiled by the Brookings Institute. Concerns over the well-being of low-income communities will shift priorities for stimulus spending over heavy roadwork, the Brookings Institution noted.
Litigation Trend: Construction Lawsuits Set to Rise in South Florida Amid Bleak Industry Outlook-Daily Business Review. Jordan Nadel, a partner at Mark Migdal & Hayden in Brickell, said there will be an increase in litigation. He said this is because lawyers will find themselves advising owners of construction projects how to emerge from their bleak situations.
Contact our editors if you have COVID-19 news impacting the AEC industry to share.