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 5th

National

US nears 5 million confirmed COVID-19 infections-The Mercury News. The U.S. has racked up more than 155,000 coronavirus deaths, by far the most of any country. It is fast approaching an off-the-charts 5 million confirmed infections, easily the highest in the world. The number of confirmed infections has topped 4.7 million, with over 60,000 new cases a day. While that’s down from a peak of well over 70,000 in the second half of July, cases are rising in 26 states, many in the South and West, and deaths are climbing in 35 states.

Bad data is bogging down the COVID-19 fight; US ‘needs to change,’ experts say-USA Today. 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

There’s no national testing strategy for coronavirus. These states banded together to make one-Washington Post. Seven governors have formed a purchasing compact they hope will pressure companies that make rapid-detection tests to ramp up production. Each state — Virginia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio and Maryland — would request 500,000 rapid tests that could be deployed to address outbreaks.

California

Glitch causes California COVID-19 cases to be under-reported-KCRA Channel 3. As California works to slow the spread of the coronavirus, top doctors said they have discovered a technical glitch in the system. That means the infection rate could be higher. The problem is causing a lag in the tally of novel coronavirus test results, which is making it more difficult for county health officials to track its spread.

Florida

Florida coronavirus: State reports 5,446 new cases, 245 deaths; positivity rate increases-News Channel 8. The new Florida case rate for COVID-19 rose above 10% for the first time this week, according to the latest report from the health department. The state reported an additional 5,446 lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 497,330.

Texas

Texas Reports 9,167 New Coronavirus Cases, 245 More Deaths-CBS Dallas/Fort Worth. State health officials reported 9,167 confirmed new coronavirus cases Tuesday as a convention center in the hard-hit Rio Grande Valley opened as a makeshift hospital for COVID-19 patients. The Department of State Health Services on Tuesday reported 245 confirmed new deaths from the virus that has taken a particularly grim toll along the Texas border.

Industry

$9.6B worth of infrastructure projects delayed or canceled during COVID-19-Construction Dive. Infrastructure projects totaling more than $9.6 billion have been delayed or canceled in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent report. Sixteen states announced project delays or cancellations worth approximately $5 billion, while another 20 local governments and authorities have scratched or put off projects worth another $4.54 billion.

Construction Output Takes Sharp Drop Due to COVID-19-Electrical Construction Maintenance Magazine. The U.S. economy contracted at a rate of 32.9% during the second quarter of 2020, according to recent data analysis. The decline is attributable to multiple factors, including significant declines in personal consumption, exports and private inventory investment.

Contact our editors if you have COVID-19 news impacting the AEC industry to share.