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.
July 21st
National
Cities Move to Tighten Coronavirus Restrictions, as U.S. Cases Surge-Wall Street Journal. States and cities grapple with how to contain the coronavirus while trying to reopen their economies as the number of infections in the U.S. climb to more than 3.8 million. New York is considering stepping up enforcement, while Chicago, Los Angeles consider rolling back the reopening of their economies.
Contact Tracing, a Key Way to Slow COVID-19, Is Badly Underused by the U.S.-Scientific American. Across the U.S., states that once acted as if the pandemic was going away are setting new daily records for infections, hospitalizations and deaths. There is one proven tool that has helped other countries stem the pandemic, but in the U.S. it is severely underused and often meets resistance from the people it is intended to help: contact tracing.
States
What you need to know about COVID-19: Surge in cases has left labs overwhelmed and tests delayed-WJCL TV. More Americans are testing positive for coronavirus all over the U.S. at record-breaking numbers and the surge is slowing down testing. Labs across the country are now facing what seems like an almost “infinite” demand.
California
California went from bending the curve to a major coronavirus surge. What happened?-CNN. The state of California was one of the first to impose a stay-at-home order on March 19. Less than two months later, on May 8, the numbers had fallen enough that the state started the first phase of reopening.
Florida
10,347 new COVID-19 cases in Florida on Monday-Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The Florida Department of Health announced 10,347 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the state to 360,394 since the pandemic began. Today marks the sixth day in a row that Florida has seen more than 10,000 daily new cases, and the 13th day total since the beginning of July.
Texas
Texas tops 4,000 coronavirus deaths, but Houston sees rates steady-MarketWatch. The state of Texas surpassed 4,000 deaths in the coronavirus pandemic Monday but officials in Houston, one of the hardest-hit cities in the U.S., say they are cautiously optimistic about recent trends following weeks of alarming surges at hospitals. The virus also continues to take a particularly hard toll along the Texas-Mexico border.
Industry
Construction costs decrease for first time in 10 years-Construction Dive. A variety of pandemic-related forces have caused construction costs to decline slightly for the first time in a decade, which could lead contractors to feel a pinch in profits. For instance, the Turner Building Cost Index had a 1.01% quarterly reduction from the first quarter.
Medistar to Roll Out Air Filter that Kills Coronavirus, Say Researchers-Engineering News-Record. A research team has announced a new type of heating ventilating and air conditioning system filter. Made from nickel foam, this filter can trap and instantly kill 99.8% of the coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Contact our editors if you have COVID-19 news impacting the AEC industry to share.