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 23rd
National
U.S. nearing 4 million coronavirus cases; daily deaths reach highest level since late May-Washington Post. The U.S. is rapidly approaching 4 million confirmed coronavirus infections, a grim milestone that could be reached on Thursday. Positivity rates are at alarming levels in numerous states, hospitalizations are soaring, and more than 1,100 new coronavirus deaths were reported across the United States on Wednesday.
Coronavirus Impact on County Budgets Projected to Total More than $200 Billion-RouteFifty. Increased costs related to the Covid-19 response coupled with decreasing revenues have counties bracing for a budget shortfall through at least the next fiscal year, according to a survey by the National Association of Counties
The US reported more COVID-19 cases in the last two weeks than it did for all of June-CNN. In the past two weeks, the US recorded more than 915,000 new cases of coronavirus. That’s more than the cases reported across the country for the whole month of June. The spread has promised a bleak outlook for the months ahead, and experts have highlighted the actual number of infections is likely much higher than the reported cases.
States
Politicians and Business Interests Pushed Health Officials Aside to Control Reopening. Then Cases Exploded.-Route Fifty. With key health experts cut out of the decision-making process, governors and the commissions in states like Utah swept aside restrictions meant to slow the virus’s advance. Leaders sidelined public health experts and forged ahead without meeting criteria scientists say are necessary to reopen.
California
California surpasses New York as state with most coronavirus cases after record day-The Guardian. The state of California has recorded its highest number of new Covid-19 cases in a single day, as the state surpassed New York for the most total cases in the country. The state saw 12,807 confirmed cases on Tuesday.
Florida
Florida adds 140 coronavirus deaths and 9,785 new cases-Tampa Bay Times. The state of Florida’s coronavirus death rate is higher than any other state, including Texas, which has about 25 percent more people. The state also recorded 465 new hospitalizations Wednesday.
Texas
“Our hospitals look like war zones”: Texas battling influx of COVID-19 cases-CBS News. A CDC report says coronavirus cases are up to 13 times higher than the numbers reported in some parts of the country because so many who were infected didn’t know it and unwittingly spread the virus. In states like Texas, we’re seeing the results of this undetected spread.
Industry
Pandemic May Change The Way We Design Our Courthouses-Law 360. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge, court operations continue to adapt, and litigants, court administrators and the public are forced to rethink what it means to access the public spaces of the judicial system. What happens to courthouses when these civic spaces are emptied of their usual occupants due to a health crisis?
OSHA’s new COVID-19 investigations, silica guidance-Construction Dive. OSHA has been aggressive in discussing how employers should respond to actual and suspected cases of COVID-19. Recently, they also shed additional light on what contractors can expect from OSHA in the near-term regarding COVID-19 and other issues.
Executive Orders to Address Rising COVID-19 Cases in the Construction Industry-National Law Review. In recent weeks, many authorities have issued executive orders to address rising COVID-19 cases as state and local businesses begin to reopen. Here, we see the most recent orders and any impacts the orders could have on new and ongoing construction projects in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
Contact our editors if you have COVID-19 news impacting the AEC industry to share.