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.
June 9th
National
It’s Official: U.S. Economy Is In A Recession-NPR. It may seem obvious, with double-digit unemployment and plunging economic output. But if there was any remaining doubt that the U.S. is in a recession, it’s now been removed by the official scorekeepers at the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Despite breakout jobs report, Fed likely to downgrade outlook, signal near-zero rates for years-USA Today. Despite a stunningly strong May jobs report last week, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday is expected to maintain its dour economic outlook amid the coronavirus pandemic and signal that it’s likely to keep its key interest rate near zero at least through 2022.
States
Coronavirus Infections Are On The Rise In 21 U.S. States, With Cases Spiking In California, Arizona And North Carolina-Forbes. 21 states have had recent growth in newly reported cases over the past 14 days, though it’s important to note that the increase is also due in part to some states ramping up their testing capacity.
New York
City builders back in business as phase-one reopening begins-CRAINS New York. The city will once again be filled with the sounds of power tools and heavy machinery that New Yorkers have come to miss. The city’s 33,556 nonessential construction sites will restart today as phase one of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s reopening plan begins. His March 27 executive order halted all construction projects that did not qualify as essential work, leaving about 80% of the city’s projects in the lurch and 43% of the industry’s workforce jobless.
Not All NYC Construction Workers Are Social Distancing-New York 1 News. As more sites reopen, compliance can be a mixed bag. Some workers are clearly six feet apart on their lunch break, but just a block away some were standing and talking probably too close without masks. “This week is going to be the learning week right, figuring out what’s new, what’s different. How we work with masks and gloves,” said Scissura.
Texas
Texas Reports Record-Breaking COVID-19 Hospitalizations As State Reopens-NPR. The state of Texas reported a record-breaking number of COVID-19 hospitalizations Monday. This comes as the governor plans to reopen more businesses and double capacity.
Industry
PPP loans now only require 60% of funds for payroll use-Construction Dive. Borrowers only have to use 60% of their loan funds for payroll costs under changes the federal government made to the Paycheck Protection Program. Previously, the program required borrowers to use 75% of the funds on payroll.
OSHA construction safety inspections fall 84% during COVID-19 pandemic-BuildingDesign +Construction. OSHA’s in-person checks of construction sites have plunged by 84% during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first week of March, OSHA conducted about 395 construction inspections. The number of inspections at construction sites dropped to about 65 during the week of April 26.
These Companies Are Redesigning Hospitals to Fight COVID-Inc. The future of health care may be flexible interiors. These are quick-to-construct rooms that contain the contagion, and businesses are pivoting to seize that market.
Contact our editors if you have COVID-19 news impacting the AEC industry to share.