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.
March 27th
National
U.S. Coronavirus Cases Surpass Those of China, Italy-Wall Street Journal. The U.S. has overtaken China as the country with the most cases in the world of the novel coronavirus, marking a new milestone in the fight against the global pandemic.
Giant U.S. coronavirus relief bill heads for debate in House-Reuters. The U.S. House of Representatives will begin a two-hour debate on a sweeping, $2.2 trillion coronavirus aid bill at 9 am on Friday, despite doubts over whether it can quickly pass on a voice vote or will be delayed into the weekend.
Construction Companies Lobby to Keep Working as Coronavirus Spreads-Wall Street Journal. The construction industry is pushing to keep projects up and running while state and local governments shut down other sectors to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
NEW: DBIA Offers Free Webinar Series. This constantly changing environment has created an uncertain world for our industry, communities and families. In response, DBIA has created a FREE webinar series to help our design-build community now and in the future. The second webinar of this series is Tuesday, March 31. You can find more information here.
State
New York
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio says city could be shut down into May-ABC7 New York. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio appeared on “Good Morning America” and said that the coronavirus pandemic could last into May. “We think this crisis is going to grow through April and into May,” he told George Stephanopolous.
Florida
Coronavirus hits Miami’s construction industry: Projects halted, site contaminated-Miami Herald. Miami-Dade’s construction industry is starting to show symptoms from the coronavirus outbreak. Work on two major projects — a $ Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines headquarters building and a University of Miami UHealth Care center— has been delayed indefinitely, due to uncertainty about the COVID-19 virus.
Massachusetts
Work Halted at Boston Project Despite Loophole in Shutdown Order-ENR. A major waterfront construction site in Boston that managed to avoid the city’s shutdown on building activity amid the coronavirus is now closing up shop.
Washington State
Gov. Inslee declares construction nonessential-The Columbian. “In general, commercial and residential construction is not authorized under the Proclamation because construction is not considered to be an essential activity,” Inslee wrote.
Industry
Construction unions call for better safety, health protections as work continues during coronavirus pandemic-ABC News. Working in construction during the coronavirus pandemic has split the industry down the middle, according to advocates and health experts.
Construction workers look to looming coronavirus shutdown and see a ‘sinking boat’-WHYY Philadelphia. “We’re like a sinking boat all the time, trying to figure out how we collect money to pay the guys and pay the insurance, pay all these bills. On any given day, whether we have a virus or no virus, we are a sinking boat. We have to figure out a way, hopefully, we can do some work.”
Contact our editors if you have COVID-19 news impacting the AEC industry to share.