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COVID-19 & AEC Update: May 15, 2020

dbia covid-19 update may 15

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.

May 15th

National

After delay, CDC releases new guidance on how states can safely reopen-ABC News. The guidance comes after most states already have started to reopen.After weeks of delay, the federal government’s top experts on infectious diseases on Thursday released new, more detailed guidance on how states can safely allow businesses and schools to reopen their doors during the coronavirus pandemic.

Update: New Directive Eases Path for Smaller Paycheck Protection Loans-Engineering News-Record. Federal agencies say forgivable loans less than $2 million under the Paycheck Protection Program are acceptable and won’t face federal audits or reviews. This is a positive move for engineering and construction companies smaller than $2 million.

States

When will COVID-19 cases peak across US? Some states may not peak until June-USA Today. As more states loosen their social distancing restrictions, governors and residents are hoping their states have seen the worst of the pandemic. Some states like New York and Washington that were early hotspots of COVID-19 may already be past their peaks in active infections. On the other hand, states that began experiencing high rates of infection later may not peak until June.

California

With North Bay coronavirus restrictions relaxing on construction, some work resumes. Here’s the outlook for future projects-North Bay Business Journal. Construction restrictions for nonessential projects during the coronavirus pandemic came off in Sonoma, Marin and Napa counties on May 4. However, there are differences in the revised county orders that have led to confusion about what’s allowed and expected.

Massachusetts

Some construction will resume in Boston. What does that mean for workers?-Boston Globe Media. Boston is allowing some construction projects in the city to resume by the end of the month. The move is slated to bring back some of the construction that’s filled a city that has gone largely quiet since Mayor Marty Walsh instituted a moratorium on all nonessential construction work on March 17.

New Jersey

Coronavirus News: Here’s what to know about NJ’s reopening plan-ABC 7 New York. Nonessential businesses in New Jersey will open next week for curbside pickup, as will nonessential construction according to New Jersey’s governor. The state’s COVID-19 trends are headed in the right direction, Murphy said, leading him to relax the nearly two-month-old business shutdown.

Industry

AGC, Procore Provide Insights About Loss of 975,000 Construction Jobs, Northeast Hardest Hit-Engineering News-Record. The online data user from a new survey showed the shifts that have been created by the significant loss of projects.

The Material Revolutionizing the Construction Industry? Wood-Discover Magazine. Some think that global needs aren’t being met when it comes to housing people in a safe and affordable way. Architects and engineers are working on ways to swap steel and glass for strong, sustainable wood-based materials. One solution? High-tech plywood.

How the Virus May Change Your Next Home-New York Times. Designers and architects expect the pandemic to affect apartment design long after the lockdowns are over. Here are a few trends you’re likely to see.

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