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 19th
National
US coronavirus death toll passes 90,000 but influential model lowers its prediction-CNN. A key coronavirus model has revised its death projection for the United States slightly downward. The news comes as the coronavirus death toll in the United States has passed another somber milestone. More than 90,000 people now have died, and more than 1.5 million people have been infected, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
U.S. Stock Futures Drift After Monday’s Sharp Rally-Wall Street Journal. U.S. stock futures drifted between small losses and gains Tuesday, which follows the biggest rally in blue-chip shares in over a month.
States
Florida
Florida’s Complete Phase 1 Reopening Happens As COVID-19 Cases Rise-NPR. In Florida Monday, more places are permitted to reopen. Businesses that opened earlier will be allowed higher capacity limits. Meanwhile, there’s been an upswing in COVID-19 cases.
Massachusetts
Gov. Baker Unveils Road Map for Reopening Massachusetts-NBC Boston. Under a plan announced by Gov. Baker, manufacturing and construction businesses, along with places of worship, can reopen immediately with strict guidelines in place. Some office spaces and service businesses, including salons and some recreational spaces, can reopen with restrictions on May 25.
Michigan
As Michigan businesses reopen, Gov. Whitmer says they must have a COVID-19 response plan-Detroit Free Press. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has a new executive order requires employers to develop a COVID-19 preparedness and response plan. This order comes as the governor allows retailers, restaurants and offices to reopen across much of northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula starting Friday.
North Carolina
NCDOT will furlough nearly all of its workers; estimates COVID-19 pandemic has sapped $300M in revenue-ABC 11 News. The NCDOT will move forward with furloughs, and more details have shed light on how it will happen. Furloughs will be staggered in a specific way over three phases and will allow NCDOT to continue to operate with as little interruptions as possible.
Pennsylvania
As construction resumes, some workers are finding a shortage of recommended N95 masks-The Philadelphia Inquirer. On May 1, the governor allowed construction sites throughout Pennsylvania to reopen. But some construction companies are finding it hard to provide workers with the N95 masks required for protection. That includes sanding building materials, drilling concrete, installing insulation, and disturbing lead paint.
Industry
See The Activity Levels In the Top 10 States for Construction-OxBlue. OxBlue has been publishing the OxBlue Activity Index, a measure of domestic construction activity based on real-time field data. Created by measuring job site activity and comparing it to previous milestones, the report covers the activity in the top ten states ranked by construction volume.
How construction firms can prepare for a potential second wave of COVID-19-Construction Dive. As the country’s economy slowly comes back to life, top medical experts have warned that there could be a second wave of COVID-19 cases. So, how should contractors prepare for a potential second round of COVID-19? Construction Dive talked to a variety of industry experts for guidance.
Contact our editors if you have COVID-19 news impacting the AEC industry to share.