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 27th
National
Nearing 100,000 COVID-19 Deaths, U.S. Is Still ‘Early In This Outbreak’-NPR. The bleak milestone the U.S. is about to hit — 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 — is far above the number of deaths seen from the pandemic in any other country. So far, the impact of the coronavirus has been felt unevenly, striking certain cities and regions and particular segments of society much harder than others.
PPP forgiveness guidance issued as Congress mulls changes-Journal of Accountancy. The Treasury and the U.S. Small Business Administration released new Paycheck Protection Program guidance that provided some clarity on several loan forgiveness questions. However, it didn’t address the two parts of PPP that have generated concerns among the millions of small businesses and other entities that have received funding.
States
Where U.S. coronavirus cases are on the rise-Reuters. Twenty U.S. states reported an increase in new cases of COVID-19 for the week ended May 24, up from 13 states in the prior week. This news comes as the death toll from the novel coronavirus approaches 100,000, according to a Reuters analysis.
California
California eases more COVID-19 restrictions: What you need to know-KCRA Sacramento. State officials eased more COVID-19 restrictions this week, allowing houses of worship to reopen with modifications and changing other guidelines statewide. The changes are part of California’s plan to eventually lift the statewide stay-at-home order, which went into effect on March 19.
Massachusetts
Boston coronavirus field hospital stops taking admissions, as officials urge caution-The Boston Globe. The pop-up field hospital officials created within Boston’s Seaport convention center stopped taking admissions Tuesday. This was one of the signals showing the state’s and city’s willingness to move away from the wartime footing it put the region on to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
New York
New York reported the fewest number of daily coronavirus deaths since the pandemic began-CNN. The state of New York has reported its lowest daily death toll from Covid-19 since the pandemic began in the United States, the governor says. Health officials on Monday reported 73 residents died in a single day.
Industry
Retail Construction Drops to 20-Year Low-Globe Street. Retail construction sunk to a two-decade low in the first quarter of 2020. Just 400,000 square feet was completed in 80 metro areas. The retail figures were down 70% from the fourth quarter of 2019.
Designing a health facility for the next pandemic-BD+C Network. Using parking lots to better regulate who enters a healthcare facility is one of many considerations that could help control the spread of infectious diseases when it comes to designing a healthcare facility. The information comes from a new guide released by architecture firm EUA.
AEC Industry Survey Shows Continuing Uncertainty-Retrofit Magazine. An AEC industry poll by DBIA offers a glimpse into the continually shifting challenges the COVID-19 pandemic poses for the industry.
6 Legal Issues for COVID and Construction-Contractor Magazine. Construction projects of every kind are being impacted by COVID-19. The situation and governmental responses continued to evolve. That evolution requires contractors to stay informed of changes to make sure they manage their projects. There are plenty of legal and practical issues that contractors face.
Contact our editors if you have COVID-19 news impacting the AEC industry to share.