Daily Briefing – 112
Ten More States Added to Travel Restricted List – One Removed
Governor Cuomo announced yesterday that ten additional states have met the metrics to qualify for quarantine requirements for travelers entering New York. The newly-added states include Alaska, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Virginia, and Washington. Minnesota has been removed from the list. The list now totals 31 states.
Of the 66,169 tests conducted yesterday, 1.29% (855) were positive according New York’s COVID-19 tracking data from July 20th.
See the list of restricted states
New York Travel Restrictions: Frequently Asked Questions UPDATED
Council associate member and friend Bond Scheoneck and King has updated their Frequently Asked Questions about the State’s travel restrictions.
NSC, AFL-CIO Call for Federal Temporary Emergency Standard
As the threat of the novel coronavirus continues to permeate media outlets and American households, organizations continue to call on OSHA to enact a federal standard to hold employers accountable. American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) President Richard Trumka has been outspoken about the Trump administration’s efforts to contain the outbreak. Trumpka wrote a letter to U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia, stating the agency has been “missing in action” during the global health crisis.
The National Safety Council suggested the following prevention measures that should be included in a federal standard:
- Accessibility to hand-washing in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations
- Physical distancing requirements following CDC guidelines
- Facial coverings that may include personal protective equipment (PPE) or cloth facial coverings based on the work environment and risk assessment
- Utilization of the hierarchy of controls to include engineering and administrative controls and PPE use
- Workplace COVID-19 symptom screening protocols
Studies Provide Glimpse at Efficacy of Covid-19 Vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca
A Covid-19 vaccine being developed by Oxford University and the drug giant AstraZeneca generated an immune response in a study of roughly 1,000 patients, according to interim results published Monday.
While the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, known as AZD1222, has moved most rapidly into larger-scale studies of any major contender — and AstraZeneca has said that billions of doses could be manufactured — the new data represent the first glimpse researchers have gotten at its efficacy. They show a relatively safe vaccine — though side effects were greater than for a meningitis vaccine, to which it was compared — that engages the immune system to fight the virus.
“At the end of the day, you have to prioritize efficacy and then resolve the challenges around the logistics of the trial or logistics of manufacturing large quantities of vaccine,” said Pascal Soriot, AstraZeneca’s CEO, in a briefing with reporters.
European Union Leaders Agree on Spending Plan for Recovery
The package, built around the bloc’s first-ever issuance of hundreds of billions of euros of common debt, came together early Tuesday after four days of talks among the bloc’s 27 leaders—the bloc’s longest summit in 20 years. Leaders ultimately agreed on a €750 billion recovery plan. Of that, €390 billion will be offered in grants and the rest will come in the form of loans. That is down from €500 billion recently proposed by Brussels. The leaders also agreed on a multiyear EU budget of over €1 trillion that will run from next year to 2027.
The agreement represents a significant step in the EU’s move toward a more genuine fiscal union. Some have hailed it as the bloc’s Hamiltonian moment, referring to Alexander Hamilton, the first U.S. Treasury secretary, who had the federal government absorb the debts of U.S. states.
The deal will need to be approved by the parliaments of member states, which could prove contentious.
Congressional Research Service Report: Selected Federal Resources for Businesses Seeking to Assist with Research and Manufacturing Efforts Due To COVID -19
Some U.S. businesses have been engaging in research or retooling their manufacturing operations, supply chains, or products to assist with fighting the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This CRS Insight presents selected federal resources potentially relevant to businesses that seek to support COVID-19 mobilization efforts.
Generally, the federal government awards grants to nonprofits, educational institutions, and state and local governments. The federal government does not award grants for starting or expanding a business; however, it does have grant programs to support research and development (R&D) by small businesses.
See the report and the list of opportunities
Semi-Conductor Investment Plan is Included in Final National Defense Authorization Act
A proposal to invest heavily in US Semi-conductor manufacturing capacity has been included in the Final National Defense Authorization Act, an important step toward it becoming reality. The American Foundries Act is a bipartisan initiative that seeks to reestablish U.S. leadership and revitalize innovation in the global microelectronics sector. the Act’s sponsor, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer explained that the bipartisan legislation would make critical investments in domestic commercial and defense-related microelectronics manufacturing and research and development, and address economic and national security concerns by decreasing U.S. dependence on foreign-made semiconductor chips.
Cutting-Tool Market Extends Decline in May
U.S. machine shops and other manufacturers purchased $136.6 million worth of cutting tools during May, a -4.4% drop in consumption from the April total — $142.9 million, which had been a -24.7% drop from the previous month. The May result also marks a -36.0% decrease from $213.4 million recorded for May 2019, according to the US Cutting Tool Institute and the Association for Manufacturing Technology. Year-to-date consumption is down 18.8% from a year earlier.
Read the full story at American Machinist
R&D Investment for an American Recovery
With manufacturers leading all other sectors when it comes to research and development spending, the NAM has called on congressional leaders to include R&D tax policies that can aid the nation’s recovery as part of additional COVID-19 legislation. Our “American Renewal Action Plan” calls for expanding the R&D tax credit and reversing an upcoming tax change that would make R&D more expensive in the United States.
You can read additional details about NAM efforts to protect R&D spending here.
Check out the Council of Industry alliantgroup R&D Tax Credit Webinar August 6th
