Daily Briefing – 159
NYS Update: Changes to Restricted States, Cuomo to Meet with Orthodox Leaders Regarding “Hot Spot” Zip Codes
Governor Cuomo announced yesterday that he will meet with Orthodox Jewish leaders to address COVID-19 clusters in communities downstate.
The governor also announced that Colorado has been added to New York State’s COVID-19 travel advisory. Arizona and Virginia have been removed. The advisory requires individuals who have traveled to New York from areas with significant community spread to quarantine for 14 days.
- Read the press release (it includes the “hot spot zip codes”
- See the Restricted States
- Visit the early warning Covid dashboard
McKinsey: Time to Think Beyond COVID-19
Reach back to your company’s 2019 performance trajectory and start planning for a return to normal economic conditions for 2022, argues this McKinsey analysis. The coronavirus remains a threat, of course, but excess deaths are down, and the economic and operational upheaval caused by the pandemic is relatively well-understood, the authors write.
Read the full story from McKinsey
GM Announces $71 Million Investment at Ohio Plants
The investments, which GM said would help it retain 240 jobs, include $39 million at the company’s Toledo transmission plant and $32 million at its Defiance casting plant, according to an announcement from the company.
“The Toledo investment will be used to upgrade and enhance the production of GM’s eight-speed rear-wheel-drive transmission and the Defiance investment will be used to prepare the facility for future engine casting components work,” the company said.
Read more at the Detroit Free Press
Pelosi and Mnuchin Discuss Possible Coronavirus Aid
The two spoke for 50 minutes, one day after House Democrats unveiled a new, less-expensive version of their previous aid package, which shaved the price tag to $2.2 trillion, down from $3.5 trillion. Mrs. Pelosi and Mr. Mnuchin, who also spoke Monday night, agreed to talk again Wednesday, Mrs. Pelosi’s spokesman said on Twitter.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Tuesday morning that he had spoken with Mr. Mnuchin, along with President Trump. “So hopefully we’ll make some progress and find a solution for the American people,” Mr. Meadows told reporters.
Companies Prepare for COVID-19 “Take-Home” Lawsuits
U.S. businesses with COVID-19 outbreaks are facing an emerging legal threat from claims that workers brought coronavirus home and infected relatives, which one risk analysis firm said could cost employers billions of dollars.
Between 7% and 9% of the roughly 200,000 U.S. COVID-19 deaths so far are believed to stem from take-home infections. Attorneys for both plaintiffs and companies said successful cases require a strong “causal chain” linking the sick family member to the worker and then to the business and the business’s alleged failure to adopt safety measures.
Contact Tracing: What Employers Should Know
Contract tracing in the workplace could put employers in a legal bind because of confidentiality rules, warns attorney Susan Kline. Kline advises employers to establish a contract-tracing policy, to never disclose names of employees who test positive, and to ensure those in contact-tracing roles are trained to sensitively deal with employees.
Read the full story at Human Resource Executive
COVID-19 Vaccine Prospects That Have Made it to Phase Three trials and Beyond
More than 150 coronavirus vaccines are in development across the world—and hopes are high to bring one to market in record time to ease the global crisis. Several efforts are underway to help make that possible, including the U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed initiative, which has pledged $10 billion and aims to develop and deliver 300 million doses of a safe, effective coronavirus vaccine by January 2021. The World Health Organization is also coordinating global efforts to develop a vaccine, with an eye toward delivering two billion doses by the end of 2021.
Though it’s too soon to say which candidates will ultimately be successful, here’s a look at the prospects that have reached phase three and beyond—including a quick primer on how they work and where they stand.
Read more at National Geographic
NAM Works to Provide Recommendations on Ventilation Strategies
The NAM is working with the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Manufacturing Sector Council to offer recommendations to companies on ventilation strategies to reduce the risk of COVID-19 at the workplace. If your company has updated its industrial or HVAC systems or is using outdoor air to reduce the spread, NAM wants to hear from you and highlight your story.
To share your story email Drew Schneider
CMS Issues Urgent Call to Action Following Drastic Decline in Care for Children Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released preliminary Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) data revealing that, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency, rates for vaccinations, primary, and preventive services among children in Medicaid and CHIP have steeply declined. This decline may have significant impacts on long-term health outcomes for children, as Medicaid and CHIP cover nearly 40 million children, including three quarters of children living in poverty and many with special health care needs that require health services.
NAM’s Timmons: Manufacturers Worried About Coronavirus’ Long-Term Impact
On Monday NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons was a guest with Neil Cavuto on Fox Business discuss concerns over the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the U.S. economy and the 2020 presidential election as well as workforce development and manufacturing day.
