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How law enforcement agencies are dealing with shelter-in-place orders

Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & Security

More than 40 states have issued stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders, and some cities are facing more severe lockdown orders to curb the spread of the coronavirus. About 90% of the country's population falls under the purview of some sort of stay-at-home order. In most cases, law enforcement agencies are reaching out to their communities and urging residents to cooperate so that they beat this virus together. It is only in extreme situations that they are using fines or jail time.

US employers shed 700,000 jobs, as unemployment rises to 4.4%

Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk Management

In March, total U.S. nonfarm payroll jobs fell by 701,000 versus February's 273,000 new hires, according to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. March's unemployment rate rose to 4.4% from February's 3.5%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic included local and state orders to practice "shelter in place" and social distancing," as well as closing bars and restaurants. The leisure and hospitality sector accounted for 459,000 layoffs or 65% of March's total job losses.

COVID-19: Paid leave mandates for businesses and workers

Grace Ferguson Business Management, Services & Risk Management

With COVID-19 continuing its assault on the U.S. economy, the federal government has enacted legislation mandating paid leave for some American workers. Employers should understand their responsibilities under the new regulation plus any others required by law.

The coronavirus is devastating rural hospitals

Scott E. Rupp Healthcare Administration

While urban hospitals and health systems are getting racked by an overflow of patients and the need to respond to an overwhelming number of patients currently infected with COVID-19, their rural counterparts are equally or more so overwhelmed, too. In some cases, the impacts on rural hospitals are dramatic. Many of these community-based hospitals will close because the pandemic is preventing them from performing profitable elective surgeries, physical therapy, and lab tests.

‘Corona change’ is an economic force with environmental consequences

Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & Environmental

Climate change issues are intimately tied to the coronavirus pandemic, but how? The recent announcement that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has suspended regulations requires reflection on the pandemic’s climate change politics. There are countless speculations as to the virus’ origins, and all are anthropogenic. This means human practices disrupt ecological balance, resulting in huge social impacts, like pandemics. Plain and simple, right?

The CARES Act and public education

Patrick Gleeson Education

On March 27, President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act into law. It provides $30.75 billion in emergency relief funds for the U.S. Department of Education. If you’re a K-12 teacher, you’re probably wondering how this affects you. Importantly, how will your students benefit? More pointedly, how much will they benefit?

3 possible economic outcomes for the coronavirus pandemic

Lark Gould Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Surviving the coronavirus is currently top of mind for the American public. There are many likely scenarios possible within the possible epidemiological trajectories of COVID-19 and the economic response to this crisis will also develop over the next few months, bringing a new set of struggles to consider. The Conference Board, a New York-based think tank on the economy and public policy, has developed three scenarios for the development of the U.S. economy through the remainder of the year.

The COVID-19 pandemic: A reverse Wizard of Oz?

Keith Carlson Medical & Allied Healthcare

At the end of the classic film, "The Wizard of Oz," Dorothy, the naïve yet savvy heroine played by a young Judy Garland, wakes up in her bed on a bright morning following a frightening tornado and a grand, slightly nightmarish adventure of epic proportions. The sleepy Dorothy quickly realizes that it has all indeed been a dream, and she’s safe and sound at home. If only the COVID-19 pandemic was the same: a global nightmare from which we will all awake on a sunny Midwestern morning, surrounded by the people we love most.

Can airports survive the coronavirus crisis?

Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & Automotive

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is causing an unprecedented crisis among the aviation industry, and it is threatening to drastically change the landscape and future of airports. With much of the world on lockdown and airlines effectively grounding their fleets, many airports are operating only a few key flights per day. Experiencing little demand, airports like Atlanta, Zurich and Frankfurt have assigned whole runways as temporary parking lots for grounded aircraft. Other airports, like Paris Orly and London City, have closed completely.

Army Corps of Engineers identifies more than 100 facilities to serve as…

Scott E. Rupp Facilities & Grounds

During the month of March, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued over 120 press releases. Compared to the same time a year ago, USACE published just one press release. Most of the Corps of Engineers’ releases announce its involvement in procuring facilities appropriate for providing alternate care for the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, this process involves turning non-healthcare buildings and facilities into hospitals. Such facilities can be used for stable, non-COVID-19 patients to reduce the potential burden on hospitals.

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