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COVID-19 fallout hits California’s wine grape growers and wineries

Seth Sandronsky Food & Beverage

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, California Gov. Gavin Newsom on March 19 ordered the state's residents to shelter at home and for bars and restaurants to close. There are other related impacts. Take agriculture, a top industry in the Golden State, with grapes the second biggest market commodity at $6.25 billion versus dairy products and milk at $6.37 billion in 2018, according to government data. "The COVID-19 pandemic presents incredible and unpredictable challenges," Michael Miiller, director of government relations for the California Winegrape Growers Association, told MultiBriefs via email.

Hospitality industry copes with unprecedented times, massive layoffs

Bambi Majumdar Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought life and business to a grinding halt. Among the hardest-hit sectors are travel and hospitality. As the virus spread rapidly across the world in February and March, millions scrambled to cancel their travel plans. Hotels and airlines were besieged by customer calls — all demanding cancellations and refunds. Things are going to be tough for some time in these industries, as approximately 15 million hospitality jobs in the U.S. have been affected.

COVID-19 and the wild sheep decline: An interesting parallel

Chester Moore Jr. Recreation & Leisure

The impact of COVID-19 on humanity is nothing short of historic. While the death toll has not and hopefully will not reach the levels of the Spanish flu of 1918, the potential is there, and the grip it has on government, commerce, and private citizens is unprecedented. That’s why I can’t help but make parallels between COVID-19 and the near-catastrophic decline of wild sheep of the 1800s.

COVID-19 relief package passed by Congress has implications for dentists

Tammy Hinojos Oral & Dental Healthcare

In a month otherwise filled with tough news, Congress passed a $2 trillion stimulus package that is designed to help people, states and businesses all across the country that are devastated by the coronavirus pandemic. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act — or CARES Act — passed the Senate on March 25 and the House on March 27. Following the Senate vote, the American Dental Association reached out to member dentists.

A healthier environment is an unintended consequence of the coronavirus

Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & Environmental

One significant positive from the COVID-19 pandemic? As economies are crashing, industries shuttered, and people mandated to shelter in place, the beneficiary of this is the natural environment. The coronavirus is cutting global emissions faster than any previous climate legislation or negotiations. In fact, according to numbers researched by Lauri Myllyvirta at the University of Helsinki's Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, this is all because of the pandemic.

Surviving coronavirus: Bravery, health, and strength

Michelle R. Matisons Civil & Government

Be Brave. Good Health. Stay Strong. These three (albeit optimistic) convictions grace childlike artwork pinned to an overturned wooden cable spool in an Albuquerque neighborhood near the University of New Mexico. As coronavirus spreads, a yard full of art reminds us to keep our convictions.

Housing recovery slips away, again

Michael J. Berens Construction & Building Materials

Given the ups and downs of recent years, any prognosis about the state of the U.S. housing market is risky. Still, emerging data from the month of February suggests that the industry may have experienced the beginning of an upward trend going into spring, traditionally the busiest homebuying season of the year. Now, however, the oft-predicted recovery yet again will have to wait a while longer — perhaps much longer — as the country wrestles with the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Trump calls on the National Guard to help fight COVID-19

Rebecca Walker Donaldson Law Enforcement, Defense & Security

A few days ago, President Trump activated the National Guard in California, Washington, and New York, the three states that have the most documented cases of the virus. They are the states that are the most overwhelmed in dealing with this pandemic and in need of help. These states have insufficient supplies and equipment. They do not have enough hospital beds or adequate numbers of medical personnel. Some people have expressed fear that calling out the Guard means martial law is coming. That is not what is happening.

A look at America’s dire need for medical examiners

Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & Security

Medical examiners' offices work closely with law enforcement agencies to assist in death investigations and help uncover crimes. Autopsies play a significant role in law and order, and thousands of autopsies are performed each year. But the strains on examiners have been rising with no solution in sight, leading to delayed medical examinations, slow response times, and overdue toxicology tests. Metropolises like Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York are overburdened, but the crisis is now affecting smaller cities as well.

Coronavirus may delay HHS’ timetable for interoperability rules

Scott E. Rupp Healthcare Administration

Opponents of the new federal healthcare interoperability rules may have found an ally in the least likely place: The coronavirus. Because of the outbreak of the global pandemic, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is working to determine whether or not to push back the originally publicized timeline of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology's (ONC) interoperability rule.

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