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.
March 23rd
National
DBIA Community Survey Poll. DBIA is reaching out to America’s design-build community to assess how organizations large and small, across all sectors, are navigating these uncertain times. Your answers will help DBIA determine how we can help our members and design-build community during these challenging weeks and months ahead. Take the Survey.
U.S. Chamber Letter to the President on Essential Infrastructure and Essential Businesses and Services–US Chamber of Commerce. We recommend that your administration issue guidance on these orders to clarify “essential infrastructure” and “essential businesses and services.”
An Emergency Infrastructure For Fighting Covid-19 Is Available: It’s The American College Campus-Forbes. It would be possible to convert — with a fairly quick turnaround — many of the facilities and capacities at our higher education institutions to temporary public health operations.
U.S. Jobless Rate May Soar to 30%, Fed’s Bullard Says- Bloomberg. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard predicted the U.S. unemployment rate may hit 30% in the second quarter because of shutdowns to combat the coronavirus, with an unprecedented 50% drop in gross domestic product.
State News
California, New York, Washington State
Trump says he’s activated National Guard in New York, California and Washington state-NBC News. Trump said large quantities of masks, respirators, gowns, face shields and other items are due to arrive in the three states within days.
Kansas
Kansas OKs $10 Billion Transportation Program as Economic Stimulus-ENR. Eyeing economic impacts from COVID-19, Kansas legislators passed a sweeping $9.7-billion transportation funding program with new safeguards to keep funds for project use only, while Kentucky is progressing on a $4.7-billion package.
Massachusetts
Mass. Coordinating With Army Corps Of Engineers On Emergency Coronavirus Infrastructure-WBUR. As its hospitals and health care system stare down potentially widespread strain due to the coronavirus pandemic, Massachusetts is coordinating with the Army Corps of Engineers on emergency infrastructure for treating and quarantining patients, Gov. Charlie Baker said in a press conference Saturday.
Ohio, Louisiana, Delaware
Ohio, Louisiana, Delaware Order Residents To Stay Home As Cases Of COVID-19 Rise-NPR News. Ohio, Louisiana and Delaware became the latest states on Sunday to announce statewide stay-at-home orders as the toll from the coronavirus outbreak grew to more than 31,000 cases and 390 deaths.
Industry
Builders’COVID-19 dilemma: Construction Continuity versus Health Risks-Builder. Save lives on your construction sites now, and prevent workers from bringing sickness home, by taking these essential steps thoroughly and immediately.
Senior Housing Construction Could ‘Crash to Zero,’ Builders Brace for Covid-19 Effects-Senior Housing News. But as with most aspects of the Covid-19 crisis, uncertainty reigns when it comes to what the impact on new development will ultimately be.
These industries will be hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic — but one sector will likely remain ‘recession-proof’-MarketWatch. As the government continues to introduce measures to slow the spread of the virus and promote the best ways to guard against it, employers in construction and manufacturing may be reluctant to let their staff go just yet
Construction business and union leaders call on government officials to include construction as an ‘essential service’ during shutdowns-Building Design + Construction. “Construction workers’ unique skills are essential now and in the coming weeks to construct, maintain, and repair critical infrastructure, and to build temporary health facilities and retrofit and expand existing ones.”
Perkins and Will’s CEO sees a light at the end of COVID-19 tunnel-Building Design + Construction. Phil Harrison, CEO of the world’s second-largest architectural firm, says the virus outbreak could make more clients see the connection between design and wellbeing.
International
China resumes construction of nearly 90% of infrastructure projects-The Star.
China is speeding up construction on major infrastructure projects to mitigate the economic impact of the Covid-19 (coronavirus) epidemic.
Contact our editors if you have COVID-19 news impacting the AEC industry to share.