GovWin SLED Coronavirus Recon

Word on the Street

(What our Analysts are hearing from government)

• New Mexico government employees are working from home and have limited access to contract documents to answer inquiries.
• Solicitation response due dates are being pushed back not only once but twice due to the ongoing pandemic.

General 

• (Michigan) Gov. Whitmer Relaxes Michigan FOIA Law, Citing Coronavirus Concerns
• President Trump declares disaster in South Dakota after COVID-19 cases reach 240
• Wisconsin granted a major disaster declaration in response to COVID-19 pandemic
  • Wisconsin has been granted a major disaster declaration, with access to Public Assistance programs for all 72 counties and federally recognized tribes, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• (Minnesota) Governor Walz Requests Federal COVID-19 Disaster Relief
  • The state says funding would help mitigate the pandemic’s impact on public health, state resources, unemployment, and community infrastructure such as health care facilities
•  (Minnesota) Gov. Walz unveils new state website, outlines state’s priorities in responding to COVID-19
  • Governor Tim Walz unveiled a new State of Minnesota COVID-19 dashboard that tracks the virus in the state and provides the latest data on available ventilators, ICU beds, personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing.
• Federal and Selected State Tax Updates in Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • This article provides a quick overview of tax-related regulatory and legislative developments, including deadline changes for tax filings.
• (New York) Coronavirus Update: 4,700 deaths, Cuomo says possible flattening of curve
  • The last two days have shown a flat line in the number of deaths of coronavirus
  • There are more than 130,000 positive cases in the state, but the rate of hospital admissions, ICU, and intubations has dipped.
  • New York lockdown extended to April 29 closing all non-essential NY business through the 29th
  • Governor Cuomo is increasing the fine from $500 to $1,000 for violating gathering and social distancing orders
  • Washington state returned more than 400 ventilators of the 500 it has received from the federal government so they can go to New York and other states hit harder by the coronavirus
• Wisconsin Governor Order Stop to In-Person Voting on Eve of Election:
  • Gov. Tony Evers issued a last-minute order suspending statewide and local elections until June 9. This order comes on the eve of an election and is likely to be challenge by state Republicans.
• Virginia Coronavirus Fraud Task Force Warns of Economic Relief Scammers:
  • In tandem with the IRS, taxpayers are being warned to be alert about scams relating to the Coronavirus economic impact payments.
• DELAWARE DISASTER DECLARATION
  • President Donald Trump has approved a disaster declaration for the State of Delaware, making federal funding available to Delaware and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, for all areas in the state impacted by COVID-19.

Funding & Economic Impact 

• New Mexico expected to face budget shortfall amid COVID-19 outbreak, falling oil prices
  • New Mexico's state budget could take a billion dollar hit because of a drop in oil prices and the coronavirus. State Sen. John Arthur Smith called the number a moving target, which means estimates could go up.
• Iowa receives $44 million for reimbursement of COVID-19 response costs
• Minnesota bracing for possible budget deficit because of COVID-19
• Durango, Bayfield and Ignacio unsure what to expect from federal funds
  • U.S. Congress passed the $2 trillion CARES Act to ease the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic last week, but state and local governments are still trying to parse how to implement the $150 billion allotted for them.
  • Government leaders in Durango, Cortez, Bayfield and Ignacio have been told funding will be disbursed to states and local governments in several weeks, but fast-changing circumstances in the COVID-19 outbreak might change that.
  • Amber Blake, Durango’s city manager, said the amount of funding disbursed to local governments is not sufficient to meet the loss in revenue they will experience. The city relies on sales tax revenues to fund 60% of its general operations, and current projections show at least a 30% decline in sales tax revenue as a result of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• (Washington) Inslee trims 2020 supplemental operating budget to address financial impact of COVID-19
  • Governor vetoed 147 separate expenditure items today
  • The vetoes will reduce state spending by nearly $445 million (from the General Fund) over the next three years — $235 million in the current budget and $210 million in the next biennium

Technology

• Website created by doctors aims to identify the next COVID-19 hotspot
  • A group of doctors and information technology specialists from all over the country has combined to create a non-profit that will give users and local, state and federal government agencies more information about the novel coronavirus. It’s called CovidIQ.org.
• CompTIA launches COVID-19 resources forum for tech industry
  • IT and tech industry forum CompTIA has created an interactive online forum dedicated to serving technology firms and workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• How robots can help to beat COVID-19
  • Robots can potentially offer assistance with fighting the pandemic, including cleaning, delivering supplies, and monitoring for public safety.
• Hoover company rolling out fever detection technology to fight COVID-19
  • The company X.Labs is working to enhance early detection methods with their new product FEEVR, which can take temperatures from 10 feet away in about 10 seconds.

Higher Education

• Vermont colleges loosen grading as Covid-19 crisis raises equity concerns
  • All the schools within the Vermont State Colleges system have offered students the option to have some or all of their spring classes graded on a pass or fail basis, rather than traditional assessment
  • Higher education institutions have mostly taken a system-wide approach to how grading will be done for the spring 2020 semester with most leaning towards having the option of pass/fail
• (University of Wisconsin – Madison) As coronavirus losses mount, UW campuses ask state for emergency relief money
  • UWM has seen budget cuts in the last few years coupled with a tuition freeze that is going on eight years which lead it to ask for emergency relief
• (Ohio) Coronavirus changes landscape of college visits, decisions
  • Ohio colleges are pushing existing online resources like virtual tours and have introduced others as the coronavirus pandemic continues, such as virtual one-on-one meetings and live online admissions events. Some are pushing back deposit deadlines, freezing tuition and making ACT and SAT scores optional as students and families make decisions based on new COVID-19 realities.
• Important Guidance for Medical Students on Clinical Rotations During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak
  • The AAMC strongly supports medical schools pausing all student clinical rotations, effective immediately, until at least March 31.
• “Itching to get back in”: Medical students graduate early to join the fight
  • Medical students across the country are being permitted to graduate early to aid in the fight against COVID-19
• Governors Call for Quick Distribution of Stimulus
  • The National Governors Association wrote to Betsy DeVos, the U.S. secretary of education, to ask for the Education Department to within two weeks distribute the $30 billion of education stabilization funds in the $2.2 trillion federal stimulus, of which $14 billion is allocated to higher education
• (University of Alabama System) UA System approves $250M in lines of credit as COVID-19 precaution
  • The UA system serves as the largest employer for the state of Alabama
  • In a statement, representatives of the UA System said the measure would provide the system with additional liquidity if needed at any point in time and that the system considers it a form of insurance to support its campuses and UAB Health System during the COVID-19 response

K-12 Education

• Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Authorizes New Funding Flexibilities to Support Continued Learning During COVID-19 National Emergency
  • The new flexibilities under the CARES Act allow schools to repurpose existing K-12 education funds for technology infrastructure and teacher training on distance learning
  • Allows for a more streamlined decision-making process in regards to funding and resources
  • Secretary DeVos has approved federally-mandated standardized testing waivers for all 50 states and the District of Columbia
  • These actions work to ensure students with disabilities have access to distance learning opportunities and providing an extension for states that need additional time to develop career and technical education plans under the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act
• (Massachusetts) Coronavirus and education: As schools work through challenges posed by COVID-19, this Massachusetts virtual K-12 institution provides an example
  • The largest online public school, TEC Connections Academy Commonwealth Virtual School, in the state of Massachusetts has seen an enrollment spike
  • TECCA employees are expected to have a video meeting with members of the Massachusetts School Counselors Association this week about how to provide guidance to students remotely.
• (New York) K-12 Schools Relying on Educational Non-Profits to Keep Students Engaged During COVID-19 Pandemic
  • As K-12 schools across the country struggle to adjust to a new paradigm of virtual learning, educational non-profits like CFES Brilliant Pathwaysare playing a key role in keeping students engaged and preparing them for college and careers.
• Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) information for the UCLA campus community (University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA))
  • UCLA has announced remote learning is planned for the first two of three summer sessions
• (Wisconsin) ANALYSIS: THE CARES ACT AND K-12 IN WISCONSIN (Wisconsin)
  • Wisconsin is focusing on the following priorities for immediate support from the CARES Act:
  • Provide teachers with resources for improved distance learning – flexible funding options now available nationwide
  • Defray the cost of online education to schools and low-income families
  • Encourage summer learning camps and literacy programs so students are more prepared for 2020-2021 school year
  • Purchase supplies to sanitize and clean school buildings
  • Help graduating high school seniors who have to take remedial college courses next year – career and technical education (CTE) has received support and funding from the US Department of Education through the CARES Act
• Flexibility and Collaboration, Not Waivers, Will Make Remote Learning More Equitable
  • School districts are saying that delivering remote education without appropriate accommodations for the approximately 14 percent of students nationwide who require special education could exacerbate inequities and put them at risk of litigation.
  • Special education advocates are calling for both schools and families may need to come to the table for virtual conferences to go over what can be provided to their students during closures—and what can’t
• College Board announces details about at-home AP Exams
  • The College Board announced Friday details about at-home AP Exams this May. These at-home testing options will provide more than three million students worldwide the opportunity to earn the college credit and placement they’ve been working hard toward all school year.
• Tennessee Launches Public Survey to Help Determine How Schools Can Make Up for Lost Instruction Time:
  • The State seeks to determine the best way to support the response work and plan for recovery with a survey including questions about how effective online learning is and how lost time in the classroom should be made up.

Health Care

• Georgia spending $72M to add 296 hospital beds, staff in advance of expected patient surge
  • Governor Kemp has announced plans to add 296 hospital beds throughout the
• (Ohio) DeWine Expands Telehealth Access To Counselors; Coronavirus Update, April 4, 2020
  • Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order to expand telehealth in the state on Saturday to help fight the spread of coronavirus.
  • The order will allow Ohioans to more easily access services with mental health workers including social workers, counselors and marriage counselors. Patients will be able to see such professionals without first having had an in-person consultation. He also waived telehealth training for these providers.
• A mounting casualty of coronavirus crisis: Health care jobs
  • Tens of thousands of medical workers across the United States are suddenly out of work as operating rooms and doctor's offices go dark, casualties of urgent calls to prioritize coronavirus patients at overwhelmed hospitals and of the economic waves the crisis is churning.
  • Tens of thousands of medical workers across the United States are suddenly out of work as operating rooms and doctor's offices go dark, casualties of urgent calls to prioritize coronavirus patients at overwhelmed hospitals and of the economic waves the crisis is churning.
• Missouri is recruiting medical personnel to boost the state's COVID-19 response
  • Missouri is recruiting medical professionals who are not currently part of the workforce to join a specialized team to respond to critical health emergencies.
• (New Hampshire) Sununu says state preparing for surge in COVID-19 patients
  • New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu and the state are preparing for a surge of COVID-19 patients by setting up additional hospitals and facilities across the state.
• California Significantly Reduces COVID-19 Testing Backlog, Works To Increase Capacity
  • California has partnered with UC Davis and UC San Diego to create a minimum of five “testing hubs” across the state to increase testing capacity. On Friday, California had over 59,000 unprocessed COVID-19 tests, but in 24 hours that number dropped to 13,000.

Social Services 

• Arizona unemployment agency inundated with layoff claims amid COVID-19 pandemic
  • Have increased number of workers processing claims from 13 to 100
  • Contract workers, self-employed and others whose claims are not normally accepted are now eligible for unemployment checks
• Los Angeles Leaders to Propose Rent-Relief Fund, Jobs Program as Part of Coronavirus Recovery Efforts

Justice/Public Safety

• (Kentucky) Ky. city orders COVID-19 patients refusing to self-isolate to wear tracking devices
  • Two Louisville coronavirus patients and a third family member were ordered to isolate and wear tracking devices after going against medical advice.
• (California) 45 LAPD employees test positive for COVID-19
  • Law enforcement officers across the country continue to fall ill to the coronavirus.
• The use of OC, chemical agents during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • This article discusses that using pepper spray for law enforcement officers should be reconsidered during the pandemic, as reactions to pepper spray can involve coughing and sneezing and could risk spreading coronavirus.
• (Washington) Inslee Issues Guidance for Department of Licensing Operation Impacted by COVID-19:
  • Proclamations impact Personal and Commercial License Extensions on Renewals and DUI Hearings timeline.
• (California) Judges Deny Emergency Release of California Inmates amid Coronavirus Crisis

Transportation

• (Delaware) DelDOT keeps roadwork projects on track through pandemic
  • Charles “C.R.” McLeod, director of community relations for DelDOT, said keeping the state’s transportation initiatives moving forward is a grueling task that involves several different departments and levels.
  • If there’s one huge positive that is taking place on highway worksites, it’s that traffic has been down noticeably since Gov. Carney issued his stay-at-home order for non-essential employees on March 22.
  • That makes it easier to conduct DelDOT construction projects such as repaving roads, removing and replacing crossroad pipes, updating intersections to make them safer and handling other issues that can pop up overnight. DelDOT did not have definitive numbers as to the exact number of projects that are taking place statewide or the number of people working on them, saying “Our projects are proceeding as planned and we are doing all we can to help contractors accomplish as much work as possible.”
• (Washington) Sound Transit hits pause on expansion construction
  • Sound Transit has suspended any construction work, with few exceptions, through May 4. This move is being made in order to combat the spread of COVID-19.
• (Oregon) OR: E-scooter companies ditch Portland, ridership plummets amid coronavirus pandemic
  • E-scooter companies are beginning to suspend operations or take more sanitary measures amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. In what has been an emerging industry, the ongoing pandemic will certainly slow the growth of the industry for the time being.
• TWU, ATU join forces to up transit worker protections
  • The Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) have made it a top priority that members whom are deemed essential personal are provided with masks and gloves, amongst other mitigation efforts. The union has also asked agencies to urge riders to cover their faces as well when using public transit.

Public Utilities

• Pelosi steps back on infrastructure push as renewable industry vies for aid
  • The renewable industry was originally hoping for some funding in the anticipated fourth coronavirus stimulus bill, however Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has stepped back from her initial push and may not be including funding in the upcoming fourth stimulus proposal.
• (New York) Con Edison reaches 170 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 3 deaths, as risks rise for utility workers
  • Consolidated Edison has 170 employees who have tested positive for coronavirus. The article further discusses the importance of keeping utility workers healthy and safe during the pandemic, so that power can continue to be provided to the many essential workers whom are helping to combat the virus and keep the world moving.

Natural Resources/Environment

• (Oregon) Coronavirus Undercuts Oregon’s Wood Products Industry, Forestry Department Budget:
  • State Forester Peter Daugherty requests $52-$132 million to maintain the agency’s current programs facing the upcoming fire season. While the funding comes primarily though harvest revenues, the coronavirus pandemic has impacted Oregon’s wood products industry from logging to wildland firefighting. The State Forest Division is in the process of revising its forecasts to understand short term effects and prepare for the long term.