As state governments drive the relaxation of coronavirus prevention policies, different states are reporting different rates of new coronavirus cases. The Johns Hopkins University of Medicine reports that Rhode Island, Illinois, North Dakota, and Washington, D.C. are all reporting significant downward trends in new COVID-19 cases in their area.
Not all states are seeing the rate of new cases decline, though: troublingly, in Massachusetts, Arizona, and Tennessee, among other states, the rate of new cases per 100,000 people is on an upward trend. The data cited above covers new cases reported between January 22 and June 2.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s lead epidemiologist, addressed public gatherings in general terms on Tuesday, June 2. “Pictures, photos and TV clips of people very much congregated, no masks together, very closely congregated on a boardwalk, on a beach, in a pool, has been and continues to be a concern to me,” Fauci told NBCnews. He also said that the affect of large public gatherings on the spread of COVID-19 at this stage, is still not known, and won’t be known for several weeks.
In other news, the Senate voted to confirm Brian Miller to be the special inspector general for pandemic recovery on Tuesday. Miller will be in charge of overseeing the $500 billion COVID-19 economic relief fund.
Skilled Union Calls for Greater Protection
SMART, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation, wrote a letter to the leadership of Johnson Controls asking for additional COVID-19 protections including paid sick leave, plant sanitation, PPE and hazard pay. 27 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in 5 Johnson Controls plants as of May 6, and some of the workers have stayed home without pay or access to unemployment benefits.
“We can’t wait for JCI to wait another day before they take company-wide action,” read a letter from the union, which was cosigned by 29 SMART shop stewards. Workers at various Johnson Controls plants receive 5 sick days at most, while other workers do not get any sick days, depending on location. Read the full story here.
U.S. to Temporarily Relax Hand Sanitizer Purity Rules
In a statement from the Food and Drug Administration, the federal government announced it would update restrictions on benzene content in hand sanitizer in order to ensure access to the in-demand product. According to the FDA, the agency had previously adjusted purity restrictions in April to accommodate fuel ethanol manufacturers, who had pivoted supply chains to produce hand sanitizer instead of fuel.
The updated regulations allow for up to 2 parts per million of benzene. Read the full story here.
Pilgrim’s Pride CEO Indicted for Price-Fixing
Four former and current CEOs of chicken processing companies were indicted by the Department of Justice June 3 for fixing broiler chicken prices. Pilgrim’s Pride’s current CEO, Jayson Penn, and former VP Roger Austin were charged, along with the President and Vice President of Claxton Poultry, Mikell Fries and Scott Brady. According to prosecutors, the charged men communicated via text messages and phone calls about raising chicken prices.
World Health Organization Resumes Malaria Drug Trials
The World Health Organization announced June 3 it would resume trials of hydroxychloroquine for use treating COVID-19 after briefly suspending trials out of concern for patient's health. President Donald Trump has championed the drug in the past to the consternation of some medical professionals, who warn the drug can pose a risk for those with heart conditions. The drug is typically used to treat malaria. Other COVID-19 treatments currently in trials include Avifavir and remdesivir.
