COVID-19 Policy Update #262
COVID-19 Policy Update
TUESDAY 5/25
TOP THREE
Infrastructure Package:
Senate Democrats are unlikely to try using the FY 2021 budget resolution to put together another reconciliation package for an infrastructure plan, Punchbowl News reports.
Democratic leaders privately say they don’t believe they can finish work by the end of the fiscal year, which is September 30.
This means the infrastructure debate is likely to slip into the fall, which will put it on a collision path with the debt-limit fight.
Bipartisan group prepares new infrastructure package: "The nascent plan is being drafted by more than a half-dozen lawmakers, including Republican Sens. Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV).”
Moderna: Released data showing its COVID-19 vaccine was found to be 100% effective in children 12 to 17 two weeks after second dose. Plans to request EUA approval in early June.
Present Danger: Solving the Deepening Student Absenteeism Crisis: Via FutureED: "An analysis of five school districts serving nearly 450,000 students suggests that student absenteeism has been far greater during the pandemic than previously reported."
FEDERAL
NIH: NIH director encourages scientists to study impact of pandemic on mental health of children
NAEP: Science scores down for fourth-graders, flat for older students. More at The 74.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Teen Vaccinations: About 14% of the nation’s kids ages 12–15 have received their first shot.
Among teens ages 16 and 17, that number goes up to 34%, and about 22% have had both shots.
Ohio Vaccination Incentive: Via Washington Post: Turns out the chance of winning a million bucks may be a decent vaccination incentive
CDC Confusion: Only one in five adults said the CDC has been "very clear" in its updated guidance. Half said it's "somewhat clear," while nearly one in three said it's not clear.
Mount Sinai Seeks to Expand School Virus Testing Program: "The health system, which is preparing to open a new laboratory that could process 100,000 tests a day, wants to take its program to public schools this fall." Press Release / NYT story
STATE
California: LAUSD to fully reopen schools in fall and offer remote option
Connecticut: A judge has upheld a requirement that children wear masks in schools, rejecting a challenge by some parents who said mask wearing can be harmful and education officials exceeded their authority.
Illinois: U-46 to set up online learning 'academy' for students who are not vaccinated in Chicago.
New York: NPR interview with NYC Schools Chancellor who says schools are safe.
"You know, this past week, we've been at 0.3% — our seven-day positivity rate. Our schools are the safest place."
On remote learning as an option next year: "I can tell you that I haven't heard that from families, that they want to they want remote learning so that their teenagers can continue to work. But I know, that that may be a reality for some families."
ECONOMIC RECOVERY
State Revenues Pour In, Raising Pressure on Biden to Divert Federal Aid: Via NYT
"California officials expect a $15 billion surplus this fiscal year, after fearing a $54 billion shortfall. Virginia has seen nearly $2 billion in unanticipated revenues. As has Oregon, where economists recently upgraded the state’s revenue forecasts — moving it from projected deficits to surplus — in a report that surprised and delighted many lawmakers."
"The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that state and local governments have received a total of nearly $1 trillion in relief money in the past year. State and local revenues were running about 7 percent above their prepandemic levels in the last quarter — excluding the federal aid they have received."
"That turnaround is partly the product of strong income tax receipts, particularly in states that heavily tax high earners and the wealthy, whose finances have fared well in the crisis."
Small Businesses Have Surged in Black Communities. Was It the Stimulus?: Via NYT
"Across a number of states, the pace of weekly business registrations more than doubled in the months after the CARES Act was signed in March 2020. Business registrations rose again, by 60 percent, around the period of the supplementary aid package signed in December. Coinciding with the third wave of stimulus in March, weekly business registrations have been up by 20 percent, but the data is less complete."
"When the researchers mapped the data, they found that the ZIP codes that experienced the greatest increase in business registrations were in Black areas, particularly higher median-income Black neighborhoods. Even after controlling for other variables, the proportion of Black residents in a ZIP code had the strongest impact on the start-up growth rate."
Crazy Housing Stats: Via this Twitter thread from Redin's CEO
RESOURCES
States and Cities Debate the Future of Online Learning: Via NYT:
"Some families remain fearful of returning their children to classrooms, and others have become accustomed to new child care and work routines built around remote schooling, and are loath to make major changes."
"Some teachers, parent groups and civil rights organizations have also argued that families of color are the least confident that their children will be safe in school buildings, and thus should not be pushed to return before they are ready."
Schools Must Invest in Relationships Crucial to Education: OpEd in the Hill.
Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921: Powerful NYT interactive story and visualization of the Tulsa Massacre.
Remembering George Floyd: A timeline of events over the last year.