4/30 Thursday COVID-19 Daily Update
Local 5 on Facebook Live
Join us for another Facebook Live session tomorrow, Fri. @ 5pm, w/ Jason Maxwell, a bartender from Modern Honolulu & Waikiki Beach Marriott. Watch Jason make his favorite cocktails & promote our hardship fund!
Go to facebook.com/uniteherehawaii @5pm
News Highlights
World: Cases: 3.25M (+60k). Deaths: 233k (+6k)
USA: Cases: 1.07M (+40k). Deaths: 63.0k (+2.2k). Total Tested: 6.2M (+200k)
Hawaii: Cases: 618 (+5). Deaths: 16 (+0). Hospitalized: 70 (+1). Recovered: 526 (+10)
Hilton’s new cleaning and service protocol “Hilton Clean Stay” will be released in May and begin implementation in June. Hilton is working with the Mayo Clinic and the maker of Lysol. Hilton is taking this opportunity to push mobile check-in and mobile key as a way to avoid face-to-face interaction with front desk workers in the name of safety.
Hyatt is working with infectious disease control and health experts to develop a COVID cleaning program, it aims to introduce an accreditation process in May from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council, a division of ISSA, the global cleaning industry association.
AHLA has convened the Safe Stay Advisory Council to develop a series of best practices for the hotel industry. Major hotel operators are part of the council. It hasn’t developed a guideline for protocols yet.
This article highlights the decision being forced on workers by capitalism. Either risk your life going back to your low paid job, or risk losing your unemployment benefits because you refused available work. It’s highly unlikely the amount of work, wages or tips will be at the same level as pre-COVID, especially with limited social distancing guidelines in place. And god forbid that workers who are temporarily getting more money they earned before because of UI benefits enjoy some time-off from worrying about working 2-3 jobs, and God forbid some workers experience the pleasure of having a living wage for a few weeks.
As previously announced a select few types of businesses will reopen on Thursday: Certain real estate services will now be allowed. Car dealerships can reopen for sales and leasing activities, with restrictions. All automated service providers, such as automated car washes will also be permitted. Mobile providers, such as mobile pet groomers, have also been given the green light. Services provided on a one-on-basis can be done as long as social distancing is maintained. And all public and private golf courses can reopen under new guidelines.
US weekly jobless claims hit 3.84 million, topping 30 million over the last 6 weeks (CNBC, April 30, 2020)
National debt soars to nearly $25 trillion, Treasury data shows (KITV, April 30 ,2020)
Prior to Trump administration it was $20T. Annual deficits between 2021 and 2025 are estimated to be $1T a year. And apparently, Ed Case is an official member of the Blue Dog Democrats and is co-chair of a committee.
American Airlines And United Report Nearly $4 Billion In Combined Losses (NPR, April 30, 2020)
In the 1st Quarter of 2020, the two airlines lost nearly $4B. United had said it is burning through $100 million a day, but it expects to reduce that to a burn rate of $40-$45 million a day in the second quarter.
