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7 Things: IMHE’s newest projection factors in masks being worn, Fauci supports statewide mask orders, PPP loans protected 700,000 Alabama jobs and more …

7. United States withdrawing from WHO

  • President Donald Trump’s administration has officially given notice to the United Nation’s secretary-general that it will be withdrawing the nation from the World Health Organization (WHO). The decision was expected after Trump has criticized their handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
  • Many in Congress are criticizing Trump’s decision. U.S. Representative Bob Menendez (D-NJ) tweeted about the news, saying, “Congress received notification that POTUS officially withdrew the U.S. from the WHO in the midst of a pandemic. To call Trump’s response to COVID chaotic & incoherent doesn’t do it justice.” He went on to say that the decision “won’t protect American lives” and leaves them “sick” and “alone.”

6. Schools become the latest battleground

  • President Donald Trump has made it clear that it is his intention to have schools reopen in the United States with as much in-class participation as possible. He told governors Tuesday, “It’s very important. It’s very important for our country. It’s very important for the well-being of the student and the parents. So we’re going to be putting a lot of pressure on: Open your schools in the fall.”
  • States across the country clearly have different ideas for how they will move forward with Alabama laying the groundwork for in-class and online learning, Florida moving forward with plans for schools to reopen next month, and Washington state laying out a plan that allows children of color to go back to school first.

5. Ivey giving money to nursing homes for testing

  • Governor Kay Ivey will be using $18.27 million of the CARES Act funding that the state received to get coronavirus testing for those living and working in nursing homes, which Ivey said “we must do everything possible to contain the spread within their walls.”
  • The funding will be distributed by the Alabama Nursing Home Association Education Foundation. Ivey added “During the pandemic, it is critical we take care of our seniors and most vulnerable residents.”

4. Trump wants Bama

  • During the White House summit on reopening schools, University of Alabama System Chancellor Finis St. John was asked by President Donald Trump if “Alabama will be playing some great football?” Trump also asked, “What’s going on with Alabama?”
  • St. John told Trump that having football “creates great difficulties and complexities” but the University of Alabama is “planning to play the season.” Trump responded by saying, “Say hello to the coach. Great coach.”

3. 700,000 jobs supported in-state during coronavirus pandemic

  • The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a coronavirus national relief program, supported 700,000 jobs throughout Alabama, according to the Small Business Administration, which announced that 65,806 PPP loans were distributed across the state. 
  • The SBA also revealed that 82% of the small business payroll was covered by PPP loans, and the loans totaled about $6.2 billion. Across the country, $521.48 billion in PPP loans was paid out, which protected 51,125,937 jobs.

2. Fauci supports statewide mask orders

  • During a live-stream event with U.S. Senator Doug Jones (D-AL), Director of the National Institutes for Allergies and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci discussed the coronavirus in Alabama and throughout the country, and while there isn’t a statewide mask order in Alabama, Fauci voiced support for one.
  • Fauci said that “a statewide mask order is important because there is variability in people taking seriously or even understanding the benefit of masks.” Fauci did clarify that he doesn’t support a nationwide order, and he doesn’t think one will happen, either.

1. Deaths and hospitalizations are up

  • The latest projections from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington predict over 200,000 deaths for the United States and 3,443 deaths for the state of Alabama by November 1, but it suggests that number could be cut significantly if masks are worn consistently.
  • Obviously, this takes into account the increase in cases for the state of Alabama and the total hospitalizations in Alabama that continue to go up significantly with more than 100 people who have been hospitalized in Alabama in one day, bringing the total current hospitalizations to 1,016.

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