APCO Worldwide's Coronavirus Beat is a weekly publication on the impact of COVID-19 on businesses, economies, policy and culture, and how leaders are responding. The next newsletter will appear Tuesday, September 15.
Have a comment about this newsletter? We welcome your feedback.
Business & Economic Impact
1. Shopify, now worth USD 117 billion, is one of the biggest pandemic successes since the pandemic forced many small businesses to transition to e-commerce, The Wall Street Journal
2. The Czech Republic aims to avoid imposing strict limitations on public life and business to avert another economic shock despite a jump in cases, Reuters 3.With a looming no-trade deal Brexit and a lingering pandemic, the economic impact of both shocks building on each other is concerning European leaders, BBC
Global Policy
1. Yoshihide Suga, Japan’s frontrunner for prime minister, said coronavirus would be top priority, and stressed he would follow the economic policies of his predecessor, Reuters
2.Faith in the Australian government's handling of the coronavirus is declining, with voters concerned that state and federal governments are not working well together, The Guardian 3. The post-COVID policy environment may usher in a transition from a decade of aggressive monetary policy to more inventive fiscal policy and supply side reforms, Forbes
Control Measures
1. Boris Johnson announced a "rule of six" on all social gatherings in England effective September 14, stressing new measures are meant to avert another lockdown, The Guardian
2.Japanese robot makers are developing “collaborative robots” that can work side by side with people on production lines, helping workers keep distanced, Nikkei Asian Review 3. The Canadian government extended travel bans and quarantine restrictions until at least September 30 to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Forbes
Worth Noting
1. The latest projections from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation indicate that COVID-19 deaths in the northern hemisphere could rise significantly in the winter, Bloomberg
2.UN officials warned that funding and COVID-19 complications have stymied relief efforts in food-deprived conflict areas, pushing them into famine, The New York Times 3.The COVID-19 pandemic is pushing governments to introduce a digital identity system, as people migrate to the virtual world during lockdowns, The Economist
On Tuesday, September 15, APCO Worldwide is hosting a webinar with Former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and APCO colleagues. Amidst the chaos and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the upcoming elections, and the increasing importance of moving people and goods safely, the panel will discuss transportation and infrastructure priorities, critical legislation, as well as and equity and equality in rebuilding the United States.
Join the webinar on Tuesday, September 15 at 10:30 AM ET, with time for open discussion, questions and observations. RSVP here.
Some Positive News
Tackling waste: Online communities in Japan are working to tackle problems created by the increased use of disposable items during the pandemic, The Japan Times
Entrepreneurial farms: Innovative small farms around the world are capitalizing on the surge in demand for local produce triggered by COVID-19, The New York Times
Cycling boom: Facing public transport limitations due to the pandemic, Filipinos adopted cycling, leading the government to invest in infrastructure, The Straits Times
‘Really diabolical’: Inside the coronavirus that outsmarted science, The Wall Street Journal
Quotables
"This virus is not disappearing. It has now become part of our daily lives. It will still be here in three years and we have to find a way to live with it. However, it is really important to stop superspreading events where many people gather together as those can cause large outbreaks. We know that social distancing, not gathering in big groups and covering your face can have a profound impact on the infection. These are simple measures that can help stop the spread if you have large levels of infection."
- Professor Hendrik Streeck, Director of the Institute of Virology at the University of Bonn
The APCO team is working with clients globally to manage this crisis, and we stand ready to support your needs. For more resources from APCO, including our latest research, information on how we can help or to contact us, visit apcoworldwide.com/coronavirus.
About Coronavirus Beat
Coronavirus Beat is a bulletin of updates and clippings from the most relevant media and government sources created to help APCO’s clients keep abreast of the impacts of COVID-19 from around the world. APCO is supporting clients in managing the issues they confront related to the outbreak. Contact our crisis team at Crisis360@apcoworldwide.com or +1.866.360.APCO (toll-free) or +1.866.483.2726 (outside the United States).
APCO Worldwide is an advisory and advocacy communications consultancy helping leading public and private sector organizations act with agility, and build organizational reputations, brands, relationships and solutions to succeed. APCO has offices in more than 30 major cities throughout the world. To find out how APCO’s integrated services can help your company, visit apcoworldwide.com.
