According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. has 605,390 confirmed cases and 24,582 deaths from COVID-19, the highest worldwide as of April 16 at 1:00 p.m.
Economy: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that shuttered factories, quarantines, and national lockdowns are leading to a sharp rise in unemployment and disruptions to supply chains. They projected that the global economy would contract by three percent and the American economy by six percent in 2020, which would be the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, according to CNBC. In response, governors of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island have been planning to form a coalition and a date for re-opening the economy.
Culture: Stay-at-home orders have forced many people to cook and eat at home. Restaurants have been closing around the country, many only offering delivery or drive-through services at the current time. The stay-home hiatus has led to many people using services like GrubHub, Postmates, or Instacart to get their food and groceries delivered. On the other hand, smaller local restaurants without financial safety nets are at the risk of never reopening.
Community: There have been numerous cases of COVID-19 in life care centers and homeless shelters across the country. Concerns have arisen since low-income seniors are highly vulnerable to COVID-19 and need assistance with various activities in daily life, which makes it almost impossible for them to socially distance themselves. They are exposed to the virus due to the crowded centers and the lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Health: Scientists are racing to find vaccines for COVID-19 and many have proceeded to be tested on humans now. For instance, Johnson & Johnson hopes to produce COVID-19 vaccinations by early 2021, and China has approved two coronavirus vaccines for human trials. A UK research team led by Sarah Gilbert, Oxford University vaccinology professor, has also stated that they are “80 percent confident that a vaccine for COVID-19 will be ready by September.”
Mass. COVID-19 Updates: Massachusetts currently has the third-highest number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., after New York and New Jersey. As of April 16, 2020, at 1:00 p.m., there are 55 cases of COVID-19 in the Town of Andover, 24 of which are active, confirmed cases. COVID-19 testing for residents in the Andover area is being offered at Lawrence General Hospital and the Holy Family Hospital Haverhill Campus.
