The Western Governors' Association keeps you updated on the latest COVID-19 related news in the West. Here are the top stories for the week starting June 1, 2020. Photo courtesy of Colorado Public Radio.
Federal Aid: Small rural businesses are still fighting to get the financial aid they need, despite passage of the $2 trillion federal CARES Act. According to Route Fifty, unclear federal guidance has deterred many rural entrepreneurs from even applying for assistance. Additionally, a lack of requisite banking relationships means that the Paycheck Protection Program – the largest share of federal dollars available – is also out of reach for many. “The failure of the Paycheck Protection Program to reach rural businesses is the direct result of decades of bank disinvestment from rural communities across the country,” said Ines Polonius, CEO of Communities Unlimited. Read more about COVID-19’s impact on rural economies and watch WGA’s recent “COVID-19 Economic Impacts and Mitigation on Main Street” webinar.
Convalescent Plasma: Recently, the Food and Drug Administration made it easier for patients sick with COVID-19 to be treated with convalescent plasma, an antibody-rich part of blood thought to improve the odds of recovery. The Colorado COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project Consortium subsequently was formed to scale up the collection and distribution of plasma in the state, reports Colorado Public Radio. The collaboration, comprised of several hospital systems, including the Denver Health Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente Colorado Region, is the first regional collaboration of its kind in the U.S. “My hope is that we'll get some information and data from this and it'll help lead to more targeted therapeutic approaches and preventative approaches in the future,” said Dr. David Beckham of the University of Colorado Hospital. Learn more about how the treatment works.
Mass Testing: In preparation for phase two of Montana’s economic reopening plan, the state has begun conducting a mass testing blitz. Among those scaling up their efforts: The Native American community of Crow Agency, which recently tested almost 600 residents in a single day, according to Montana Public Radio. "You know, Montana’s going to open up to out-of-staters June 1. And so I’m thinking June 15, the latter half of June, we’re going to see some more cases, and so it’ll be helpful to be able to figure out what changed," said Esther Wynne, a Big Horn County public health nurse. "Have a baseline now and then we’ll compare it in the future." Here’s how the rest of the Treasure State is following their lead.
Graduating During a Pandemic: As the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered schools across the country and prompted the cancelation of events like prom, school trips and graduation parties, many students struggled to come to terms with the unorthodox manner in which their high school career was ending, reports WyoFile. While some schools opted for alternatives such as drive-in ceremonies, most agree that the feeling isn’t the same. “The one thing everyone looks forward to is senior spring. The entire second semester was supposed to be hanging out, having fun,” said Arundathi Nair of Wyoming’s Laramie High School. “But it sucks for everyone. It’s affecting a lot more people than we think.” Read more about how the coronavirus turned life upside down for the class of 2020.
Bicycle Boom: Toilet paper and hand sanitizer aren’t the only items in short supply. At the Fairbanks, Alaska-based Goldstream Sports, the shelves have been completely stripped of bicycles, as cooped-up residents look for new ways to keep themselves entertained in the age of social distancing, according to Alaska Public Media. Thankfully, cycling’s newfound popularity has helped sporting good stores like Goldstream weather the difficult economic times facing much of the country. “Right now, what I can definitely say is that I’m in much better shape than a lot of businesses,” said owner Joel Buth. “What the ramifications are as we go through summer… time will tell.” Find out how local businesses are fighting to keep up with the increasing demand.
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