In the News
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March 26, 2020
When high-risk and disabled populations rely on overwhelmed delivery services and the people dropping off packages are put at a greater risk of contracting the coronavirus, is it the right time to buy non-essentials online? Daniel Jacobson, professor of philosophy, says not everything is a moral issue: “Everything is a tradeoff, and people need to focus on the important things rather than ephemera.”
CNBC -
March 25, 2020
“Local governments are on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis. Their actions will ultimately shape how well we can survive COVID-19 and its economic aftermath. … When we get through this public health crisis, if we do nothing to fix our broken system of funding local government, we will likely face multiple local fiscal health crises, and all the problems that will follow,” wrote Tom Ivacko, interim director of the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy, and Stephanie Leiser, a lecturer at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.
The Hill -
March 25, 2020
Andrew Wu, assistant professor of finance, and technology and operations, says the coronavirus impact on the supply chain is likely to be far greater than other events, like the Fukushima Daiichi power plant disaster and the Thailand tsunami, because it isn’t as geographically isolated: “We’re dealing with a moving target. This is one aspect that will compound the effect of this.”
Crain's Detroit Business -
March 25, 2020
With health care workers feeling as though they may have to rely on homemade masks, “there’s a lot of concern,” said Emily Martin, associate professor of epidemiology. “You can’t guarantee that a homemade face mask is going to be as safe as one that’s made by a medical supply company.” In addition to shortages of personal protection equipment, there’s a chance that Michigan hospitals won’t have enough beds to treat patients. “Every resource we have is being constrained and pushed as we prepare to take care of a large number of COVID patients,” said Vineet Chopra, associate professor of internal medicine.
Bridge Magazine -
March 24, 2020
Howard Markel, director of the Center for the History of Medicine, and professor of health management and policy, and of pediatrics and communicable diseases, says in times of catastrophe, doctors must decide how to maximize resources for the greatest social good: “Historical epidemics don’t count because they didn’t have intensive care, respirators or intravenous fluids. We’re all flying by the seat of our pants.”
Los Angeles Times -
March 24, 2020
“One of the things that we know about online learning and virtual instruction is that it can increase some of the gaps that we have in education, especially around equity issues of low socioeconomic status students and more affluent students,” said Liz Kolb, clinical associate professor of education, who points out that it will take time for special education teachers and support staff to understand how to meet students’ needs and how to do that virtually.
USA Today -
March 24, 2020
“We expect the next two to three weeks to be terrifying. All of those job losses that would normally occur over several months are going to occur over several weeks,” said Justin Wolfers, professor of economics and public policy. What’s not clear is whether there will be job losses beyond those expected in the next few weeks that are “directly attributable to social isolation,” he said.
CBS News -
March 23, 2020
While she supports the Trump administration’s plan to give checks to Americans to help alleviate financial hardship and boost the economy, Betsey Stevenson, professor of public policy and economics, says a payroll tax cut is not a good idea: “(It) is incredibly inequitable because it gives more to those who earn the most. So most important for today’s circumstances, it gives a lot to the people who continue to have big incomes.”
National Public Radio -
March 23, 2020
When not working means not being able to pay your bills, staying home and away from people to “flatten the curve” becomes a complicated decision, says Jon Zelner, assistant professor of epidemiology: “It is not an example of their moral or ethical failure, but instead a society and government that doesn’t understand that a strong social safety net is protective for all.”
CNBC -
March 23, 2020
Jenny Radesky, assistant professor of pediatrics, discussed ways that parents can manage the stress caused by unruly kids during the coronavirus lockdown: “Checking in with your emotions and making sure you’re dealing with them in a healthy way will be the first preventative step towards eliminating lots of kid arguments.”
CNN
