In order to keep you informed on the evolving impact of COVID-19 on our local community, the Plano Chamber will be publishing updates on Mondays and Thursdays as the Business Bulletin. We will share the top news items that you need to read to stay up-to-date on important health, community, and business issues as they develop.

July 27, 2020

FEDERAL

• The Senate GOP are set to unveil their proposal today for another round of federal aid for the Coronavirus crisis.  The Republican package is expected to include a lower federal unemployment benefit of $200 per week (currently $600), setting the stage for difficult negotiations to find common ground before their August recess.
• The final stage of testing kicks off today for one of the frontrunners in the race to develop a vaccine for COVID19.  This phase is called Phase 3 efficacy testing, and it is designed to see if the vaccine actually prevents disease. 30,000 volunteers will participate in the study that could see results this fall.

STATE

• Texas is beginning to see cases plateau, a good sign that Governor Abbott’s statewide mask mandate is working to prevent the rapid spread of COVID19 that the State experienced in July.  Scientists caution that continued mask wearing and other social distancing measures are still necessary.
• Nearly 3 million Texans have filed for unemployment relief since mid-March.

REGIONAL/LOCAL

• Nearly half of Plano ISD opted for fully remote learning when campuses reopen.