COVID-19 News for State, Local, and Tribal Leaders, 11/21/20 Update now and also granted medicine

3 min readNov 21, 2020

A quadcopter camera drone in flight. (Josh Sorensen)

Welcome to our weekly roundup of articles and resources for state, local, and tribal leaders creating policy to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic as well as steering the social and economic recovery for their communities. Postings below do not convey endorsement of any particular organization or opinion contained in links.

Army Picks Fitbit to Develop Wearable Presymptom COVID-19 Detectors

The health and wellness wearable company plans to use the award to partner with the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research to expand testing of its internally developed algorithm.

New President, Congress Must Help Indian Country Fight Coronavirus

The relief package in March was inadequate to meet the scope of the tragedy brought about by the pandemic.

Use COVID-19 To Build Back Better, Cities Told

The United Nations urged civic leaders to build more liveable urban centres better for public health, society, and the environment.

Some Areas of N.Y.C. Are Getting a Lot More Testing. Guess Which Ones.

Coronavirus tests are free, yet data show some wealthy neighborhoods are testing at nearly four times the rate of poor neighborhoods. Why?

Winning Trust for a Vaccine Means Confronting Medical Racism

The US has a long history of abusing minorities for pharmaceutical profit. Messaging for a Covid-19 inoculation will have to overcome that past.

COVID-19 Wastewater Testing Trials Yield Key Insights

Recent trial programs looking at the efficacy of testing wastewater to detect COVID-19 outbreaks have yielded important insights about how this method of testing can be used to improve public health, including providing an early indicator of infection that can be used to trigger advisories and recommendations.

The ‘Enrichment Gap’ Is Widening. Students’ Social-Emotional Development Is at Risk.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there’s been a lot of discussion about digital equity in U.S. public schools. But the virus has drastically expanded another gap that is key to children’s learning and wellbeing: out-of-school enrichment.

COVID-19 Melbourne: Authorities to Deploy Surveillance Drones to Catch People Not Wearing Masks

Authorities in Melbourne, Australia will deploy high-tech surveillance drones to catch people outside of their homes who are not wearing masks as well as to scan for vehicles that are in violation of curfew by being more than two miles from home. The drones will also be used to ensure skate parks and playgrounds remain empty.

10 Innovators Who Are Raising the Bar in the Fight Against COVID-19

Recognizing city leaders whose dedication and creativity have shined through the pandemic and continue to inspire.

Building on a Foundation of Digital Inclusion

When cities implemented social distancing measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, local officials around the world experimented with virtual engagement to reach residents and gather input. But with a gaping digital divide in many communities, doing so effectively isn’t easy. Aarhus, a municipality in Denmark of more than 300,000 residents, found success by building on a foundation of digital inclusion.

Readers: Show Us How 2020 Remapped Your World

Bloomberg CityLab invites readers to create a map of their domestic life, neighborhood or broader surrounding that reflects how their world has changed since COVID-19 began.

COVID-19 News for State, Local, and Tribal Leaders, 11/21/20 Update now and also granted medicine

The ‘Enrichment Gap’ Is Widening. Students’ Social-Emotional Development Is at Risk.

Written by Jibonsexy