News Round Up
July 2020 – Top News in the Security and Risk Industry and Grants
There’s a lot going on in the world of physical risk and vulnerability; it’s nearly impossible to keep up with the latest news and developments. We’ll keep you informed with the best content to keep your organization safe and secure. Check out the top news and headlines from the past month.
U.S. reaches 3 million COVID-19 cases
From NBC: The U.S. has reached a milestone that seemed unthinkable just a few months ago — the 3 millionth case of coronavirus. There were 3,000,012 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of 11 p.m.Tuesday and around 10 percent of those (317,654) were reported since July 1, figures compiled by NBC News showed. Meanwhile, the death toll was 131,661 and rising as the pandemic maintained a tragic trajectory.
Our take: Many states are continuing to reopen and ease restrictions. As states prepare to go back to school, this peak in cases is a reminder that the hot weather this summer has not slowed the spread of Covid. Only precautions can do that. Wear your mask, take proper precautions with staff and customers, and be sure your employees are protected. States and businesses might be reopening, but Covid-19 is still with us.
NRF calls on retailers to set nationwide mask policy
From The National Retail Federation: The National Retail Federation issued a statement on July 15 encouraging all retailers to adopt a nationwide policy that requires customers to wear face coverings or masks to protect the health and well-being of customers, associates and partners during the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement came the same day that Walmart announced it will be enforcing a policy requiring customers to wear a mask to shop in their stores.
Our take: Masks are a critical safety precaution when it comes to keeping both employees and customers safe during this pandemic. In fact, Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently released a statement calling cloth face coverings one of the most powerful weapons we have to fight Covid-19, particularly when they’re worn by everyone in a community. So requiring customers to wear a mask in your establishment is an important step in fighting the virus and protecting your employees and shoppers.
GSX 2020 converted to an online event
From SecurityInfoWatch: The Global Security Exchange (GSX) became the latest security tradeshow to cancel its in-person event in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic as ASIS International announced that the conference, which had previously been scheduled to take place Sept. 21-23 in Atlanta, would become a fully virtual event. The virtual conference, renamed Global Security Exchange Plus, will take place online from Sept. 21-25
Our take: While we at Circadian Risk will miss roaming the exhibition floor at GSX and seeing the latest innovations in physical security, we understand the wisdom behind taking this year’s GSX online. If anyone who hoped to network with us at GSX wants to get in touch, they can always reach out here.
Why Visitor Management is Critical for Business Continuity During and Post-COVID-19
From Security Magazine: Companies need to perform due care to protect their workforce from COVID-19 during and post-lockdown periods. But they also need to allow their employees, contractors and visitors onto their premises while being fully accountable for everyone’s health and safety. A visitor management system can help them do that.
Our take: Now more than ever it’s important to know who has been on your site, when they’ve been there, and who they’ve been in contact with. Visitor management systems are a vital way to keep track of the people who’ve come to your site — and keep their information on file.
July’s Top Security Grants
National Institute of Corrections: The goal of this cooperative agreement is to develop a Correctional Case Management Model for Jails curriculum, where each interaction with, or on behalf of an inmate is documented in a file with a standardized format. The successful applicant must be an expert in curriculum design who will work with the subject matter experts identified by the Project Manager. Grant closes: August 3. The National Science Foundation: This Security and Preparedness (SAP) Program supports basic scientific research that advances knowledge and understanding of issues broadly related to global and national security. Research proposals are evaluated on the criteria of intellectual merit and broader impacts; the proposed projects are expected to be theoretically motivated, conceptually precise, methodologically rigorous, and empirically oriented. Substantive areas include (but are not limited to) international relations, global and national security, human security,political violence, state stability, conflict processes, regime transition, international and comparative political economy, and peace science. Grant closes: Aug 17. Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response: This grant, announced on the behalf of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, (BARDA), is a response to the COVID-19 epidemic. BARDA is interested in proposals from businesses related to COVID-19 tests, vaccines, therapeutics and manufacturing technologies. Grant closes: Oct. 31. |
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