Coronavirus Coverage

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As current and projected demand for added hospital beds to care for COVID-19 patients reaches dire levels in parts of the U.S., contractors are helping health care systems and governments explore a variety of ways to address the shortages.

The newly enacted $2-trillion stimulus package to ease the impact of the coronavirus outbreak has benefits for engineering and construction firms—and their client companies—through provisions for small-business loans and tax breaks, plus some funding. 

For design professionals, supporting the ongoing COVID-19 surge in the number of hospital beds needed is a matter of urgency. 

Six Bay Area counties announced Tuesday that most construction is to be halted due to a tightened, joint shelter-in-place order. Meanwhile, Los Angeles issues new site safety guidelines and additional site inspections based on public reports of violations.

Rules and fines linked to suspended work on most sites take effect March 31, according to the city buildings dept.