Media Relations Office

The U.S. Department of Labor is expected to release figures for April’s unemployment rate on Friday. Russell Weaver, an economic geographer predicts data for New York state will show an unemployment rate of around 13%.

Industrial and Labor Relations

New York State

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As the nation looks to re-open, contact tracers will be needed to track and halt the spread of COVID-19. Gen Meredith, an expert in public health assessment, intervention development and workforce capacity building explains contact tracing and its importance.

Health, Nutrition & Medicine

New York State

New York City

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Experts at Cornell University are available to discuss the coronavirus: what we know about the way it spreads, what countries should do to minimize threat to public health.

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COVID-19 presents challenges not only to public health but also to the way our societies function. Social distancing, remote work and businesses closures are changing the way we communicate with each other and posing important questions about how to protect under served populations and overall mental health. 

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Whether it’s to reduce anxiety or get active outside, gardening is great activity during the COVID-19 crisis. Horticulturalists Steve Reiners and Bobbie Kuhlman offer advice for starting a garden this spring.

Food & Agriculture

Agriculture and Life Sciences

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President Trump suggested states should seriously consider reopening their public schools before the end of the academic year, even though many have already said it would be unsafe for students to return to school before next fall. Lee Adler, an expert on education and academic union issues says until widespread testing is available across the country it’s not safe for schools to reopen.

Industrial and Labor Relations

New York State

New York City

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Essential workers at online and brick-and-mortar stores have been increasingly vocal with dissatisfaction about how their employers have treated them during the pandemic. Employees at Target and Amazon, among others, are planning mass “sick-outs” to protest what they perceive as management’s disregard for their health and safety. Angela Cornell and Patricia Campos-Medina comment on how the government and consumers must step up to safeguard workers. 

Economics and Business

Industrial and Labor Relations

Law School

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Spring is here and being outdoors is important, especially in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic – but it’s important to remember both ticks and people are active outside. Laura Harrington and Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann offer important tips on tick awareness and how prevent their bites while enjoying the outdoors. 

Agriculture and Life Sciences

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The coronavirus pandemic is putting significant pressure on some retailers to expand their workforce and adapt to growing demands for essential goods, such as pharmacy products, food, and take out dining. Companies like Walmart, CVS and Amazon, have all announced plans to hire tens, sometimes hundreds of thousands of new employees. Patricia Campos-Medina, is co-director of the New York State/AFL-CIO Union Leadership Institute at Cornell University’s ILR School. She says that at this critical time, we need to demand more than just an increase in jobs.

Industrial and Labor Relations

Economics and Business

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On Wednesday, as effects of the coronavirus pandemic started hitting the U.S. job market, the Senate approved an emergency stimulus package to help businesses avoid mass layoffs. Cornell University economists, Paul Davis and Ian Greer are available to discuss the package, in particular, the measures taken to control unemployment. They also offer some perspective on what businesses and the government could do to further ease the effects of massive layoffs.

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