Media Coverage

In the U.S., we are not seeing any specific localized disruption yet, although I’m watching New Jersey where it could be on the cusp. There are a lot of manufacturing facilities there in pharmaceuticals and chemicals, and therefore that’s an area I think we should be paying attention to. Globally, of course we are seeing Italy shut down. China was shut down, and it appears to be recovering now, but again I think it is too early to say if the epidemic has passed even in China.

Anyone who has bought a book on Amazon. com or made other online purchases is familiar with the message: “Only 2 left in stock—order soon.”

In the space of 25 days, North Carolina’s coronavirus cases went from zero to more than 1,000 — and two local experts say it’s unrealistic to think the disease’s reach will slow dramatically in the next month. On Saturday, the state saw its fifth straight day of triple-digit increases. More than three-quarters of the state’s 100 counties have at least one case. As of Saturday afternoon, at least four North Carolina residents had died from the virus.

As operationsengineers who focus on how these supply chains work, we know that even in the best of times, the U.S. drug supply chain is relatively fragile. Shortages regularly occur, and the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to further disrupt a system that patients depend on, sometimes for life or death.

During the coronavirus pandemic, our smartphones have become a lifeline, keeping us connected, informed, sane, employed, and socially distant. But they are also emerging as necessary tools to keep us safe and healthy. Smartphones’ cameras and sensors are increasingly turning them into fast, accurate, and low-cost devices for medical diagnosis—without their users ever needing to leave home.