Local leaders will deliver America's communities through this crisis. That's why Bloomberg Philanthropies created the City Hall Coronavirus Daily Update, to elevate the critical information city leaders need to respond to and recover from the challenges at hand.

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How to master messaging when you're in the middle of a crisis

“You, more than anybody else, can get people to avoid getting—or giving—Covid-19.” That’s what former President Bill Clinton told the 140 mayors gathered online Thursday for the second learning and coaching session as part of the Coronavirus Local Response Initiative. “Your first job is to say, ‘Look: Nobody has to get this, so let’s stay home, and follow the basic rules.’”

But just how do you best get your message out in the middle of a crisis? That was the focus of yesterday’s session, which was open to all U.S. mayors and their teams and was led by professors from Harvard and Johns Hopkins universities.

Find Harvard professors’ crisis communication advice here.
Find slides on public-health guidance from Johns Hopkins’ Dr. Joshua Sharfstein and former CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden here.

Data tracker

John Hopkins' reported U.S. Covid-19 cases as of 8 a.m. EST on March 27.

85,996 total cases, up 16,799 from March 26.
1,300 total deaths, up 254 from March 26.

Find more up-to-date case counts and other critical information from the John Hopkins University's situation report and interactive map.

ACCESS FEDERAL DOLLARS: Bloomberg Philanthropies on Thursday announced a new set of supports for U.S. cities to help them better understand how to access and track the federal programs and funding mechanisms during the Covid-19 crisis. Check it out here.

LATEST CITY ACTIONS

A roundup of responses to the coronavirus crisis. See the
Covid-19: Local Action Tracker for more.

ECONOMIC CHALLENGES

Washington D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser says federal bailout shortchanges her city and that it’s “shocking,” “infuriating,” “wrong,” and “outrageous.”
Portland, Ore., passes a $2-million business relief fund that prioritizes small businesses owned by people of color and women.

GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

After four officers test positive for Covid-19, Boston sets new guidelines to protect its police force.
Kenosha, Wis., Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and Lansing, Mich., adjust trash and recycling procedures to ensure service while protecting employees.
The mayors of Hamilton, N.Y., and Northampton, Mass., test positive for Covid-19.
Minot, N.D., grants its mayors additional emergency powers during the crisis.
Miami holds its first virtual commission meeting and introduces three new methods of public participation.

CANCELLATIONS, CLOSINGS & SOCIAL DISTANCING

After urging residents to practice social distancing, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot s huts down the city's lakefront and riverwalk, while Charleston, W. Va., and Cañon City, Colo., take similar actions with outdoor spaces.
Los Angeles will cut water and power to businesses not complying with the city’s “safer at home” order.
After already shutting it parks, Louisville removes the rims on city basketball courts.

COMMUNICATIONS

Atlanta launches a new Covid-19 website that enables residents to sign up for text alerts and access emergency relief funding.
Anchorage, Alaska, shares information on cargo deliveries to discourage hoarding.
Charlottesville, Va., launches an online and on-air broadcast to update residents and provide. forum for them to ask Covid-related questions of city leaders.
The mayor of Gloucester, Mass., offers residents guidance for managing stress.

VULNERABLE POPULATIONS

Baltimore maps out its distribution sites for children and seniors to get free meals.

TESTING & MEDICAL

Jersey City, N.J., prepares drive-thru and walk-up testing sites for residents.

Daily inspiration: Seattle

Mayor Jenny Durkan raises a flag reading “We Got This Seattle” on top of the city’s iconic Space Needle Thursday.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES

Please suggest new resources for city leaders here.

GIFTS & GRANTS

What's in the $2 trillion Senate recovery bill.
No Kid Hungry is providing grants to schools and nonprofits offering meals for children.
Financial assistance for bar employees.
One Fair Wage is providing cash assistance to tipped and service workers through a new support fund.
Facebook Messenger is supporting government health organizations (Facebook)
U.S. Digital Response is matching data and digital service volunteers with local and state governments to assist with rapid response Covid-19 projects.
Music blog compiles list of emergency funding and resources for artists.
Free or reduced cost high-speed internet access (AT&T) (altice) (Charter Communications) (Comcast) (Cox) (Mediacom)
Forbes is curating a list of Covid-19 small business relief programs.
Facebook is offering small businesses cash grants and advertising credits.
Here's a U.S. map of local foundations that are setting up Covid-19 response funds in their communities. Local United Way efforts are being tracked here.
The U.S. Small Business Administration is relaxing criteria on Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million for impacted small businesses. Coordinate with your governor's office.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is distributing $560 million to state and local jurisdictions to support Covid-19 response.
For K-12 schools, Zoom is temporarily lifting the 40-minute time limit on its basic videoconferencing service.

CDC'S LATEST GUIDANCE FOR:

OTHER RESOURCES

NEW AARP Community Connections is a new platform that connects volunteer groups to support seniors. (AARP Innovation Lab)
NEW Collection of international city responses (Cities For Global Health)
NEW Ideas and resources for cities (Living Cities)
NEW Emergency Procurement Recommendations (Open Government Partnership)
NEW Testing in the U.S. (CDC)
PPE burn rate calculator (CDC)
Urban Health Vulnerability Index (RS21)
Disaster distress help line expands services to counsel people through Covid-19 (SAMHSA)
Latest Covid-19 research information (National Institutes of Health)
A modeling tool to project Covid-19 impact by state (Covid Act Now)
50-state roundup of “shelter-in-place” orders (WIRED)
Tips on effectively communicating during video conferencing (PCMag) (Information Age) (The Verge)
UrbanLeap is helping leaders in city hall connect to share ideas and questions (Chief Innovation Officers) (city managers)
Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication manual (CDC)
Public Health On Call Podcast (Johns Hopkins University)
Resources for hospitals and healthcare professionals preparing for patients (CDC)
What mayors need to know (Mayors Innovation Project)
Resources for Colorado cities (Colorado Municipal League)
Resources for California cities (League of California Cities)
Local Government Response and Resource Bank (What Works Cities)
Crowdsourced local government response resources (ELGL)
Support for public servants (Apolitical)
Resources for local leaders (National League of Cities)
What mayors need to know (US Conference of Mayors)
Fact sheets, posters & free communications resources (CDC)
State response bank (NCSL) (AEI)
Resources for nonprofits (Chronicle of Philanthropy)
50-state school closure list (Education Week)