Coronavirus Tracker: May 18

US: Over 1.5M Cases - 91K Dead - 347K Recovered
Worldwide: Over 4.8M Cases - 317K Dead - 1.9M Recovered

U.S. Law Enforcement Deaths | NYPD Deaths: 41
Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 110+


 

Security Guard Deaths Spiking Globally
Globally, Security Officers Facing High COVID Death Rates
While many workers have been furloughed while their employers shut down during the pandemic, security employees in many cases have continued to work, guarding business assets, controlling retail shopping crowds and enforcing new COVID rules like wearing a mask, social distancing and store capacity limits, which put them at a close proximity to many people who may have been infected with the virus.

In the United States, Private Officer International, a private security and law enforcement organization, has been tracking security officer deaths since early March and have identified 110 security officer deaths as of May 16, 2020. A lack of Personal Protective Gear has been identified as part of the problem, both here in the U.S. and abroad.

The Office for National Statistics of England and Wales published their latest figures regarding COVID-19 death by occupation, revealing a high death rate in the security sector. Men working as security guards had one of the highest rates, with 45.7 deaths per 100,000 (63 deaths).

South Africa has reported more than 100 deaths of those working in the security industry.

India has also reported that security officers were perishing from the Covid-19 virus at a faster rate than other types of workers.

While other countries have also acknowledged that private security officers have both been infected with and died from the Covid-19 virus, they have not publicly released any statistical data. privateofficer.com

Guards Are 'Just Enforcing' the COVID-19 Measures
Demand for guard services surges in wake of COVID-19

Executives discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by the pandemic

Guard services, demand for which has been so substantial that, in many cases, firms are hiring thousands of new workers to fill the needed positions.

In fact, G4S recently announced that it plans to hire more than 15,000 employees across the nation over the next two months in response to the pandemic.

According to John Kenning, CEO, North America, at G4S, the company has seen a big upswing in demand for manned services in a number of different industries, such as retail banking (branches), healthcare, data centers, and retail.

Last month, Allied Universal also announced that it was looking to hire more than 30,000 security professional to fill positions across the nation amid the pandemic. Steve Jones, the company's Chairman and CEO, says that the most immediate impact of the virus was "administrative craziness" in that, during the early days of the outbreaks, their legal team was having to manage the various and often conflicting guidelines that were being handed down by local, state and federal authorities.

Balancing the requirements of various jurisdictions, both in the U.S. and abroad, has also been one of the challenges faced by G4S during the pandemic.

Both Allied Universal and G4S have created return to work programs to help end-users plan for the safe return of workers to offices and other facilities as lockdown restrictions across the country begin to ease.

"Fortunately, most Americans have been supportive," Jones says. "All security officers are doing is just enforcing what federal, state and local health officials are asking to keep everyone safe."

Kenning says their officers have also been called upon to help organizations enforce social distancing rules, particularly in healthcare.

Lasting Impacts from the Pandemic

Long-term, Jones believes the precautions that have been put in place thus far to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will be here to stay for the foreseeable future.

We have always said the security industry is recession resistant. We are not recession-proof, we get hurt just like everybody else, but you still need security and I think this pandemic has shown that the security industry is also disaster or pandemic resistant." securityinfowatch.com

Bad Guys Using the 'Old West' Masked Bandits For Hold-Ups
The coronavirus pandemic is making things easier for thieves in masks
There's a troubling new reality for law enforcement: Masks that have made criminals stand apart long before bandanna-wearing robbers knocked over stagecoaches in the Old West and ski-masked bandits held up banks now allow them to blend in like concerned accountants, nurses and store clerks trying to avoid a deadly virus.

Across the United States, masks have become more and more prevalent, first as a voluntary precaution and then as a requirement imposed by governmental agencies and businesses. And people with masks - as well as latex gloves - have found their way into more and more crime reports.

Just how many criminals are taking advantage of the pandemic to commit crimes is impossible to estimate, but law enforcement officials have no doubt the numbers are climbing. Reports are starting to pop up across the United States and in other parts of the world of crimes pulled off in no small part because so many of us are now wearing masks.

Before life in a pandemic, masked marauders had to free their faces immediately after leaving a bank or store to avoid suspicion once in the general public. But it came with the risk of being photographed and identified through omnipresent surveillance cameras and cellphones.

These days, they can keep the masks on and blend in easily with or without being "captured" in images. It's leaving law enforcement without a crucial crime-solving tool. businessinsider.com

Inmate Releases Tied to Increased Robberies?
Santa Ana, CA: PD Says Robberies Have Increased By 50% & Using Masks As Coverings
Police said they were not exactly sure why there has been such an increase in robberies, but said it could be related to the number of inmates released from area jails due to the pandemic.  cbslocal.com

Across The Pond Store Violence Rising
UK: Central England Co-op reports unacceptable rise in violent offences
Central England Co-op has described a rise in violent offences towards its shop workers, including people threatening to cough and spit on staff, as "totally unacceptable".

Incidents of verbal abuse have jumped from 11 per week to 24 in the past four weeks, which, in some cases, is over four times higher than the same period during 2019.

The retailer, which has more than 260 food stores and petrol stations across 16 counties, has been forced to repeat a plea for its teams to be treated with "care, compassion and respect" after it recorded a rising trend of verbal abuse and threats while the nation has been in lockdown and faced social distancing measures when out shopping for food and essentials. talkingretail.com
 

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Government Guidelines

Employee Temperature and Health Screenings - A List of Statewide Orders, as of May 15, 2020
This post, current as of May 15, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. (CDT), covers statewide laws and orders that require employers to take employees' temperatures and/or conduct other employee health screening procedures, such as asking employees about any COVID-19-consistent symptoms using a questionnaire or checklist. jdsupra.com

CDC Releases Guidelines for Reopening Workplaces
The CDC posted six one-page "Decision Tool" documents on its website that use traffic signals and other graphics to guide businesses on how to safely reopen.

The agency had also prepared even more extensive guidance -- about 57 pages of it -- that has not been posted.

That longer document would give different organizations specifics about how to reopen while still limiting the spread of the virus, including by spacing workers or students 6 feet apart and closing break rooms and cafeterias to limit gatherings. Many of the suggestions already appear on federal websites, but they haven't been presented as reopening advice.  foxnews.com

FEMA Releases Guidelines for Opening Up America Again

Framework for a half-day workshop intended to help companies consider all contingencies when deciding how to reopen.

FEMA has developed an Exercise Starter Kit with sample documents your organization can use to conduct your own planning workshop to navigate the complexities of returning to full operations during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The Exercise Starter Kit includes a sample facilitator guide and conduct slides that are designed to be adapted and customized for your own needs. Suggested discussion questions for the workshop build upon reconstitution planning principles and relevant White House guidance for employers included in the Guidelines for Opening Up America Again. fema.gov

FDA Outlines Best Practices for Re-Opening Retail Food Businesses
During COVID-19
While the new checklist is not comprehensive, it can help retail food establishments to consider their business' readiness to reopen by posing important questions related to food safety and COVID-mitigation efforts.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published two documents to help retail food establishments prepare to reopen after being closed or partially closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A checklist can help retail food establishments to consider their business' readiness to reopen after being closed by posing important questions related to food safety and COVID-mitigation efforts. Topics include:

An infographic is also available, which emphasizes key practices that retail food establishments can implement and maintain as they reopen. The infographic can be displayed for employees to regularly access the information. It will soon be available in Spanish and simplified Chinese. cstoredecisions.com
 

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Temperature Checks - Masks For Everyone - Social Distancing - Occupancy Limits
Apple details its plan to safely reopen retail stores - 25 This Week
More than 80 percent of Apple's 510 stores worldwide remain closed, but the company plans to reopen 25 more stores in the US, 12 in Canada, and 10 in Italy over the next week.

Apple's head of retail Deidre O'Brien says temperature checks will be conducted and all staff and customers will be required to wear face coverings. Apple will provide coverings to customers who don't have their own, and will enforce social distancing rules with a limited number of people in the store at once. "In every store, we're focused on limiting occupancy and giving everybody lots of room, and renewing our focus on one‑on‑one, personalized service at the Genius Bar and throughout the store," O'Brien writes. theverge.com

Unpaid Rent Forces Triple Five Group to Ask For Help
Mall of America Asks For Public Assistance Help to Recover
Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, said Friday that the mall wants to use money from tax subsidy districts - intended for its future expansion - to offset "a huge financial problem" due to unpaid rent. The exact amount is unclear, though city records show about $80 million is available.

While the mall is planning to reopen for shopping on June 1, it's not yet clear when it will be able to resume operations at Nickelodeon Universe and in-person dining at its restaurants.

The city of Bloomington and its House delegation oppose using that money to prop up the mall. startribune.com

TJ Maxx Packs Them in!
Off-Price Won't Be Hurting

Where's the Social Distancing?

TJ Maxx Store Packed on May 10th
1st Day Re-Opened in North Central Arkansas 

footwearnews.com

 

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Countdown Begins For JC Penney

Penney's Files Chapter 11 Friday
JCPenney Receives Court Approval of "First Day" Motions
to Support Business Operations
Additional information regarding JCPenney's financial restructuring is available at www.jcprestructuring.com. businesswire.com

Only Has 60 Days To Get Support & Closing 242 Stores
Penney's Sets 7/15 Deadline to Secure Support From Lenders or Start Liquidation

CNBC earlier reported that Penney's plans to close approx. 242 of its 846 stores.

Some 70 percent of Penney's lenders have agreed to support a restructuring proposal that would reduce "several billion dollars in indebtedness."

Plans also call to split the company into two separate publicly traded entities, one being a real estate investment trust. Penney has "significant unencumbered real property" worth up to $1.4 billion, according to the retailer's lawyers.

According to court documents, if two-thirds of its bankruptcy lenders don't consent to an "acceptable business plan" by July 15, Penney must "immediately cease pursuing the plan" and instead pursue a sale of assets. retailwire.com  retaildive.com
 

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IKEA Snapping Up U.S. Shopping Malls
IKEA's shopping malls arm Ingka Centres plans U.S. entry in 'major play'
IKEA's shopping malls business, one of the world's biggest, is looking to enter the United States in the next couple of years and is in talks to snap up central properties in major cities. Ingka Centres, which has 45 shopping centres in Europe, Russia and China, in several negotiations for inner-city real estate, with New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago locations high on their wish list. reuters.com

 

Senior LP & AP Jobs Market

VP, Profit Improvement posted for Tractor Supply in Nashville, TN
This position will be responsible for leading all aspects of profit improvement including strategy development; education of senior leadership on continuous improvement theory, methods, and implementation; prioritization of projects and resources; proactively identifying, quantifying, and tracking the realization of benefits associated with strategic, operational efficiency initiatives; development of key metrics and reporting cadence; supporting functional teams in developing detailed integration workplans; identifying cross functional dependencies and key milestones; and providing visibility and insights to executive leadership and the Board of Directors. tractorsupply.icims.com

 

NY State Begins Opening in Phase 1 in 5 Regions

Dillard's Opened 45 on 5/5 & 80 on 5/12 = 149 Total Re-Opened, to Re-Open 121 this week

Domestic Violence Calls Mount as Restrictions Linger: 'No One Can Leave'

Target extends $2-an-hour coronavirus pay bump through July 4

Pandemic boosts QVC and Home Shopping Network's audience numbers

NYC Ban on Drug Testing Job Applicants Takes Effect


Quarterly Results
SmileDirectClub Q1 sales up 11%
Denny's Q1 comp's down 6.3%, revenue down 36%
VF Q4 revenue down 11%, full yr. revenue up 2%
   Vans Global Q4 down 7%, full yr. up 10%
   The North Face Global Q4 down 14%, full yr. up 3%
   Timberland Global Q4 down 19%, full yr. up 6%
   Dickies Global Q4 down 3%, full yr. up 3%
Dillard's Q1 total sales down 47%

Last week's #1 article --

Birmingham, AL: Off-duty officer body-slams upset Walmart shopper who refuses to wear mask in store
An Alabama woman who was body-slammed last week at a Walmart in Birmingham by an off-duty police officer after refusing to wear a face mask and allegedly acting disorderly is facing criminal charges, police say, and the officer is under investigation.

The charges for the unidentified woman and the inquiry into the unnamed officer, who was working security for the store, are the result of a widely watched Facebook video showing the masked officer slamming the woman to the ground. washingtonpost.com