COVID-19 Counsel from the College of Liberal Arts

April 15, 2020

In this new series, we collect various news articles that feature experts from the College of Liberal Arts giving insight into the current global COVID-19 crisis.

Editor’s note: In this new series, we collect various news articles that feature experts from the College of Liberal Arts giving insight into the current global crisis. The purpose of this series is to provide diverse perspectives on various aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic from experts in the college. The series will be shared weekly, so check back for the most up-to-date news.

N95 masks were $1.25 six weeks ago, now they’re $7-$11. Price gouging puts lives at risk. — Houston Chronicle

Featuring George Naufal, associate research scientist at PPRI

“Just six weeks ago, large academic hospital systems like mine paid $1.25 for an N95 mask. Simple in their design and manufacturing, these masks are an effective tool for keeping clinicians and patients safe from the transmission of infectious diseases. With COVID-19 pummeling the nation, procuring these masks has become one of the most important things we do in a day. Sadly, this same mask now costs hospitals between $7- $11 apiece. If a large hospital system needs one million of them, it will cost more than $7 million. And surgical masks? They used to cost 7 cents — now they’re about $3 a piece. Just when we need masks the most, price gouging is rampant.

This must end. Not only is it immoral, it is putting patients’ and health care workers’ lives at risk.”

SBA loans for local businesses taking more time than expected — KBTX

Featuring Dennis Jansen, professor in the Department of Economics

“Now, some relief is on the way in the form of $349 billion in emergency COVID-19 loans. But in a number of cases here in Texas, that money has yet to arrive for small business owners. Dennis Jansen, Director of the Private Enterprise Research Center at Texas A&M University, says it’s a complex issue.

‘You have to understand,’ Jansen explains, ‘the SBA is a small organization.’ He says processing over a quarter trillion dollars in loans is difficult with little warning time and limited preparation time.”

Pandemic Leaves Gulf’s Key Foreign Workers in Limbo — Bloomberg

Featuring George Naufal, associate research scientist at PPRI

“The situation is particularly precarious for low-income migrant laborers, who could be left destitute without government support. Charities have stepped in to fill the void in Qatar and Kuwait, but job losses will also affect other economies: the Gulf is now a crucial source of remittances for countries from Southeast Asia to North Africa.

The total amount of money sent home by migrant workers could be as high as twice the official number of $70 billionto $75 billion, said George Naufal, co-author of “Expats and the Labor Force: The Story of the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries.”

The expat population is ‘critical, and in some sectors it’s existentially important,’ Naufal said. ‘The idea that the local population is growing and it’s going to take over those available jobs is not really feasible.'”