Complete Story
03/12/2020
Coronavirus Update
We expect that most of you tuned into the President’s address last night regarding the coronavirus.
This email includes several reference links which describes the action being taken by the government and recommendations for employers. Feel free to circulate it to your colleagues.
Trump address to nation
President Trump addressed the nation regarding the ongoing COVID-19 situation and is taking further actions to curb the spread of coronavirus here in the United States. Also, President Trump announced an economic assistance package to help support businesses and workers, who have been harmed by the COVID-19 outbreak, and is calling on Congress to immediately pass payroll tax relief. More information on the President’s remarks can be found here.
Following the President’s remarks, the President issued a proclamation outlining the suspension of entry from the designated countries. In regards to cargo, the proclamation states, “The free flow of commerce between the United States and the Schengen Area countries remains an economic priority for the United States, and I remain committed to facilitating trade between our nations.”
Meeting with the Financial Services Industry
Yesterday, President Trump, Cabinet members, and senior White House officials met with leaders and executives from financial services companies and organizations to discuss how the industry can meet the needs of their customers who may be affected by COVID-19, particularly consumers and small businesses. More information and remarks from the President can be found here.
MOU
President Trump also signed a Presidential Memorandum directing his Cabinet to make general use face masks available to our healthcare workers. This is yet another decisive action to safeguard the health and safety of the American people, especially our Nation’s dedicated healthcare providers, during the COVID-19 public health emergency. More information on this announcement can be found here and text of the Memorandum can be found here.
DOL Offers Guidance for Preparing Workplaces for Coronavirus
The Department of Labor released practical guidance for how prepare workplaces for COVID-19. The guidance and more information can be found here.
CDC Guide for Community Mitigation Strategies
The CDC released a guide for businesses, communities, schools, healthcare facilities, and homes to mitigate transmission of COVID-19. This guide outlines possible mitigation strategies for communities dealing with transmission at three different levels: (1) None/Minimal, (2) Moderate, or (3) Substantial. Community mitigation strategies, which are non-pharmaceutical interventions, are often the most available interventions to help slow the transmission of COVID-19 in communities. The Mitigation Plan includes a set of actions that persons and communities can take to slow the spread of respiratory virus infections. The plan can be found here.
CDC to Award Over $560 Million to State and Local Jurisdictions
Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced upcoming action by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide resources to state and local jurisdictions in support of our nation's response to COVID-19. The $8.3 billion dollar Supplemental passed by Congress included statutory language which prescribed the exact formula for disbursing the money: states will receive 90% of their 2019 CDC PHEP grants. This marks the first tranche of funding to states from the $8.3 billion supplemental. Your state health officers are receiving a letter today from CDC outlining what is needed to receive the funding, essentially they need to submit a spend plan and they will receive guidance on what that spend plan should contain.
For more detailed information, please see background and the most up-to-date information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Coronavirus Disease 2019 website: HERE.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
What you should know:
- Workplace, School, and Home Guidance
- How COVID-19 Spreads
- Symptoms
- Prevention & Treatment
- Testing
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What to Do If You Are Sick with COVID-19
- Stigma Related to COVID-19
- What You Need to Know
- What to Do If You Are Sick with COVID-19
- Facts about COVID-19
- Information for People at Higher Risk and Special Populations
- Communication Resources
Situation Updates:
- Situation Summary
- Cases in the U.S.
- Global Locations with COVID-19
- Risk Assessment
- CDC in Action: Preparing Communities
Information for Businesses:
- Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers
- Information for Communities, Schools, and Businesses
- Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations – Community Facilities
- DOL: Guidance for Preparing Workplaces for Coronavirus
- DOL: OHSA Resources for Workers and Employers on COVID-19
- WHO: Get Your Workplace Ready for COVID-19
- CISA: Risk Management for COVID-19
- EPA: Disinfectants for Use Against COVID-19
Information for Travel and Transportation:
- Information for Travel
- Guidance for Ships
- Guidance for Airlines and Airline Crew
- State: Travel Advisories
- State: Traveler’s Checklist
- State: Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
- DOT: FAQs from FTA Grantees Regarding COVID-19
Information for Healthcare Providers, First Responders, and Research Facilities:
- Information for Healthcare Professionals
- Resources for State, Local, Territorial and Tribal Health Departments
- Resources for Healthcare Facilities
- Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with COVID-19 or Persons Under Investigation in Healthcare Settings
- Information for Laboratories
- Resources for First Responders
- Guidance for Nursing Homes
- Guidance for Public Health Professionals Managing People with COVID-19 in Home Care and Isolation Who Have Pets or Other Animals
- FAQs and Considerations for Patient Triage, Placement and Hospital Discharge
- What Law Enforcement Personnel Need to Know
- Guidance for Homeless Shelters
- Guidance for Hemodialysis Facilities
- CMS: Information on COVID-19 and Current Emergencies
- CMS: Guidance for Hospice Agencies
- CMS: Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act Requirements and Implications Related to COVID-19
- CMS: FAQs for State Survey Agency and Accrediting Organizations
- EPA: Disinfectants for Use Against COVID-19
Information for Families and Households:
- Information on COVID-19 for Pregnant Women and Children
- Interim Guidance for Household Readiness
- Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations for U.S. Households
- Guidance for Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in Homes and Residential Communities
- FAQ: COVID-19 and Children
- EPA: Disinfectants for Use Against COVID-19
Information for Schools and Childcare Providers:
- Interim Guidance for Administrators of U.S. Childcare Programs and K-12 Schools
- Resources for Institutes of Higher Education
- Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations – Community Facilities
- USDA: USDA Makes It Easier, Safer to Feed Children in California Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
- DOEd: Resources for Schools and School Personnel
- EPA: Disinfectants for Use Against COVID-19
Information for Community Events and Gatherings:
- Interim Guidance for Mass Gatherings and Large Community Events
- Interim Guidance for Community- and Faith-Based Organizations
- EPA: Disinfectants for Use Against COVID-19
Information for Military Response: