Headline News

COVID-19 News Updates for November 16, 2020

coronavirus_1_19

HHS Secretary Azar Statement on Moderna Vaccine Announcement (HERE)

This Week in Operation Warp Speed (HERE)

Promising Interim Results from Clinical Trial of NIH-Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (HERE)

October 2020 ACIP Meeting – Post-Authorization Safety Monitoring Plans (HERE)

#COVIDdesignathon | Keynote Address from Dr. Deborah Birx (HERE)

IRS Criminal Investigation releases Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Report; Identifies $2.3 Billion in Tax Fraud (HERE)

Keep Your Recovery Options Open with Help from SBA (HERE)

SBA Announces New Reduced 504 Loan Debenture Rates (HERE)

Statement on ByteDance and TikTok by Treasury Spokesperson Monica Crowley (HERE)

U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA Announces $2,856,533 In Coronavirus Violations (HERE)

ICYMI: U.S. Department of Labor Acts to Help American Workers and Employers During the Coronavirus Pandemic (HERE)

Gloucester County, New Jersey, Farm Pays Employee Back Wages For Wrongly Denying Paid Sick Leave After Coronavirus Diagnosis (HERE)

U.S. Department of Commerce Continues to Invest Cares Act Funding to Boost Economic Development Programs Critical to Helping Communities Respond to Coronavirus (HERE)

·       EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program, provides a wide-range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. For complete information, please visit EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance page.

IRS to Mask Key Business Transcript Details; Protect Taxpayers from Identity Theft (HERE)

U.S. Departments of Labor, Commerce and Education Sign Six Party Joint Declaration of Intent with Germany (HERE)

Air Travel Consumer Report: August 2020 Numbers (HERE)

Trump Administration Invests $11.3 Million in High-Speed Broadband in Rural Alaska (HERE)

FHA Publishes Annual Report to Congress on the Single Family Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund (HERE)

VA, America Salutes You partner to Bring Attention to Suicide Prevention Resources (HERE)

VA Recruiting Volunteers for COVID-19 Clinical Trials (HERE)

VA Confirms Authority for Its Health Care Professionals to Practice Across State Lines (HERE)

DOD Awards $6.18 Million Contract to Medline Industries, Inc. to Increase Domestic Production Capacity of Surgical Masks (HERE)

Mental Health–Related Emergency Department Visits among Children Aged <18 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic (HERE)

Risk Assessment and Management of COVID-19 among Travelers Arriving at Designated U.S. Airports (HERE)

Recovery Resources

Recovery Hub: Explore available SBA assistance and funding programs, Coronavirus relief, and other financing options and tools to keep your business going.More information can be found here and below.

Economic Response Timeline: The U.S. Department of the Treasury is leading the response to COVID-19 by providing fast and direct economic assistance for American workers, families, and small businesses and preserving jobs for American industries.More information can be found here.

Assistance for Farmers, Ranchers, and Rural America

Assistance for Small Businesses

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): The Paycheck Protection Program established by the CARES Act, is implemented by the Small Business Administration with support from the Department of the Treasury.  The Paycheck Protection Program is providing small businesses with the resources they need to maintain their payroll, hire back employees who may have been laid off, and cover applicable overhead. On June 6, 2020, President Trump signed legislation providing more flexibility and relief for small businesses, including extending the covered period for loan forgiveness from 8 weeks after the date of loan disbursement to 24 weeks and lowering the requirements that 75% of a borrower’s loan proceeds must be used for payroll costs to 60%. More information can be found below:

Current law dictates that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) close at the end of August 8, 2020. As such, SBA is no longer accepting PPP applications from participating lenders.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans & Advance Program: In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, small business owners and non-profit organizations in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories are able to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).  EIDL is designed to provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation to health care benefits, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments.

SBA Express Bridge Loans: Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program allows small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly. These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing and can be a term loans or used to bridge the gap while applying for a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster loan. If a small business has an urgent need for cash while waiting for decision and disbursement on an Economic Injury Disaster Loan, they may qualify for an SBA Express Disaster Bridge Loan.

Assistance for American Workers and Families

American Workforce Policy Advisory Board – Call to Action: The American Workforce Policy Advisory Board has released a call-to-action to help the millions of workers who need assistance now, and build the resilient and agile workforce of the future powered by skilled American workers. Specific actions:

Find Something New: FindSomethingNew.orgcan help workers of all ages and backgrounds identify the right path for their career goals by recommending multiple educational pathways, providing aptitude testing, offering a directory of critical resources for child care, food assistance, internet access and more. Educational pathways featured include online learning, professional certification programs, associate’s degrees, and vocational, technical and trades education.

Economic Impact Payments: The CARES Act provides for Economic Impact Payments to American households of up to $1,200 per adult for individuals whose income was less than $99,000 ( or $198,000 for joint filers) and $500 per child under 17 years old – or up to $3,400 for a family of four. More information can be found here.

Preserving Jobs for American Industry: The CARES Act offers meaningful financial support to American businesses and job creators so they can better support employees and be prepared to get back to business as soon as possible. More information can be found here.

Supporting Child Care: The CARES Act provided an additional $3.5 billion to the Child Care and Development Block Grant to support families with child care options during this public health crisis. Additional information and State-level information can be found here.

Dislocated Worker Grants: The U.S. Department of Labor is providing Dislocated Worker Grants to prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19. State-by-State data and additional details can be found here.

Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions: On August 8th, 2020, President Trump signed an Executive Order to ensure Americans facing financial hardships due to the coronavirus do not face eviction or foreclosure.

School and Child Care Programs: The CDC and U.S. Department of Education continue to provide resources and tools for school administrators, teachers, parents, guardians, and caregivers as schools open this fall.

Assistance for Communities

CARES Act Recovery Assistance Grants: The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA)is awarding CARES Act Recovery Assistance Grants to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. These grants are being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program, which provides a wide-range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. For complete information, please visit the recently updated EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance page.

SPRINT Challenge: The Scaling Pandemic Resilience Through Innovation and Technology (SPRINT) Challenge will enable organizations across the country to address the economic, health, and safety risks caused by the coronavirus pandemic through entrepreneurship and innovation.

Opportunity Zones: Opportunity Zones were created under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump on December 22, 2017, to stimulate economic development and job creation, by incentivizing long- term investments in low-income neighborhoods. During the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump directed the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council to focus on underserved communities impacted by the virus. For more information, visit opportunityzones.gov.

How to Help

Donate COVID-19 Plasma

Donate Blood

Donate Supplies and Equipment

Sell Supplies and Equipment

Developing Medical Countermeasures

Other Forms of Help

For additional information, please visit FEMA’s website: www.fema.gov/coronavirus/how-to-help.

Guidelines for Opening Up America Again

President Trump has unveiled Guidelines for Opening Up America Again, a three-phased approach based on the advice of public health experts. These steps will help state and local officials when reopening their economies, getting people back to work, and continuing to protect American lives.

o   Washing Hands

o   Wearing Gloves

o   Practicing Social Distancing

o   Cleaning and Sanitizing Toys and Child Care Programs

o   Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Homes

o   Staying Safe at Aquatic Venues

o   Considerations for Bars and Restaurants

o   Wear a Mask to Protect You and Your Friends

o   Key Times to Wear a Mask

o   Symptoms of Coronavirus Disease 2019

o   COVID-19 Stop the Spread of Germs

o   Know Your Risk of Getting COVID-19

o   How to Wear a Mask

o   The Difference Between Quarantine and Isolation

o   Maintaining Heart Health in COVID-19

o   Emergency Care for Heart Disease in COVID-19

o   How to Clean and Disinfect Your Home if Someone has COVID-19

o   Shopping for Food and Other Household Essentials

o   I Think or Know I had COVID-19, and I had Symptoms. When Can I Be With Others?

o   Stay Safe At Summer Camp

o   Stop the Spread of Germs

o   Spending Time with Friends and Family Who Need to Take Extra Precautions

o   Visiting Friends and Family with Certain Medical Conditions

o   Stay Safe at the Pool and Beach

o   Considerations for Bars and Restaurants During COVID-19

o   How Did COVID-19 Get its Name?

o   Know How to Wear Your Face Mask Correctly

Operation Warp Speed

For the most up-to-date information, please see the CDC’s website: www.coronavirus.gov.