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COVID-19: Information & Resources

Many resources are now available about COVID-19 and State and Federal legislation and programs to deal with health and business-related issues.  We hope the following information and links will be helpful.

National 

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Social Security Administration
Coronavirus.gov
Whitehouse.gov
USFA.FEMA.gov

NFSA COVID-19 Page

New Jersey 

Office of the Governor 
NJ COVID-19 Information Hub
BusinessNJ.gov 
NJ Department of Community Affairs – Bureau of Local Government Services
Department of Health – Schools & Businesses
 Department of Health – Main Page

NJ Department of Labor FAQ for NJ Workers

New Jersey Legislation & Programs

Short-Term Rental Assistance Program
This program will help residents affected by COVID-19 providing at least $100 million in temporary rental assistance for low- to moderate-income households, including the homeless or those at risk of homelessness.
 
Health and Safety Grants for Child Care Centers and Youth Camps
Child care centers can receive up to $5k and campos up to $2k in grants. In addition the Emergency Child Care Assistance Program (for essential employees) will continue through June 30 but applications will not be accepted after June 1.
 
Temporary Extention of Deadlines for Property Tax Appeals and Decisions
Legislation was signed that temporarily extends the deadline to file a property tax appeal to July 1, 2020, and the deadline for county boards of taxation to render decisions in tax appeal cases to September 30, 2020. The bill takes effect immediately and applies retroactively to April 1, 2020.
 
Guidelines on Graduations Updated
Drive-through/drive-in ceremonies may be held immediately and do not need DOE certification. Guidelines now available regarding commencement ceremonies to honor 2020 graduates during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
 
Professional Sports Guidelines
Pursuant to Executive Order No. 148, Governor Murphy noted that professional sports teams which train or play in New Jersey are allowed to practice and engage in games or matches, if their leagues resume competition.

Murphy Administration Proposes Significant Budget Cuts as Part of Revised Fiscal Plan to Weather COVID-19 Crisis
State Facing Combined Revenue Shortfall of Nearly $10 Billion – More Drastic Cuts Loom on Horizon if Additional Federal Aid Does Not Come Through
The Department of the Treasury delivered a budget update to the Legislature today, providing a detailed revenue report that illustrates the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on New Jersey’s finances and laying out plans to close the looming gap for the remainder of the extended fiscal year through a series of deep cuts and spending deferrals. A report on the financial condition of the State budget for both Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021 was required pursuant to the COVID-19 Fiscal Mitigation Act (P.L.2020, c.19), which extended the end of the state’s fiscal year from the traditional date of June 30 to September 30, and also extended various tax filing and payment deadlines from April 15 to July 15.
Read the Report

PPE Supplier Registry
New Jersey recently launched the PPE Supplier Registry to connect suppliers of personal protective equipment (PPE) that can prevent the spread of COVID-19 with potential buyers.
Read More

FEDERAL Aid for Colleges and Universities
A total of $68.8 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds will be available to New Jersey’s public colleges and universities to help institutions continue providing high-quality educational services to students amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Read More

Guidance for Seasonal Farm Workers
The state Departments of Health, Agriculture, and Labor and Workforce Development have issued guidance on working conditions as well as testing/treatment procedures to assist agricultural businesses and farm workers in minimizing the risk and potential exposure to COVID-19.  
Read More

Additional Business Openings
In-person sales to resume at car dealerships, motorcycle dealerships, boat dealerships, and bike shops, by appointment only and with social distancing measures in place.  Read More.  Also opened charter fishing and watercraft rentals Read More

Elective Surgeries to Resume May 26
Department of Health issued guidelines on the conditions for hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers to begin resuming elective surgeries. Last week, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order No. 145, allowing elective surgeries and invasive procedures, both medical and dental, to resume on Tuesday, May 26.
Read More

COVID Testing
Testing authority has been expanded to the more than 18,000 pharmacists licensed in the state. Goal is to double statewide testing by the end of the month as part of the “Road Back” recovery plan to reopen the state.
Read More

Expansion of Testing Sites
Walmart, and Quest Diagnostics announced that seven Walmart stores across New Jersey will open COVID-19 drive-thru testing sites.
Read More

Outdoor Recreational Businesses to Open with Social Distancing Measures.
This includes outdoor activities at recreational businesses, including archery ranges, batting cages, golf driving ranges, horseback riding, shooting ranges, and tennis clubs as well as community gardens.
Read More

Construction to Resume May 18
Executive Order No. 142, permits the resumption of non-essential construction, curbside pickup at non-essential retail businesses, and car gatherings for the purpose of drive-through and drive-in events. The construction and non-essential retail provisions will take effect at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, May 18, while the car gatherings provision will take effect immediately.
Read More

Multi-State Agreement on Beaches Ahead of Memorial Day Weekend
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, and Delaware Governor John Carney today announced a multi-state agreement to reopen public and private beaches with certain restrictions in place effective, Friday, May 22. This approach will better align the states’ policies ahead of the summer months. 
Read More

Beaches, Lakes, Boardwalks Opening
Executive Order No. 143, allows beaches, boardwalks, lakes, and lakeshores to remain open with social distancing measures in place. The Order takes effect on Friday, May 22.
Read More

Expanded Insurance Coverage for COVID-19 Testing
Governor Phil Murphy announced departmental actions from the Department of Banking and Insurance, Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and Department of Treasury to increase insurance coverage to cover expanded testing access and related services for COVID-19.
Read More

Expanded Testing & Tracking Program
As outlined in his vision, “The Road Back: Restoring Economic Health Through Public Health,” Governor Phil Murphy today announced a comprehensive strategy to expand testing capacity and implement a robust contact tracing program for New Jersey.
Read More

NJ Receives Additional CARES Funding
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) announced that the State of New Jersey received $31,511,487 from the second round of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) CARES Act funding allocated by the federal government. CDBG funding allocation is in addition to the $4 million the State of New Jersey received on April 2, 2020. Both funding rounds are helping the State respond to public health, housing, and economic disruption needs that have arisen as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. 
Read More

NEWS: FDA Approves First At-Home Saliva Collection Test for Coronavirus
Rutgers’ RUCDR Infinite Biologics received an amended emergency use authorization from the FDA for the first SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus test that will allow people to collect their own saliva at home and send to a lab for results.
Click here to read more.

Public Health Emergency Extended
Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 138 which extends the Public Health Emergency declared on March 9, 2020 through Executive Order No. 103 and extended on April 7 through Executive Order No. 119. Under the Emergency Health Powers Act, a declared public health emergency expires after 30 days unless renewed. 
Click here to read more.

Clarifications on Recreational and Entertainment Activity at Essential Retail Businesses and Schools
Click here to read more.

Schools Will Remain Closed Through the End of the Academic Year
Citing the need to protect the health of New Jersey’s 1.6 million public and private school students as well as thousands of educators and support staff, Governor Phil Murphy announced that statewide school closures will be extended through the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. Private schools with longer academic years will remain closed until at least June 30.
Click here to read more.

Fiscal Realities Executive Order
To further address the ongoing fiscal disruption and uncertainties caused by COVID-19, Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 137, rescinding Executive Order No. 73 (2019), which directed the Department of the Treasury to achieve a $1.276 billion surplus by the end of this current fiscal year.
Click here to read more.

Multi-State Supply Chain Agreement
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Delaware Governor John Carney, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced a joint multi-state agreement to develop a regional supply chain for personal protective equipment, other medical equipment and testing.
Click here to read more.

Long-Term Care Facility Analysis
Governor Phil Murphy announced that New Jersey has engaged a team of experts with national experience to conduct a rapid review of the state’s 575 long-term care facilities to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and reduce impacts of future outbreaks.
Click here to read more.

Restart and Recover Advisory Council
The Governor’s Restart and Recovery Advisory Council will work in conjunction with the commission named last week and will bring together leaders from various industry, community, and faith-based groups and institutions across New Jersey to advise state leadership on economic issues impacted by the pandemic.
Click here to read more.

Property Tax Payment Due Dates
Governor Murphy signed Executive Order No. 130, which allows municipalities to extend the grace period for property tax payments due on May 1st to June 1st. Such an extension would provide much-needed relief to homeowners struggling financially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Click here to read more.

Essential Business List Clarified
Governor Phil Murphy and Superintendent of the State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan announced an Administrative Order clarifying which businesses are permitted to operate and ways in which certain businesses may operate in accordance with Executive Order 107. 
Click here to read more.

NJ Labor Department to Begin Making Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Payments This Week
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced that recipients of federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) to the self-employed, independent contractors and others who are not usually eligible for unemployment insurance benefits will start being notified of their PUA eligibility today, and the Department will begin making payments Friday.
Click here to read more.

The Plan for the Road Back to Economic Health
Governor Phil Murphy announced his vision, “The Road Back: Restoring Economic Health Through Public Health,” to restart New Jersey and put the state on the road to recovery. Governor Murphy outlined six key principles and benchmarks to guide the process for restoring New Jersey’s economic health by ensuring public health.
Click here to read more.

Expansion of Payment Relief for Student Loan Borrowers
The state has secured relief options with private student loan servicers to expand on the protections the federal government granted to federal student loan borrowers. These new options stand to benefit an estimated 200,000 New Jerseyans with privately held student loans.  
Click here to read more.
 
Critical Short-Term Support for Renters
To provide additional options to tenants who are struggling financially as result of COVID-19, Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 128, allowing tenants to direct their landlords to use their security deposits to offset rent or back rent. 
Click here to read more.
 
Members of Multi-State Council Named to Help Restore Economy
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Delaware Governor John Carney, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker today announced their appointees to the multi-state council to restore the economy and get people back to work. 
The appointees include one health expert, one economic development expert and the respective Chief of Staff from each state. 
Click here to read more.
 
DMV to Remain Closed Until May 11
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Chief Administrator Sue Fulton announced that all agency, road testing, and inspections facilities will remain closed until at least Monday, May 11. 
Click here to read more.
 
Controlling the Spread of Disinformation
The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP) is leading New Jersey’s efforts to combat COVID-19 disinformation, rumors, and scams that may impact residents and businesses throughout the State. A webpage, “COVID-19 Rumor Control and Disinformation Updates,” launched in mid-March is updated as new information becomes available
Click here to read more.

Construction Halted on nonessential projects
Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 122, ceasing all non-essential construction projects and imposing additional mitigation requirements on essential retail businesses and essential industries to limit the spread of COVID-19 in New Jersey. The order also outlines specific protections and policies for all essential retail, manufacturing, and warehousing businesses, as well as businesses engaged in essential construction projects.
Click here to read more.

Legislation to Expand Family Leave Protections During COVID-19 Outbreak
Gov. Murphy signed S2374, which expands protections of the Family Leave Act to allow employees forced to take time off to care for a family member during the COVID-19 outbreak with up to 12 weeks of unpaid family leave in a 24-month period without losing their jobs. 
Click here to read more.

Suspension of Rent Increases at all NJHMFA-Regulated Properties
The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency has unanimously voted to suspend rent increases at all eligible properties within the Agency’s portfolio, which includes 36,000 rental units across the state. Homeowners and renters whose ability to pay their mortgage or rent has been impacted by COVID-19 can now seek free housing counseling to help prevent possible eviction or foreclosure.
Click here to read more.

Labor Department Implements Customer-Service, Tech Improvements to Address Historic Increase in Unemployment Claims
The NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) has made a series of moves – from upgrading computer technology to adding personnel and boosting phone capacity – to get unemployment claims processed faster and customers’ questions answered quicker. 
Click here to read the press release

Massachusetts Joins New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Rhode Island’s Multi-State Council to Get People Back to Work and Restore the Economy
Click here to read the press release

NJ Legislature Announcement: All bills will now go through committee except in ‘extreme emergencies’
Click here to read the Politico Article

Governor Murphy signed several bills into law this week
Click here to read the press release

PENDING: On the Governor’s Desk
Legislation Offering Relief to Small Business Owners
The bill (A3921) would allow the Governor to permit rent suspension for certain small business tenants financially impacted by the current public health emergency. Businesses with less than 51 employees that lease their property and have lost more than 80 percent of their usual monthly revenue would be able to request an emergency rent suspension.
Click here to read more.

Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Extending Insurance Premium Grace Periods
Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 123, extending grace periods during which certain insurance companies, including health insurers, life insurers, and property and casualty insurers, will not be able to cancel policies for nonpayment of premiums.
Click here to read more.

State Governor Extends Public Health Emergency
Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 119 which extends all Executive Orders issued under the Governor’s authority under the Emergency Health Powers Act. It also extends all actions taken by any Executive Branch departments and agencies in response to the Public Health Emergency presented by the COVID-19 outbreak.  Public Health Emergencies expire after 30 days if not extended.
Click here to read more.

State Tax Filing Date and State Budget Deadline Extended
Governor Phil Murphy, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin issued the following joint statement on the tax filing deadline and the state budget timetable: “The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused hardships, financial strain, and disruptions for many New Jerseyans and New Jersey businesses. As part of our response, we have reached agreement that the state income tax filing deadline and the corporation business tax filing deadline will be extended from April 15th to July 15th.” The fiscal budget year has been extended to Sept. 30, 2020.
Click here to read more.

NJ Labor Department Urges Businesses to Keep Employees on the Payroll through COVID-19
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) is urging employers to keep employees on the payroll throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and to take advantage of a 100 percent, dollar for dollar, payroll tax credit provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The federal law, which goes into effect on April 1, provides unprecedented support to employers to provide federal Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Emergency Paid Family and Medical Leave to workers affected by COVID-19.  The payroll tax credit immediately and fully reimburses employers with fewer than 500 employees (99.8 percent of all NJ employers) by allowing them to reduce their federal payroll taxes by the amount they spent on emergency leave. This tax credit enables businesses to keep workers on their payrolls and ensures that parents and caregivers do not have to make the impossible choice of earning a paycheck or staying at home to care for themselves or a family member.
Click here to read more.

Legislation to Modify Family Leave and Disability Benefits In Response to COVID-19
S2304 expands the State’s Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) and Family Leave Insurance (FLI) programs to provide more workers with access to paid leave benefits during public health emergencies.  S2304 expands the law’s definition of a “serious health condition” to allow individuals access to TDI and FLI benefits during a public health emergency if they must take time off of work because they are diagnosed with or suspected of exposure to a communicable disease or to take care of a family member diagnosed with or suspected of exposure to a communicable disease. The bill also expands New Jersey’s earned sick leave law to permit the use of earned sick time for isolation or quarantine recommended or ordered by a provider or public health official as a result of suspected exposure to a communicable disease, or to care for a family member under recommended or ordered isolation or quarantine.
Primary sponsors: Senate President Stephen Sweeney, and Senator Nicholas Scutari and Assemblymembers Shavonda Sumter, Annette Chaparro, and Annette Quijano.
Click here to read more.
Click here to read the legislation

NJEDA Announces New Initiatives to Support Businesses Impacted by Coronavirus
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board approved a suite of new programs designed to support businesses and workers facing economic hardship due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The NJEDA program is a product of A-3845.  The package of initiatives includes a grant program for small businesses, a zero-interest loan program for mid-size companies, support for private-sector lenders and Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs), funding for entrepreneurs, and a variety of resources providing technical support and marketplace information. Taken together, they will provide more than $75 million of State and private financial support, with the opportunity to grow to more than $100 million if additional philanthropic, State, and federal resources become available. The initiatives will support between 3,000 and 5,000 small and midsize enterprises and are meant to complement recently announced federal economic recovery initiatives. These programs include information about grants, loans and assistance. 
For details visit https://cv.business.nj.gov 
Click here to read more.

Mortgage Payment Relief, Financial Protections for New Jerseyans Facing Economic Hardship as a Result of COVID-19
Acting on a commitment to provide financial relief to New Jersey homeowners, Governor Phil Murphy announced that financial institutions will provide mortgage forbearance and financial protections for New Jerseyans facing economic hardship as a result COVID-19.
Click here to read more.

Federal Legislation 

Weekly Round-Up in Washington – May 29, 2020
Click here to read the report from Winning Strategies Washington
Fixing the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The House was back in Washington this week and working to modify the PPP program to add both clarity and flexibility for this critical program aimed at assisting small businesses through this crisis. On Thursday, the House passed H.R. 7010, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, by a vote of 417-1. More information on the package is available here. Key PPP changes in H.R. 7010 include:
  • allowing forgiveness for expenses for up to 24 weeks, and extending the rehiring deadline;
  • increasing the current limitation on nonpayroll expenses (such as rent, utility payments and mortgage interest) for loan forgiveness from 25 to 40 percent;
  • extending the program from June 30 to December 31;
  • extending loan terms from two to five years; and
  • ensuring full access to payroll tax deferment for businesses that take PPP loans.
The bill now moves to the Senate, which has been working on a more narrow approach to addressing concerns with the PPP. The Senate bill – S. 3833, the Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act – would extend the loan use period from 8 weeks to 16 weeks, and extend the program expiration date from June 30, 2020 to December 31, 2020; it does not address the 75/25 requirement or 2-year loan term. 
 
Weekly Round-Up in Washington – May 21, 2020
Click here to read the report from Winning Strategies Washington
 
Weekly Round-Up in Washington – May 15, 2020 
Click here to read the report from Winning Strategies Washington 
 
Weekly Round-Up in Washington – May 8, 2020
Click here to read the report from Winning Strategies Washington 
 
Payroll Paycheck Program Guidance on Loan Forgiveness.
The SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness rules and application were released last Friday evening.  The documents are available here.  The SBA press release is here. WSW’s Special Report is here.
 
Update on HEROES Act
After House passage of the $3 Trillion HEROES Act last Friday, the Senate this week provided no official indication on a plan or timing for another major aid package, with Majority Leader McConnell mostly sticking to his “wait and see” approach. However, behind the scenes, many Senate Republicans are hoping the Senate will start moving in June. Bipartisan coalitions have emerged in both the House and Senate around key components that need addressing, including renewed discussions about infrastructure funding, as well as specific modifications to the Paycheck Protection Program, state and local aid, COVID test and tracing resources, and even possibly some form of liability protection as class action and other lawsuits start to proliferate across the country and across a broad range of sectors of the economy and which could hinder economic recovery.
 
President Trump Signs Executive Order on Regulatory Relief to Support Economic Recovery. 
On May 19, 2020, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) on Regulatory Relief to Aid Economic Recovery. This EO builds upon pre-COVID efforts by the Trump Administration to reduce the federal regulatory burden on companies large and small.  The previous effort is often referred to as the “2 for 1” plan, where for every new regulation issued, Federal Departments and Agencies are required to propose the repeal of two other existing regulations.
This Forbes article provides a good overview of the EO.
 
Senate Outlook
While Senate Majority Leader McConnell downplayed the need for additional federal aid, the Chair of the Federal Reserve Powell publicly encouraged more direct aid and a variety of bipartisan coalitions have begun to emerge in the Senate around key provisions, including state and local aid, testing and contact tracing, and additional direct aid to employers and employees, as well as for specific regions and sectors such as securing the food chain supply, as well as making significant changes to existing programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program to increase its effectiveness for businesses and their employees. Key Senate Republican priorities include: 
  • Liability protection/litigation shield for businesses that reopen while the pandemic is ongoing
  • Reform of the unemployment benefits that are making it difficult for employers to entice workers to come back on the payroll
Other issues being discussed this week that can be found in the WSW Report:
– Getting back to school and work safely
– Congressional oversight of CARES
– Business liability
– Operation Warp Speed – vaccine development
 
Economic Injury Disaster Loan program scaled-down, effectively suspends new applications. The Washington Post was first to report that the Small Business Administration’s previously established Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program – in the face of overwhelming demand from small businesses – has unofficially changed the maximum loan size from $2 million to $150,000, and suspended new applications except those coming from the agriculture sector. The SBA has not acknowledged the change in loan size officially, and simply posted the change in application acceptance on its website without further announcement. In April, Congress infused the program with $50 billion.
 
Bipartisan legislation to protect local chambers, and other non-profits introduced in the House. A bipartisan group of lawmakers – Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Greg Steube (FL-17), and Gil Cisneros (CA-39) – on Wednesday introduced the Local Chamber, Tourism, and 501(c)(6) Protection Act. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) aims to help small businesses continue to pay their employees during the pandemic. While 501(c)(3) nonprofits have been eligible for PPP loans, to date, 501(c)(6) organizations like trade associations, chambers of commerce, and professional societies have not been eligible to take advantage of this program. This legislation would make those 501(c)(6) organizations eligible. It is unclear if this bill is being considered for inclusion in the CARES 2.0 package, but it is a priority for a broad variety of organizations.
 
Congress Approves, President Signs Phase 3.5 Relief Bill
As your WSW team reported earlier this week, the House and Senate passed another coronavirus relief bill, dubbed “Phase 3.5.” The President has now signed that package, which replenishes funding for the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, both of which ran out of money last week. The bill also added funding to boost the country’s medical response to the pandemic with additional aid to hospitals and monies toward national and state-based COVID testing. 
 
Main Street Lending Program (MSLP) Update
To get this program up and running, the Federal Reserve was required to submit a couple of reports to Congress, one on the new loan part, and one on the expanded loan part. Those reports have been delivered and are available here for the new one, and here for the expanded one.The Federal Reserve is now creating what it’s calling “program infrastructure,” which will include funding the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) at the Reserve Bank that will purchase 95% participation in loans made under the MSLP. The Federal Reserve is expected to release updated confirmed guidance on both Main Street lending programs next week.
 
House Votes to Establish a Select Committee to Oversee Federal Response to Coronavirus
The House voted along party lines to create a select committee to oversee the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The panel, to be led by House Majority Whip James Clyburn (SC) will include 7 Democrats and 5 Republicans. It is a new investigative subcommittee under the House Oversight and Reform Committee. In a letter to colleagues, Speaker Pelosi said, “Its purpose is to ensure that the over $2 trillion that Congress has dedicated to this battle – and any additional funds Congress provides in future legislation – are spent wisely and effectively.”
House Republicans dismissed the new panel as unnecessary as House Committees already have oversight jurisdiction of the coronavirus pandemic.

President Trump Announces Guidance to Re-Open America, Appoints “Economic Revival” Group
President Trump announced his guidance yesterday for re-opening the government, which lays the groundwork for parts of the country less impacted by COVID-19 to open soon, while other regions with high impact will need to meet “gating criteria,” including a 13-day sustained decline in COVID-19 symptoms and cases, ability of hospitals to treat the cases that exist in their state without emergency measures, the requirement that health care and other frontline workers be tested routinely, and additional testing and quarantine measures are in place in the event of a resurgence.
Click here to read NY Times article

New and Expanded Lending Programs to Provide up to $2.3 Trillion in Financing
On Thursday, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin announced the establishment of a Main Street Business Lending Program and a Municipal Liquidity Facility to support the flow of credit to American workers, businesses, States, counties, and cities impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Using funds provided by the CARES Act, Treasury will make a $75 billion equity investment in a special purpose vehicle established to implement the Main Street Business Lending Program. This investment will enable up to $600 billion in new financing for small and medium-sized businesses – those with up to 10,000 employees or $2.5 billion in 2019 annual revenues.
 
Guidance on Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
Also this week, the Department of Labor announced the publication of Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) 16-20 providing guidance to states for implementation of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which established as part of the CARES Act. Under PUA, individuals who do not qualify for regular unemployment compensation and are unable to continue working as a result of COVID-19, such as self-employed workers, independent contractors, and gig workers, are eligible for PUA benefits. Information on PUA and other coronavirus-related actions at the Department of Labor is available here.
 
Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES)
The President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Phase Three relief package.  Expect federal agency guidance on how to apply for or otherwise access the aid provided by the bill to begin coming out soon. Discussions about a Phase Four package have already started, but the House will be out of session through at least Monday, April 20. Phase 4 will include issues such as: Expanding who qualifies for paid family and medical leave; Stronger OSHA protections for workers; Action to protect pensions; Increased SNAP funding; More funding for state and local governments; Ensuring free coronavirus treatment.
Winning Strategies Washington review of the CARES Act Phase 1, 2 and 3, and the impact on small to medium-sized businesses, click here to view the report.
 
Department of Labor Guidance on New Coronavirus FMLA and Sick Leave
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued preliminary guidance on the expanded Family and Medical Leave Act and paid sick leave provisions recently enacted into law as part of the Phase Two, Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which takes effect on April 1, 2020.  The guidance – provided in a Fact Sheet for Employees, a Fact Sheet for Employers and a Questions and Answers document – addresses critical questions, such as how an employer must count the number of their employees to determine coverage; how small businesses can obtain an exemption; how to count hours for part-time employees; and how to calculate the wages employees are entitled to under this law.

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) 
The Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Department of Treasury report the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has exhausted its funding capacity. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administrator said if there is a lapse in appropriations, the SBA will not be able to issue new loan approvals.
Click here to read US News & World Report Article
Please note, if you apply for a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program, you CANNOT take advantage of the Employer Retention Tax Credit (ERTC).  We will be providing more details in the coming days on that tax credit and other tools for small businesses, but more information on the ERTC is available here.

WSW Coronavirus Information Library
Below are links to our updated Special Reports, which captures all of this last week’s key developments in each area.