Update for Wednesday, May 20, 2020
- All essential businesses with employees working and interacting with the public qualify to have their staff tested for COVID-19. Businesses reopening in Phase 1 also qualify to have employees tested. To find a testing site, you can use the test site finder HERE.
- The NY Department of Labor has released a FAQ page for employers in regards to COVID-19, including questions on Unemployment Insurance, Shared Work and Job Refusal. The page can be found HERE.
- The US Department of Labor has adopted revised policies for enforcing OSHA’s requirements with respect to coronavirus as economies reopen in states throughout the country. The revised policies cover increased in-person inspections at all types of workplaces, and the enforcement policy for recording cases of coronavirus. Both policies can be found HERE.
- The US Chamber of Commerce recently released a useful and easy to follow guide on what businesses need to do to apply for forgiveness of their PPP loans. Access the guide HERE.
- That State has updated the guidance on what types of organizations are considered essential. The updated guidance can be found HERE.
- While the Mid-Hudson region has NOT yet met the criteria to begin phase 1 of reopening, all businesses, including essential businesses, must develop a COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan. A template for a plan may be found HERE. Please note: This plan does not need to be submitted to a state agency for approval, but must be retained on the premises of the business and must be made available to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) or local health or safety authorities in the event of an inspection.
- In today’s (Wednesday) press conference Governor Andrew Cuomo said beginning Thursday, religious ceremonies can take place as long as there are less than 10 individuals gathered and social distancing efforts are in place. The Interfaith Advisory Committee will be convening to determine how religious institutions can reopen fully going forward.
- Governor Cuomo said there has not been a date set to reopen casinos because they are considered large gathering venues. Casinos run by Native American tribes have announced reopening dates because technically they are sovereign and cannot be closed by the state.
- Governor Cuomo reiterated if any region has their various indicators rise after they begin the reopening phases, the state will shut that region back down.
If you have any questions regarding the information in this notification or any other business related concerns and suggestions, please email Contact@DutchessBNN.com. Please do NOT contact elected officials regarding information in this email as they are currently inundated with handling the government response to this crisis. This network was created to help coordinate responses and share the burden, and we ask that you please contact us with any questions or concerns so our elected officials can focus on their task at hand. Thank you for your continued support through this time.
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