CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
With the growth of COVID-19 in Ohio, I thought it would be helpful to consolidate all of the resources that the government is providing at the federal, state, and local levels that will help answer any questions you might have. To be clear, this webpage does not serve as medical advice.
Eastern and Southeastern Ohio is full of great people. This is a time to take care of your families, help your neighbors in need, and do what you can to check on our elderly friends and loved ones. We are strong...we will get through this!
RE-OPENING OF OHIO
MAY 1, 2020
- HEALTHCARE SERVICES CAN RESUME (with some exceptions)
- This includes doctors’ visits, out-patient surgeries, veterinary services and dental services.
- For more information visit: coronavirus.ohio.gov
MAY 4, 2020
- MANUFACTURING, DISTRIBUTION, AND CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS CAN OPEN (if they can meet health and safety requirements)
- For more details visit: coronavirus.ohio.gov
- GENERAL OFFICE SPACES CAN ALSO OPEN (if they can meet health and safety requirements)
- For more details visit: coronavirus.ohio.gov
MAY 12, 2020
- CONSUMER, RETAIL, AND SERVICES CAN OPEN (if they can meet health and safety requirements)
- For more details visit: coronavirus.ohio.gov
MAY 15, 2020
- OUTDOOR DINING AND PERSONAL CARE SERVICES CAN OPEN (if they can meet health and safety requirements)
- For more details visit: coronavirus.ohio.gov
MAY 21, 2020
- RESTAURANTS AND BARS CAN OPEN FOR DINE-IN (if they can meet health and safety requirements)
- For more details visit: coronavirus.ohio.gov
- CAMPGROUNDS CAN OPEN (if they can meet health and safety requirements)
- For more details visit: coronavirus.ohio.gov
JUNE 10, 2020
- AQUARIUMS, COUNTRY CLUBS, ICE SKATING RINKS, MOVIE THEATERS, MUSEUMS, PLAYGROUNDS, PUBLIC RECREATION CENTERS, ZOOS, ETC.. CAN OPEN (if they can meet health and safety requirements)
- For more details visit: coronavirus.ohio.gov
If you have additional questions regarding what category your business falls under, please call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESOURCES
Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
COVID-19 Symptoms
According to the CDC, if you think that yourself or someone you know has been exposed to COVID-19 and if you are showing the symptoms of a fever, coughing, or shortness of breath, please call your doctor right away.
COVID-19 Prevention and Precautions
Currently, there is not a vaccine for the COVID-19. However, according to the CDC, we can protect ourselves from COVID-19 by following these steps:
- Wash your hands for 20 seconds or more with soapy water several times a day. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home while you are sick (except to visit a health care professional after calling first) and avoid close contact with others.
- Cover your mouth/nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces each day, including phones. Use a household cleaner according to label instructions.
- Avoid large gatherings and crowded areas.
- Use online transactions when possible.
- Refrain from visiting nursing homes. Communicate through phone or videocalls instead.
- If you have an older person in your home or someone with compromised health, such as asthma, understand that the biggest threat to them may be you bringing the virus into the home
- Think twice about an upcoming trip. If you or a loved one are older, cancel or postpone all travel.
By following these practices, we can reduce the spread of the virus.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
If you are a veteran and have concerns regarding the VA healthcare facilities you receive care from, please visit their website for more information by clicking this link.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
For more information about SBA guidance and loan resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources
On March 19, 2020, SBA issued a disaster declaration for the state of Ohio, and Ohio small businesses are now eligible for SBA EIDL. SBA resumed accepting new Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications on June 15 to all qualified small businesses, including U.S. agricultural businesses. Having allocated the full $20 billion that was appropriated by Congress, SBA will discontinue making EIDL Advances to new applicants. By law, the SBA is not permitted to issue new EIDL Advances once all program funding has been obligated. However, EIDL loan applications will still be processed even though the Advance is no longer available. Eligible businesses may apply by visiting https://www.sba.gov/page/disaster-loan-applications.
STATE OF OHIO GOVERNMENT RESOURCES
State of Ohio Contact Information
Governor DeWine has implemented several statewide orders and has created several resources to combat the spread of the COVID-19. If you have questions or concerns, here is the contact information for the Ohio COVID-19 resources:
- You can visit www.coronavirus.ohio.gov for the most up-to-date information from the Ohio Department of Health.
- Governor DeWine is holding daily press briefings at 2PM. These events are carried live at www.OhioChannel.org
- For any questions you have about the virus, you can call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH. The phone line is open from 9AM – 8PM, 7 days a week.
- You can follow these accounts on Twitter for additional information: @GovMikeDeWine, @LtGovHusted, @OHDeptofHealth
Ohio Unemployment Extension
If you are a worker who does not receive paid leave through your job, you may be eligible for unemployment compensation without the normal one week waiting period. You can visit www.Unemployment.Ohio.gov or www.JFS.Ohio.gov/Coronavirus for more information.
Liquor Buyback Program
If you own a bar and/or restaurant and you stocked your business with alcohol for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and NCAA basketball tournament games, you can reach out to the Liquor Enterprise Service Center at 1-877-812-0013 or e-mail OhioLiquorInfo@Com.Ohio.gov for information on a one time liquor buyback.
OHIO COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT CONTACT INFORMATION
WHAT SMALL BUSINESSES NEED TO KNOW
Qualified Sick Leave Wages
- Businesses with fewer than 500 employees must pay up to 80 hours of emergency paid sick leave to full-time employees (pro-rata rules apply to part-time employees) who are home sick from coronavirus, complying with a quarantine, or taking care of an individual who has been infected. This leave also applies to working families who may be forced home due to school closures.
- Federal government will provide employers with a refundable payroll tax credit of 100 percent of the required wages.
- Employees are capped at $200 per day ($511 per day in the case of employees that are home sick from coronavirus or complying with a quarantine).
Qualified Family Leave Wages
- Businesses with fewer than 500 employees must provide an additional 12 weeks of paid leave due to caring for a child whose school is closed.
- The first 2 weeks of the leave, which is covered by the qualified sick leave described above, may be unpaid.
- During the remaining 10 weeks, the employer will pay 2/3 of the employee’s salary, capped at $200 per day for up to 50 days.
- Federal government will provide businesses with a refundable payroll tax credit of 100 percent of the required wages.
- Secretary of Labor may issue rules to exempt small businesses with fewer than 50 employees from these requirements when the imposition of such requirements would jeopardize the viability of the business as a going concern.
Unemployment Insurance for Workers
- Provides $500 million for emergency administrative grants to states to support timely application, processing and payment of unemployment claims.
- Makes an additional $500 million available for 100 percent federally funded Extended Benefits to support states that experience a spike in unemployment of at least 10 percent and eases some federal eligibility requirements to improve access.
- Allows states to access interest-free federal loans to pay unemployment benefits, if needed.
RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
Health and Safety in the Workplace
- It is important to note that OSHA has not issued any new regulations or legal obligations with regard to COVID-19, they have simply given best practices to ensure the health and safety of all employees.
- Businesses should, however, existing OSHA standards due to the fact that these standards may COVID-19: What Small Businesses Need To Know Resources for Small Businesses: Requirements for Small Businesses: apply to protecting workers against COVID-19. For the most recent OSHA guidance on COVID-19, please see https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf.
Access to Capital
According to Secretary Mnuchin, the Administration is in the process of working on a regulation to allow some businesses who have large amounts of their workforce out to take the tax credit in advance. This is to ensure that businesses have enough payroll cash on hand to meet the leave requirements.
