guidance for business and employers & LINKS

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COVID-19 Facts
 
-          CDC Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Web page

• How to Prevent Getting Sick

 

• How COVID-19 Spreads

 

• Share Facts about COVID-19

 

• To prevent stigma and discrimination in the workplace, use the guidance described below and on the CDC’s web page.

 
 
Guidance for Businesses and Employers
 
 
Federal COVID-19 Guidance:
 
White House:

• Guidelines for Opening Up America Again

 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the most up-to-date information on COVID-19. This interim guidance is based on what is currently known about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). For updates from CDC, please see the following:
 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Guidance Documents:

• CDC: Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers Responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), May 2020
  • CDC: Manufacturing Workers and Employers

 

• CDC: Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting and CDC: Guidance for Implementing a Cleaning and Disinfecting Plan
  • EPA: Approved List of Disinfectants Against COVID-19

 

• CDC: General Business Frequently Asked Questions

 

• CDC: Use of Masks to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19:
  • How to Select Masks
  • How to Wear Masks
  • Considerations for Masks
  • Making Masks
  • Washing Masks

 
United States Department of Health & Human Services (HHS):

• U.S. Health & Human Services (HHS) Community-Based Testing Sites for COVID-19 by State

  
United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):

• Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19

 

• Hazard Recognition Including Classifying Risk of Workers

 

• Steps to Protect Automotive Service Workers from Exposure to COVID-19

 

• COVID-19 Employee Rights

 
Internal Revenue Service (IRS):

• COVID-19 Tax Relief and Economic Impact Payments

 

• COVID-19 Related Tax Credits for Required paid Leave Provided by Small and Midsize Businesses FAQ

 
Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division:

• Temporary Rule on Paid Leave Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, September 2020

 
 
State Specific Guidance and Resources:
 
US Chamber of Commerce: State by State Business Reopening Guidance and Mask Guidance
 
New York Times: Coronavirus Restrictions and Mask Mandates for All 50 States
 
 
 
 
 
Alabama:

• COVID-19 News and Resources

 

• Alabama Department of Public Health: Public Health Guidance

 

• Alabama Department of Labor: COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Benefits FAQ

 
Alaska:

• Alaska COVID-19 Information Portal, which includes business resources and links to state specific information and guidance.

 

• Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development: COVID-19 Economic Recovery Resource Portal for Business

 

• State COVID-19 Health Mandates

 
Arizona:

• Arizona Commerce Authority: Business Guidance
  • Guidance for All Businesses
  • Guidance for Manufacturers
  • Guidance for Retailers

 

• Arizona COVID-19 Information Portal, which includes business resources and links to state specific information and guidance.

 

• Arizona Department of Health Services: COVID-19 Information Portal

 
Arkansas:

• Arkansas Department of Health: COVID-19 Directives, Orders, & Health Guidances

 

• Arkansas Department of Health: COVID-19 Guidance for Employers
  • COVID-19 Guidance for Business and Industry Facilities
  • COVID-19 Guidance for Retail Stores
  • COVID-19 Guidance for Employers about When Workers Recovered from COVID-19 Can Return to Work

 

• Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing: Information and Resources for Employers and Employees Affected by the COVID-19 Emergency

 
 
California:

• COVID-19 Employer Playbook: Supporting a Safer Environment for Workers and Customers

 

• California Department of Public Health: Responding to COVID-19 in the Workplace for Employers, September 2020

 

• Industry Specific Guidance for Businesses

 

• California Department of Public Health: Guidance for the Use of Face Coverings

 

• CAL/OSHA and Statewide Industry Guidance on COVID-19

 

• California Labor and Workforce Development Agency: COVID-19 Resources for Employers and Workers

 

• Current County Risk Levels

 
Colorado:

• Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment and Colorado State Emergency Operations Center: Guidance for Businesses

 

• Keep Employees & Customers Safe

 

• Public Health Guidance & Resources for COVID-19

 

• Executive Order Mandating Mask to be Worn in Public

 
Connecticut:

• CT Business Reopening and Recovery Center

 

• Emergency Orders Issued by the Governor and State Agencies

 
Delaware:

• Delaware Department of State, Division of Small Business: Guidance for Businesses and Specific Industry Guidance

 

• Delaware Division of Small Business: COVID-19 Customer Protection Standards

 

• Delaware Department of Labor: COVID-19 General Resources

 

• Business Resources

 
Florida:

• Florida Department of Health: COVID-19 Guidance for Businesses & Employees

 

• COVID-19 Resource Toolkit

 

• Business Resources and Guidance

 
Georgia:

• Executive Order: Guidelines for Business

 

• Georgia COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Georgia State Government Resources and Services

 
Hawaii:

• Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations: COVID-19 Labor FAQs

 

• Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations: COVID-19 Workplace Guidelines FAQ

 

• Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health: COVID-19 Resources for Employers

 

• Hawaii Chamber of Commerce: COVID-19 Rules and Regulations

 

• Hawaii COVID-19 Information Portal

 
Idaho:

• Idaho COVID-19 Resources for Business

 

• Idaho Department of Commerce: COVID-19 Resources and Information

 

• Idaho Department of Labor: COVID-19 Information Portal Containing Information and Resources for Businesses

 

• Idaho Economic Development Association: COVID-19 Business Toolkit

 
 
 
 
Illinois:

• State of Illinois COVID-19 Response: COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity: Restore Illinois Industry Toolkits
  • Offices
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail

 

• Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity: Restore Illinois Guidelines

 

• State of Illinois COVID-19 Response: COVID-19 Mitigation Plan

 
Indiana:

• Indiana COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Indiana State Department of Health: COVID-19 Cleaning Guidance for Businesses

 

• Indiana COVID-19 Business resource Center

 
Iowa

• Iowa COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Iowa Department of Health COVID-19 Reopening Guidance

 

• Iowa State COVID-19 Agency Guidance Portal

 

• Iowa Department of Public Health: COVID-19 Guidance for Business & Organizations

 
Kansas

• Kansas Department of Health and Environment: COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Kansas Department of Health and Environment: Guidance for Business & Employers

 

• Kansas Department of Health and Environment: Posters and Social Media Toolkit

 
Kentucky

• Kentucky COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Kentucky Reopening and Business Guidance

 

• Healthy at Work: Requirements for Manufacturing, Distribution, and Supply Chain Businesses

 

• Healthy at Work: Requirements for Retail Businesses

 
Louisiana

• Louisiana Department of Health: COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Louisiana Office of the Governor: Open Safely Documents 

 
Maine

• Maine COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Maine Department of Economic & Community Development: Economic Recovery Grants

 

• Maine Department of Economic & Community Development: COVID-19 Business Guidance and Prevention Checklists
  • COVID-19 Prevention Checklist General Guidance for Business

 
Maryland

• Maryland Department of Health: COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Maryland Department of Health: Resources for Businesses and Employers
  • Masks on Maryland Signage for Businesses

 

• Maryland Back to Business Guidance:
  • General Best Practices
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail

 
Massachusetts

• Massachusetts COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Massachusetts Regulations and Guidance for Businesses

 

• Reopening Massachusetts

 
 
Michigan

• Michigan COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Michigan Frequently Asked COVID-19 Questions for Businesses

 

• Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration: General and Emergency Rules for Workplaces (October 14)

 

• Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity: COVID-19 Workplace Safety Guidance
  • Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration: General Rules and Emergency Rules for Businesses COVID-19

 

• Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity: General Industry
  • COVID-19 MIOSHA Workplace Guidelines for Employers
  • COVID-19 MIOSHA Workplace Guidelines for Employees

 

• Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity: Manufacturing Guidance
  • COVID-19 MIOSHA Workplace Guidelines for Manufacturers

 

• Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity: Retail

 
Minnesota

• Minnesota COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Minnesota Resources for Businesses and Organizations
  •  Guidance and Resources for All Employers

 

• Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry: Updates Related to COVID-19

 

• Minnesota Commerce Department: COVID-19 Updates

 
Mississippi

• Mississippi COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Mississippi State Department of Health: Guidance for Businesses

 
Missouri

• Missouri COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Missouri Business Guidelines

 

• Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry COVID-19 Resources

 
Montana

• Montana COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Montana Department of Commerce: Business Assistance Programs

 

• Montana Department of Labor & Industry: COVID-19 Resources for Montana Employers

 
Nebraska

• Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services: COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services: COVID-19 Nebraska Guidance Documents

 

•  Nebraska Department of Economic Development: COVID-19 Resources

 
Nevada

• Nevada Health Response: COVID-19 Information Portal

 

•  Daily COVID-19 Press Bulletin

 

• Nevada Department of Business & Industry: Bulletins and Guidelines

 
New Hampshire

• New Hampshire COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• New Hampshire COVID-19 Business Guidance and Resources

 

• New Hampshire Mandatory COVID-19 Universal Business Guidelines

 

• New Hampshire Frequently Asked COVID-19 Questions for Businesses

 
 
 
 
 
New Jersey

• New Jersey COVID-19 Information Hub

 

• New Jersey COVID-19 Business Information Hub

 

• New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development: Updated Information for Employers & Businesses

 

•  New Jersey Chamber of Commerce COVID-19 Resources

 
New Mexico

• New Mexico Department of Health: COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• New Mexico Department of Health: COVID Safe Practices for All Employers
  •  New Mexico Department of Health: COVID Safe Practices for Automobile Dealers & Services
  • New Mexico Department of Health: COVID Safe Practices for Manufacturing, Warehouse, & Food Production
  • New Mexico Department of Health: COVID Safe Practices for All Retail

 
New York

• New York COVID-19 Information Portal
  • New York Forward Reopening Portal

 

• New York COVID-19 Hot Spot Zones

 

• New York Guidance

 
North Carolina

• North Carolina COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• North Carolina Business Resources

 

• North Carolina Business Guidance
  • North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services: Interim General Guidance for Businesses and Organizations (October 2, 2020)
  • North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services: Interim Guidance for Manufacturing Facilities (August 7, 2020)
  • North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services: Interim Guidance for Retail Businesses (July 24, 2020)

 

• North Carolina COVID-19 Executive Orders

 
North Dakota

• North Dakota COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• North Dakota Department of Commerce: COVID-19 Business and Employer Resources

 

• North Dakota Department of Commerce: Economic Resiliency Grant

 

• Standards for All Industries

 

• North Dakota Employer and Worker Safety FAQ

 
Ohio

• Ohio Department of Health: COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Public Health Orders Related to COVID-19

 

• Ohio Department of Health: COVID-19 Information and Checklist for Business/Employers

 

• Ohio Department of Health: Screening Employees for COVID-19

 

• Ohio Development Services Agency, Office of Small Business Relief: Restart Ohio Business Portal

 
Oklahoma

• Oklahoma State Department of Health: COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Oklahoma State Department of Health: COVID-19 Recommendations and Resources for Business

 

• Oklahoma State Department of Health: COVID-19 Employers Guidance

 

• Oklahoma State Department of Health: COVID-19 Business Sign Kit

 

• Oklahoma State Department of Health: COVID-19 Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting

 
 
 
 
Oregon

• Oregon COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Oregon Health Authority: County Status Chart

 

• Business Oregon: Small Business Navigator

 

• Oregon OSHA: COVID-19 Rules and Regulations

 

• Oregon OSHA: Expectations of Employers

 

• Oregon Governor Executive Orders (Includes non-COVID orders)

 
Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Governor’s Office: Frequently Asked Questions for Businesses Operating During the COVID-19 Emergency

 

• Governor’s Office: Guidance and Resources for Business
  • Guidance for All Business

 

• Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development: Business Funding Resources

 

• Pennsylvania Department of Health: Information for Businesses

 
Rhode Island

• Rhode Island Department of Health: COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Reopening Rhode Island
  • Guidance for Offices and Other Business Types
    • Guidance for General Business/Organization
    • Guidance for Manufacturing

 

• Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training: COVID-19 Updates

 
 
 
 
 
South Carolina

• South Carolina COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control: COVID-19 Business and Employers Portal

 

• SDHEC: Interim Guidance for COVID-19 Scenarios in Businesses

 

• South Carolina OSHA: COVID-19 Worker Safety Guidance
  • SC OSHA: Protecting the Safety and health of Workers – COVID-19
  • SC OSHA: Guidance on Returning to Work

 

• South Carolina Minority and Small Business Relief Grant Program (Application Window 10/19/2020 – 11/1/2020)

 

• South Carolina Government Latest Developments

 

• Executive Orders

 
South Dakota

• South Dakota COVID-19 Information Portal
  • South Dakota COVID-19 Business Resources

 

• South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation: COVID-19 Resources

 

• South Dakota Department of Health: COVID-19 Updates and Information

 
 
Tennessee

• Tennessee COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Tennessee COVID-19 Business Resources

 

• Tennessee Office of the Governor: COVID-19 General Business Guidelines

 

• Tennessee Office of the Governor: COVID-19 Manufacturing Guidelines

 

• Tennessee Office of the Governor: COVID-19 Retail Guidelines

 

• Tennessee Office of the Governor: PPE Vendor Directory

 

• Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development: COVID-19 Unemployment for Employers

 
Texas

• Texas COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Texas Health and Human Services: COVID-19 Information

 

• Texas Health and Human Services: COVID-19 Business Guidance

 

• Office of the Texas Governor: COVID-19 Executive Orders, Funding and Waivers

 
Utah

• Utah COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Utah COVID-19 Business Resources (Including COVID-19 Business Manual from Utah Department of Health)

 
Vermont

• Vermont COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development: COVID-19 Recovery Resource Center
  • Resources for Businesses
  • Business Sector Guidance

 

• Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development: Business Guidance

 

• Vermont Department of Labor: COVID-19 Information and Updates for Business

 

• Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration (VOSHA): COVID-19

 
Virginia

• Virginia COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Virginia Department of Health: Business and Workplace Information

 

• Virginia Department of Labor and Industry: Emergency Temporary Standard Infectious Disease Prevention for Employers (July 15, 2020)

 

• Virginia Department of Commerce and Trade: COVID-19 Resources for Business

 

• Virginia Department of Labor and Industry: COVID-19 Reference Material

 

• Virginia Department of Labor and Industry: Online Reporting for COVID-19 Positive Cases

 
Washington

• Washington COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Washington COVID-19 Information and Resources for Employers

 

• Washington Workplace Safety Guidance

 

• Washington Department of Labor & Industries: COVID-19 Guidance and Resources

 
 
 
Washington, District of Columbia

• Washington, DC COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Washington, DC COVID-19 Business Resources

 
West Virginia

• West Virginia COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources: Guidance for Businesses and Employers (May 11, 2020)

 
Wisconsin

• Wisconsin Interagency COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation: Relief and Recovery Resources for Businesses

 

• Wisconsin Department of Health Services: COVID-19 Business, Employers, and Workers

 

• Wisconsin Department of Health Services: Preventing & Managing COVID-19 Outbreaks in the Workplace

 
 
Wyoming

• Wyoming COVID-19 Information Portal

 

• Governor’s Orders and Directives

 

• Wyoming COVID-19 Business Resources

 
Common Issues Small Businesses May Encounter:

• Capital Access – Incidents can strain a small business's financial capacity to make payroll, maintain inventory and respond to market fluctuations (both sudden drops and surges in demand). Businesses should prepare by exploring and testing their capital access options so they have what they need when they need it.  See SBA’s capital access resources.
• Workforce Capacity – Incidents have just as much impact on your workers as they do your clientele. It’s critical to ensure they have the ability to fulfill their duties while protected.
• Inventory and Supply Chain Shortfalls – While the possibility could be remote, it is a prudent preparedness measure to ensure you have either adequate supplies of inventory for a sustained period and/or diversify your distributor sources in the event one supplier cannot meet an order request.
• Facility Remediation/Clean-up Costs – Depending on the incident, there may be a need to enhance the protection of customers and staff by increasing the frequency and intensity by which your business conducts cleaning of surfaces frequently touched by occupants and visitors. Check your maintenance contracts and supplies of cleaning materials to ensure they can meet increases in demand.
• Insurance Coverage Issues – Many businesses have business interruption insurance; Now is the time to contact your insurance agent to review your policy to understand precisely what you are and are not covered for in the event of an extended incident.
• Changing Market Demand – Depending on the incident, there may be access controls or movement restrictions established which can impede your customers from reaching your business. Additionally, there may be public concerns about public exposure to an incident and they may decide not to go to your business out of concern of exposing themselves to greater risk. SBA’s Resources Partners and District Offices have trained experts who can help you craft a plan specific to your situation to help navigate any rapid changes in demand.

• Marketing – It’s critical to communicate openly with your customers about the status of your operations, what protective measures you’ve implemented, and how they (as customers) will be protected when they visit your business. Promotions may also help incentivize customers who may be reluctant to patronize your business.
• Plan – As a business, bring your staff together and prepare a plan for what you will do if the incident worsens or improves. It’s also helpful to conduct a tabletop exercise to simulate potential scenarios and how your business management and staff might respond to the hypothetical scenario in the exercise. For examples of tabletop exercises, visit FEMA’s website at: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-planning-exercises