In addition to the CARES Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, unemployment, and tax guidance, we have collected the following nationwide, Washington, and Oregon COVID-19 resources.
Nationwide/Federal COVID-19 Resources
- What federal government agencies are doing in response to COVID-19
- CDC Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers and environmental cleaning guidance
- Online health self-assessment, Providence – telemedicine visit.
Washington COVID-19 Business Resources
- AWB Resources for Employers
- Impact Calculator for Businesses
- Crisis Planning Tools & Resources for Small Businesses
- Immediate Steps for Retailers
- If your employee has a confirmed case of COVID-19 – contact the WA Department of Health for the next steps.
- State of Washington COVID-19 Resource Page
- Washington Department of Health Workplace and Employer Resources
- Washington Office of the Insurance Commission COVID-19 information
- Governor Jay Inslee’s Website
- New Mandatory COVID-19 Testing for Staff and Residents of Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Memory Care Units
- Washington Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) announced a limited-time special enrollment period for qualified individuals who are currently without insurance.
- Workers’ Rights. Through June 12 (and potentially longer) employers must:
- use all available options for alternative work assignments to protect high-risk employees, if requested;
- permit any high-risk employee in a situation where an alternative work arrangement is not feasible to use any available employer granted accrued leave or unemployment insurance in any sequence at the discretion of the employee;
- fully maintain all employer-related health insurance benefits, even after an employee’s paid time off is exhausted, until the employee is deemed eligible to return to work;
- not take an adverse employment action against an employee for exercising their rights; and
- not enforce contract provisions that interfere with these prohibitions.
- Notary – Inslee has immediately authorized electronic/remote notarization, with specific conditions outlined in Senate Bill 5641 (originally slated to go into effect Oct. 1, 2020).
- Researchers with the University of Washington School of Medicine are looking for COVID-19 survivors to donate plasma.
Washington Local Resources & Utilities:
- Cities’ Responses:
- Battle Ground
- Camas
- Ridgefield
- Vancouver
- Emergency Order 2020-11 extends the cancelation of city-permitted events with planned attendance of 250 or more through July 31, 2020
- Washougal
- Clark County Public Health and business resources page (scroll to the bottom of Clark County’s page for several helpful links)
- Cowlitz County COVID-19 resources page
- Clark PUD
- NW Natural
- City of Vancouver (water/sewer)
- Clark Regional Wastewater District
- Waste Connections
- Cowlitz PUD
Oregon COVID-19 Business Resources
On May 18, an Oregon court struck down Oregon’s stay home orders as null and void and granted an injunction against further enforcement of them. The Governor was required to seek the legislature’s concurrence to extend the orders beyond 28 days and did not do so. The Oregon Supreme Court first stayed the lower court’s order, but then reversed it in a per curiam opinion on June 12, 2020. Though the justices ruled the preliminary injunction prohibiting enforcement of Gov Brown’s orders is not valid, the case remains open as the parties determine their next steps.
Gov Brown issued EO 20-18 on April 19 prohibiting creditors from garnishing CARES Act funds from individuals.
- This order does not apply to a judgment in a criminal action requiring the defendant to pay restitution or a civil judgment against a convicted criminal for damages related to that crime
- The Attorney General may specify additional judgments that may be collected, notwithstanding this order
UPDATED 12/14/20:
On December 14, 2020, Governor Brown announced additional relief that applies to Personal Income, Corporate Excise, and Corporate Income taxes:
- 100 percent penalty waivers on 2019 income tax due from businesses that are impacted by COVID-19.
- 100 percent interest waivers on 2019 income tax due from small businesses that are impacted by COVID-19 and that have less than $5 million in gross receipts.
- Continuing to provide extended payment plans of up to 36 months for any taxpayer impacted by COVID-19 when entering into an approved payment plan.
Additional Resources
- Oregon Capital Chatter: A COVID-19 roundup
- If your employee has a confirmed case of COVID-19 – contact the Oregon Health Authority for the next steps.
- Oregon’s Stay at Home order
- Governor Brown’s COVID-19 business resources
- Business Oregon’s COVID-19 Business Resources page
- Greater Portland Inc. list of resources for Greater Portland businesses.
- Cities’ Responses: