COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) – Resources for Manufacturers

Covid-19 Risk Assessment and Mitigation Services Provided by T&M/WMEP

The unknown transition process from “isolation” to “open for business” presents numerous challenges to business owners and is most likely not covered in your continuation of operations plan. As essential businesses, manufacturers can reduce the risk of future COVID-19 outbreaks by assessing their current risk and taking actual steps to mitigate these risks.

We can help you identify and manage COVID-19 risks to protect your employees, their families, clientele and your communities.
Click here to learn more.

July 1st: Discover2Recover – CARES Act

Under the CARES Act, WMEP Manufacturing Solutions has been awarded a grant to help small and mid-size manufacturers analyze their current situation and take advantage of proprietary financial and business tools and expertise available under this program. Click here to find out more information.

May 21st: OSHA

• New OSHA guideline says employers must report workplace-caused Covid-19 cases
• Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
• May 19th – Revised Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• OSHA standards and directives (instructions for compliance officers) and other related information that may apply to worker exposure to the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, that causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

May 8th, 2020: WEDC and Governor Evers have prepared best practices manuals for all business categories in guiding them during the reopening of the state.

Selected segments are featured below:

• Manufacturing
• Construction
• Transportation

CISA Guidance on Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers

U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency:

MEMORANDUM ON IDENTIFICATION OF ESSENTIAL CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE WORKERS DURING COVID-19 RESPONSE

CRITICAL MANUFACTURING
Workers necessary for the manufacturing of materials and products needed for medical supply chains,
transportation, energy, communications, food and agriculture, chemical manufacturing, nuclear facilities,
the operation of dams, water and wastewater treatment, emergency services, and the defense industrial base.

Wisconsin Workplace/Employee Recommendations:

• April 30th, 2020: EEOC “A Guide to Employee Temperature Checks” – Summarized by SHRMApril 30th, 2020: FDA Recommendations – Use of Respirators, Facemasks, and Cloth Face Coverings in the Food and Agriculture Sector During Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic
• April 24th, 2020: EEOC: Employers Can Screen for COVID-19
  • US Equal Opportunity Commission: What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws
• April 20th, 2020: FDA – Enforcement Policy for Clinical Electronic Thermometers During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19) Public Health Emergency Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff – nonbinding recommendations
• April 7, 2020: The Department of Treasury released additional guidance regarding the CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program
• April 9, 2020: CDC – New CDC guidance for essential workers during coronavirus
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued new guidelines for essential workers, such as those in the health care and food supply industries. The guidance is focused on when those workers can return to work after having been exposed to the new coronavirus.
    • Do take your temperature before work.
    • Do wear a face mask at all times.
    • Do practice social distancing as work duties permit.
    • Don’t stay at work if you become sick
    • Don’t share headsets or objects used near face.
    • Don’t congregate in the break room or other crowded places.
  • The CDC also issued guidance for employers in essential industries.
    • Do take employees’ temperature and assess for symptoms prior to their starting work.
    • Do increase the frequency of cleaning commonly touched surfaces.
    • Do increase air exchange in the building.
    • Do send sick workers home immediately.
    • Do test the use of face masks to ensure they don’t interfere with workflow.
• April, 8, 2020: CDC issues new guidelines for essential workers who have been exposed to coronavirus

  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield issued new guidelines for essential workers who have been exposed to the coronavirus, saying individuals would need to be asymptomatic to return to work

  The guidelines, he said, are aimed at keeping essential workers, including first responders, health care workers, employees in the food supply chain and others at work — even if they might have been exposed to someone who has coronavirus.

• 04/08/2020: CDC – Interim Guidance for Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19

• 04/05/2020: CDC – New CDC Guidance for Employers Reflects Evolving Knowledge of Coronavirus

  Open the windows. Leave contaminated areas vacant for 24 hours if you can. Wear disposable gloves and gowns. And, of course, wash your hands often.

  These are among the updated guidelines posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for cleaning and disinfecting a workplace after an employee is diagnosed with COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. Among the new tips: If a contaminated area has been closed for seven days or more, there’s no need for a special cleaning.

• 04/02/2020: New FFCRA Regulations Require Documentation of Paid Sick, Family Leave
  In regulations issued yesterday for the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), the Department of Labor confirmed that employees must give notice to their employers of their need to take sick or family leave and provide documentation that supports it.

• Protecting Your Business From Covid-19 (CISA/MEPNN/NIST)

• The Importance of Supply Chain Distribution Planning (CISA/MEPNN/NIST)

• Responding to a COVID-19 Exposure at Your Business (CISA/MEPNN/NIST)

• FMLA rules have changed, and if you are under 500 employees you need to read this article in full.
• How the CARES Act Changes Health, Retirement and Student Loan Benefits
  The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act alters employee benefit rules, particularly for health coverage, retirement savings and student loan assistance. While some of these provisions are temporary, others are permanent.
• Wisconsin State Department of Health
  • What is COVID-19, information & education
  • Wisconsin DHS also is providing daily updates on the number of cases in Wisconsin, and any investigations into individuals who may have contracted the virus. Full details are available at this link: Wisconsin DHS – COVID-19 Investigations and Cases
• State of Wisconsin Executive Orders can be found here.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Key OSHA standards for COVID-19

• Getting Your Workplace Ready for COVID-19 (WHO)
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation: Workplace Tips for Employees
• The U.S. Department of Labor has resources to help workers and employers prepare for the COVID-19 virus. Coronavirus Resources
• Working from home? Protect your business. Here are some cybersecurity basics. Telework Security Tips

Insurance Questions:

• Bulletin about insurance related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) Coverage from the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
• Special COVID-19 Health Insurance Enrollment Windows and Waivers
  For fully insured group health plans, some insurers are treating the COVID-19 pandemic as a special enrollment event and are enabling employees to enroll in coverage during a limited mid-year window.

FEMA

• April, 10, 2020 – FEMA COVID-19 Supply Chain Task Force: Supply Chain Stabilization HERE
  • The Supply Chain Task Force continues to execute a strategy maximizing the availability of critical protective and lifesaving resources through FEMA for a whole-of-America response. Efforts to date have focused on reducing the medical supply chain capacity gap to both satisfy and relieve demand pressure on medical supply capacity.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
The CDC has provided this interim guidance for businesses and employers to help plan and respond to COVID-19.

• 04/08/2020: CDC – Interim Guidance for Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19
• Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers
• What you need to know about Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

They have provided information on how COVID-19 spreads, its symptoms, prevention and treatment, what to do if you are sick and more. See the links below for select sections.

• Latest Updates from the CDC
• How COVID-19 Spreads
• Prevention and Treatment
• What to Do if You Are Sick
• Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations
• COVID-19 Information for Travelers
• Preventing Spread in Communities
• Sign up for CDC Email Updates

The World Health Organization (WHO)

• Basic Protective Measures Against COVID-19
• Getting Your Workplace Ready for COVID-19 

Drugwatch recently published an article that explains what people with compromised immune systems should know about the COVID-19 virus.

Disruption/Response Planning:

• The Center for Disease Control (CDC) provides interim guidance for employers. Recommendations for an Infectious Disease Outbreak Response Plan
• World Health Organization (WHO): Phishing Emails & Scam Alert
• U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Coronavirus Supply Chain Update
• The Importance of Supply Chain Distribution Planning (CISA/MEPNN/NIST)

Recovery Planning:

Taxes:

• Wisconsin Department of Revenue
  The Wisconsin Department of Revenue is providing immediate help for small businesses on sales taxes and taking other steps to help taxpayers in response to COVID-19
• Coronavirus Tax Relief
  The IRS has established a special section focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by the coronavirus.
• IRS: Employee Retention Credit available for businesses impacted by COVID-19 (HERE). This program is designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll. The refundable tax credit is 50% of up to $10,000 in wages paid by an eligible employer whose business has been financially impacted by COVID-19.
• Treasury and IRS Release FAQs to Help Small and Midsize Businesses Navigate Paid Sick and Family Leave Tax Credits (HERE)

Disaster Assistance:

• May 12, 2020 – The SBA released a worksheet detailing how to calculate the amount of a Paycheck Protection Program loan that can be forgiven.
  Download the document here.
• Paycheck Protection Program:
  • SBA Paycheck Protection Program website
  • Department of the Treasury CARES Act website
    •  Small Business guide to the CARES Act
  • April 9, 2020 – Milwaukee-area bankers offer tips for Paycheck Protection Program applicants
• Coronavirus: Resources, Updates, and What You Should Know
  The U.S. Treasury Department is supporting American workers and businesses who are impacted by the coronavirus.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): Small Businesses May Be Eligible for Payroll-Protection Loans During Pandemic
  Payroll loans may be forgiven under certain circumstances
• This summary from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce includes helpful FAQs for small businesses.
• In addition, the U.S. Chamber has prepared a Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist. Specifically, Congress has approved $350 billion in emergency loans for small businesses to help keep workers employed. If small businesses maintain, or later restore, their payrolls, they may not have to repay some — or possibly any — of the loan.
• Disaster Assistance
  Information on the U.S. Small Business Administration disaster assistance.
  • U.S. Small Business Administration
    The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved Wisconsin’s request for small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to access low-interest federal disaster loans.
    • Sign up for Small Business Administration updates
  • U.S. Small Business Administration Advance on Disaster Loans
  • U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance
  • Disaster customer service – https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance
  • Disaster loan application – https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/
  • To determine your NAICS code – https://www.naics.com/naics-identification-help/
  • To determine your NAICS code small business eligibility – https://www.sba.gov/size
• SBA to Provide Disaster Assistance Loans for Small Businesses Impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• The Department of Homeland Security’s Business Continuity Plan Template can help you get started with your plan. More information on business continuity planning is available here.
• Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) hosted a webinar for businesses on March 17, 2020: How your business can withstand a global pandemic outbreak. View the recorded webinar through MMAC’s Coronavirus Guidance & Resources page.

Funding Opportunities 

• Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC): Funding Opportunities Web Portal
  • Focus on Energy Assisting homeowners and businesses connect to energy-saving resources.

National Association of Manufacturers:

• • NAM’s Coronavirus Resources
  • NAM’s COVID-19 Policy Action Plan