COVID-19 ("Coronavirus") Information and Resources
Employee education is one of the best lines of defense for the workplace. General preventive health practices, like washing hands, can safeguard workers even when they’re at home. Remind employees to keep up their hygiene and share their knowledge of coronavirus symptoms so they know what to look out for. Together, you and your employees can stay safe, healthy and productive. Speak with JA Benefits, LLC for more information on staying healthy in the workplace.
aka Coronavirus
The 2019 novel coronavirus (“COVID-19” or “coronavirus”) is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that is a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, runny nose, cough and trouble breathing. Most people develop only mild symptoms. But some, usually people with other medical complications, develop more severe symptoms, including pneumonia, which can be fatal. The incubation period for COVID-19 is from two to 14 days.
Initially detected in Wuhan, China in late 2019, the first case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported on January 21, 2020. Since then, the disease has spread to more than 50 people within the continental United States, with CDC officials warning of further outbreaks.
The available information about how the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads is largely based on what is known about similar coronaviruses. COVID-19 is a new disease and there is more to learn about its transmission, the severity of illness it causes, and to what extent it may spread in the United States.
According to the CDC, the virus is thought to spread mainly from person to person, between people we are in close contact with one another (within about six feet) or through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
To learn more about how you can stay healthy and prevent spreading the virus or catching it yourself, download the Compliance + The Coronavirus Newsletter.
Employers should protect against coronavirus as much as they protect against the flu: Offer on-site flu shots, stock cleaning wipes, and hand sanitizer, and educate employees on prevention methods. Unfortunately, there is no known vaccine for a human-contracted coronavirus, making precautions that much more critical. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, individuals should take the following precautions to avoid person-to-person spreading of a coronavirus:
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid contact with those who are sick.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water.
FFCRA Employee Rights Poster [DOL]
FFCRA Federal Employee Rights Poster [DOL]
FFCRA Notice – FAQ [DOL]
COVID-19 Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources [SBA]
COVID-19 and The American Workplace Homepage – DOL Updates on FFCRA [DOL]
FFCRA Questions & Answers [DOL]
Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Questions and Answers [DOL]
Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 [OSHA]
Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) [CDC]
Coronavirus (COVID-19) [CDC]
COVID-19 [OSHA]
COVID-19 and the Fair Labor Standards Act: Questions and Answers [DOL]
COVID-19 and the Family and Medical Leave Act: Questions and Answers [DOL]
HIPAA Privacy and Novel Coronavirus [HHS Office for Civil Rights]
The ADA, the Rehabilitation Act and the Coronavirus [EEOC]
What You Need to Know About Keeping Workplaces, Homes, Schools or Commercial Establishments Safe [White House Coronavirus Task Force]
FAQs on Essential Health Benefit Coverage and the Coronavirus [CMS]
High Deductible Health Plans and Expenses Related to COVID-19 [IRS Notice 2020-15]
Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations [CDC]
Guidance on Unemployment Insurance Flexibilities During COVID-19 Outbreak [DOL press release]