COVID-19 | Coronavirus and Arkansas

If you have concerns that you might have COVID-19 or been exposed to it, UAMS Health has a HealthNow website where you can get free online screening: https://uamshealth.com/healthnow/

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is working with local, state and federal partners and has activated a call center to answer questions from health care providers and the public about the novel coronavirus. Learn more.

Call the Arkansas coronavirus hotlines:

• For children (staffed by Arkansas Children’s Hospital): 1-800-743-3616.
• For adults (staffed by UAMS): 1-800-632-4502.

Contact the Arkansas Department of Health at 1-800-803-7847.

If you are a Medicare Beneficiary, consider using Telemedicine services. For more information, click HERE. For a FAQ on how to utilize telemedicine, click HERE. 

The CDC offers information on how Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) spreads, symptoms, prevention and treatment, and what to do if you are sick, and frequently asked questions, including printable fliers. About Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI) has a webpage on COVID-19:  www.achi.net/covid19

As of March 20, Arkansas has reported 96 total known cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, according to Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson. All schools in Arkansas have closed on-site instruction until April 17 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Hutchinson previously declared a public-health emergency in Arkansas, which will allow the state to receive $6.2 million in emergency funding for virus response previously approved by Congress.

Details of Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s March 20 Press Conference:

Summary of Governor Hutchinson’s March 20 Press Conference

Arkansas AEDC Redeploys $16 Million to Help Businesses Hurt by Coronavirus Outbreak. This article also covers the Quick Action Closing Fund, Community Development Block Grants, SBA disaster relief loans and Arkansas’s Unemployment Insurance System : http://ddh.law/artaxandincentivesupdate/post/arkansas-economic-development-commission-redeploys-dollar-12-million-of-economic-development-cash-to-help-businesses-hurt-by-coronavirus-outbreak

The Arkansas Attorney General’s Office has a COVID-19 page for use by the business community: https://arkansasag.gov/covid19/

March 18 Updates on the State Level for Business Assistance with COVID-19: https://www.arkansasstatechamber.com/news-publications/news-releases/march-18-updates-on-state-and-federal-actions-regarding-covid-19/

What Arkansas Businesses Are Doing To Alleviate COVID-19: https://www.arkansasstatechamber.com/news-publications/news-releases/what-arkansas-businesses-are-doing-to-alleviate-covid-19/

The Arkansas Community Foundation has established a statewide COVID-19 Relief Fund. Contributions to the fund will provide rapid-response grants to nonprofit organizations working on the front lines: https://www.arcf.org/responding-to-covid-19-in-arkansas/

Arkansas Supreme Court response to COVID-19: https://www.arkansasstatechamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Arkansas-Supreme-Court-Response-to-COVID-19-.pdf

Here’s a link to detailed information about the status of courts across the state: https://www.arcourts.gov/news/judiciary-closings-cancellations-changes

Senate GOP pushes for  trillion-dollar coronavirus deal by end of Friday, 3/20:

Senate GOP Pushes for Trillion-Dollar Coronavirus Deal by End of Friday, 3/20

Details on the Families First Response Act, which was passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by President Trump on March 18: https://ajg.adobeconnect.com/ffra/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Families+First+Coronavirus+Response+Act&utm_campaign=Families+First+Coronavirus+Response+Act+Information

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is granting a 90-day delay past the traditional April 15th deadline to everyone who owes money to the IRS. Individuals can defer up to $1 million without any penalties or interest, and businesses can do the same for up to $10 million. To learn more, click HERE.

The IRS released Notice 2020-17 providing additional information related to the extension of the deadline for Federal income tax payments.

All local Arkansas Social Security Offices are now closed to the public for in-person services. If you need to contact your local social security office, secure online services are available at www.socialsecurity.gov or you can call your local office. If you are not sure which Social Security office to call, you can find out here: https://www.ssofficelocation.com/arkansas-social-security-offices-sos4.

SBA Disaster Recovery Loans – The Federal Government has authorized $50 billion in disaster recovery loan funding to be administered by the US Small Business Administration. Has your business been affected by COVID-19?

SBA has approved Disaster Declaration #16372 Arkansas Disaster number AR-00109 as a statewide declaration for small business affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19). Effective date 1/31/2020.

Businesses located in all counties in Arkansas can apply at  https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

State of Arkansas small business assistance: https://www.arkansasedc.com/covid19

U.S. SBA Disaster Assistance Website Page here. SBA COVID-19 small business resource page here: https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

An Employer’s Guide: Ten Considerations to Support Your Workforce: https://mma.marshmma.com/l/644133/2020-03-06/jx9g5/644133/87414/CORONAVIRUS_MMB_FINAL.pdf 

COVID-19 and Paid Leave: Three Scenarios to Plan For: https://www.mercer.us/our-thinking/healthcare/COVID-19-and-paid-leave-three-scenarios-to-plan-for.html

The Workers Compensation Impacts of 2019 Coronavirus: https://mma.marshmma.com/l/644133/2020-03-05/jx15f/644133/87288/crawco_global_resource_whitepaper_Coronavirus_WorkersComp.pdf

Coronavirus in the Workplace: Health, Safety and Insurance Considerations: https://www.marsh.com/us/insights/research/coronavirus-in-the-workplace.html?utm_source=email-studio&utm_medium=internal-email&utm_campaign=novel-coronavirus-2019-preparedness-and-response

Arkansas banks are open, but will be delivering a larger number of products and services through their mobile and digital channels: https://aba.informz.net/ABA/data/images/PDF%20Documents/COVID-19%20Press%20Release_3.17.2020.pdf

The Arkansas Bankers Association has a web page that is devoted to banking resources and guidance for COVID-19: http://www.arkbankers.org/ABA/Resource_Center/Coronavirus_Resources.aspx

Arkansas State Chamber member Dover Dixon Horne PLLC Attorneys at Law has developed an article titled “Employers and Coronavirus,” which provides guidance for businesses on COVID-19: https://www.arkansasstatechamber.com/news-publications/news-releases/employers-and-coronavirus/

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently issued the document “Guidance for Employers To Plan and Respond to Coronavirus (COVID 19)” here.

• U.S. Chamber Coronavirus Resource Website
• U.S. Chamber Disaster Help Desk 
• Resources to Help Your Small Business Survive

The NAM is in contact with federal officials who are overseeing the response to the coronavirus and they are working to share additional available information: National Association of Manufacturers: Coronavirus Resources

The NAM also recently released a document titled “COVID-19 Policy Action Plan Recommendations” to help manufacturers during the coronavirus crisis:https://www.nam.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID-19-Policy-Action-Plan-Recommendations.pdf?_zs=wAv4e1&_zl=xn6b6

The CDC provides interim guidance to help prevents workplace exposures to acute respiratory illnesses in non-healthcare settings: Communicate with Employees (CDC)

With Coronavirus dominating the news, now is a good time to communicate with your employees. Let your employees know you are monitoring the situation and share best practices for prevention and treatment.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) developed this pandemic influenza planning guidance based upon traditional infection control and industrial hygiene practices. It is important to note that this guidance is intended for planning purposes and is not specific to a particular viral strain: Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic (OSHA)

Planning for pandemic influenza is critical. To assist you in your efforts, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed this checklist for large businesses. It identifies important, specific activities large businesses can do now to prepare, many of which will also help you in other emergencies: Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist (HHS & CDC)

This technical assistance document provides information about Titles I and V of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and pandemic planning in the workplace. It identifies established ADA principles that are relevant to questions frequently asked about workplace pandemic planning: Legal Guidance on Workplace Pandemic Planning (EEOC)

The United States Government has created this guide to help U.S. businesses with overseas operations prepare and implement pandemic business continuity: Pandemic Preparedness Planning for U.S. Businesses with Overseas Operations (CDC)

This is a sample of pandemic threat condition levels that could be implemented at your business: Sample Pandemic Threat Condition Levels

Questions to ask during an outbreak, questions to ask once an outbreak becomes a pandemic, and which actions your crisis management team should perform regularly afterward to stay prepared: Sample Pandemic Preparation Questions

This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide updated information as it becomes available, in addition to updated guidance: Situation Summary (CDC)

Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center has a real-time map that tracks Coronavirus COVID-19 cases around the world: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

The CDC provides a page with current travel warnings, alerts and watches, as well as destination with risk of community spread: Travel > Coronavirus Disease 2019 Information for Travel (CDC)

Information and guidance from WHO regarding the current outbreak of coronavirus disease, including daily updates: World Health Organization: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak

Video from WHO explaining what’s currently known about the virus: World Health Organization: Video Explainer

This page will be updated with new and relevant resources as they become available. If you have information that you would like to share with the Arkansas business community regarding Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), please e-mail us.