Families First Coronavirus Response Act

To help support families and small businesses around the country, Congress recently passed legislation to address the public health implications of the coronavirus and insulate Americans from extreme economic hardship by:

• Providing free coronavirus testing for all Americans;
• Establishing protections for health care workers;
• Expanding funding for food aid programs to help those at risk get the nutrition they need;
• Providing paid sick leave for millions of Americans;
• Establishing emergency family and medical leave for workers at companies with 500 employees or fewer to ensure that they can care for themselves or loved ones who become ill; and
• Strengthening unemployment insurance benefits to help workers who lose their jobs due to the outbreak.

The federal government is also taking additional steps to help protect at-risk Americans including:

• Suspending evictions and foreclosures for mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration through at least the end of April;
• Stopping the accrual of interest on federal student loans; and
• Postponing the deadline to file taxes to July 15^th.

Congress and the Administration are continuing to work together to put together more solutions to stimulate the economy and support workers and businesses. Ideas for that package – like cash payments and expanding unemployment insurance – are being worked out to provide the best support we can.

During this time, the Governor has implemented a state-wide Stay-at-Home Policy to protect our communities. As guidance from county and state officials continues to evolved, we will continue to provide regular updates.

State-Wide Stay-at-Home Policy:

• Everyone in the state is ordered to self-isolate at their place of residence;
• Essential services such as health care, emergency services, grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and banks will remain open;
• Individuals should only travel outside the home to complete an essential function or to work in an essential job;
• All non-essential businesses are ordered to close;
• All public and private gatherings of any number of people outside a private household are prohibited;
• It is okay to go outside for walks as long as individuals are not in a group.

To help protect yourself and the community, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people take the following steps:

• Avoid contact with anyone who is sick;
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and immediately throw away the tissue;
• Avoid touching your eyes, face, nose, and mouth;
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces;
• Stay home when you are sick except to get medical care;
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.