Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update 3/31/2020
Coronavirus Positive Tests in Oakland:
- Today the Borough of Oakland was notified by the Bergen County Health Department that there are a total of 25 individuals in Oakland who tested positive for the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Bergen County Health Department is no longer providing towns with patient details such as gender and age so we are not able to provide that information to the community.
- If anyone has questions about COVID-19, you can call the 24-hour New Jersey Hotline at (800) 222-1222. You can also visit the State of NJ Coronavirus Website Here.
- Updates will be provided as they become available.
Reminder – Proper Discard of Gloves:
- The Borough of Oakland has received several complaints and would like to remind the public to please not discard surgical gloves in public parking lots. It is a health risk especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you.
NJ Seeking Healthcare and Mental Health Care Professionals to Volunteer:
- New Jersey is seeking healthcare and mental healthcare professionals to volunteer during the State of Emergency. People can register to volunteer at covid19.nj.gov.
Food Assistance and SNAP:
Individuals who receive NJ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (NJ SNAP) benefits will receive an extra benefit payment and benefits will be higher in April to help address critical food needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. To see if you are eligible for food assistance and to apply for NJ SNAP, go to the website: www.NJHelps.org
Symptoms of Allergies vs. Symptoms of COVID-19:
- COVID-19 Symtoms:
- Mainly: Fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, fatigue
- Less frequent: diarheea, aches and pains, nasal congestion, sore throat
- Seasonal Allergies:
- Runny nose, itchy eyes, mouth, or skin, stuffy nose
Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES):
Summary
On March 27, 2020 the President of the Unites States signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Provided below is information relative to residents and small businesses in Oakland.
For Residents:
- $260 billion in expanded unemployment benefits, including an additional $600 per week for the next four months, providing an additional 13 weeks of federally funded benefits, and expanding eligibility to include workers in the gig economy and self-employed workers;
- Immediate, direct cash payments to lower and middle-income New Jerseyans, $1,200 for each adult and $500 for each child, beginning to phase out at an annual income of $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for a household;
For Small Businesses:
The programs and initiatives in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was just passed by Congress are intended to assist business owners with whatever needs they have right now. When implemented, there will be many new resources available for small businesses, as well as certain nonprofits and other employers. This guide provides information about the major programs and initiatives that will soon be available from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to address these needs, as well as some additional tax provisions that are outside the scope of SBA. To keep up to date on when these programs become available, please stay in contact with your local Small Business Administration (SBA) District Office, which you can locate here.
- More than $375 billion in small business relief, including $349 billion for forgivable loans to small businesses to pay their employees and keep them on payroll; $17 billion for debt relief for current and new SBA borrowers; and $10 billion in immediate disaster grants;
- Payment Protection Program (PPP) Loans:
- The program would provide cash-flow assistance through 100 percent federally guaranteed loans to employers who maintain their payroll during this emergency. If employers maintain their payroll, the loans would be forgiven, which would help workers remain employed, as well as help affected small businesses and our economy to snap-back quicker after the crisis. PPP has a host of attractive features, such as forgiveness of up to 8 weeks of payroll based on employee retention and salary levels, no SBA fees and at least six months of deferral with maximum deferrals of up to a year. Small businesses and other eligible entities will be able to apply if they were harmed by COVID-19 between February 15, 2020 and June 30, 2020. This program is retroactive to February 15, 2020, in order to help bring workers who may have already been laid off back onto payrolls. Loans are available through June 30, 2020.
- What types of businesses and entities are eligible for a PPP loan?
- Businesses and entities must have been in operation on February 15, 2020.
- Small business concerns, as well as any business concern, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, a 501(c)(19) veterans organization, or Tribal business concern described in section 31(b)(2)(C) that has fewer than 500 employees or fewer employees than established by the relevant industry code.
- Individuals who operate a sole proprietorship or as an independent contractor and eligible self-employed individuals.
- Any business concern that employs not more than 500 employees per physical location of the business concern and that is assigned a North American Industry Classification System code beginning with 72, for which the affiliation rules are waived.
- Affiliation rules are also waived for any business concern operating as a franchise that is assigned a franchise identifier code by the Administration, and company that receives funding through a Small Business Investment Company.
- What types of non-profits are eligible?
- All 501(c) (3) non-profits with 500 employees or fewer, or more if SBA’s size standards for the non-profit allows. Please visit https://www.sba.gov/size-standards/ to find out your non-profit’s SBA size standards by number of employees. For example, churches and museums with fewer than 500 employees are eligible. You will need the 6-digit North American Industry Classification Code for your business.
- Small Business Debt Relief Program:
- This program will provide immediate relief to small businesses with non-disaster SBA loans, in particular 7(a), 504, and microloans. Under it, SBA will cover all loan payments on these SBA loans, including principal, interest, and fees, for six months. This relief will also be available to new borrowers who take out loans within six months of the President signing the bill into law.
- Economic Injury Disaster Loans & Emergency Economic Injury Grants:
- These grants provide an emergency advance of up to $10,000 to small businesses and private non-profits harmed by COVID-19 within three days of applying for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). To access the advance, you must first apply for an EIDL and then request the advance. The advance does not need to be repaid under any circumstance, and may be used to keep employees on payroll, to pay for sick leave, meet increased production costs due to supply chain disruptions, or pay business obligations, including debts, rent and mortgage payments.
- What is an EIDL and what is it used for?
- EIDLs are lower interest loans of up to $2 million, with principal and interest deferment available for up to 4 years that are available to pay for expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred, including payroll and other operating expenses.
- Who is eligible for an EIDL?
- Small business concerns (including sole proprietorships, with or without employees)
- Independent contractors
- Cooperatives and employee owned businesses
- Private non-profits
- Tribal small businesses
- Who is eligible for an Emergency Economic Injury Grant?
- Those eligible for an EIDL and who have been in operation since January 31, 2020.
- Counseling & Training
- If you, like many small business owners, need a business counselor to help guide you through this uncertain time, you can turn to your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Women’s Business Center (WBC), or SCORE mentorship chapter. These resource partners, and the associations that represent them, will receive additional funds to expand their reach and better support small business owners with counseling and up-to-date information regarding COVID-19. There will soon be a joint platform that consolidates information and resources related to COVID-19 in order to provide consistent, timely information to small businesses. To find a local resource partner, visit https://www.sba.gov/local-assistance/find/.In
Important Links:
CDC warns against using non-pharmaceutical chloroquine phosphate to prevent or treat COVID-19:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has become aware of two individuals who ingested non-pharmaceutical chloroquine phosphate, a chemical for aquarium use. One of the individuals died shortly after arrival to the hospital. The second individual was critically ill with severe gastrointestinal symptoms and cardiac conduction abnormalities.
Recommendations for the Public:
- Do not ingest aquarium use products or any other chemicals that contain chloroquine phosphate. These chemicals are not intended for human consumption and can lead to serious health consequences, including death.
- Medications like chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate should be taken only when prescribed by and under the supervision of your healthcare provider and always according to the instructions provided. 3. Seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing any unexpected symptoms after taking chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine by contacting your healthcare provider or your poison center, 1-800-222-1222