SS+D COVID-19 Response Team: Federal and State Update April 27, 2020

STATE – GOV. DEWINE ANNOUNCES THE GRADUAL REOPENING OF OHIO ECONOMY
Today, Gov. DeWine announced three phases for reopening Ohio’s economy. Phase One will begin on May 1 and involves fully reopening healthcare facilities to provide any health or hospital procedures that do not require an overnight stay in the hospital (certain procedures, such as life-saving treatments, cancer treatments, and the like, are permitted even if an overnight stay is required). Similarly, dentists, veterinarians, and physicians can resume normal operations on May 1.

Phase Two will begin on May 4 and involves the reopening of manufacturing, distribution, and construction businesses as well as general offices. However, businesses must require employees to use face coverings, conduct daily health assessments, continue social distancing, and perform sanitation/disinfecting. Businesses will not be permitted to have more than 50% of their facility’s fire code capacity on-site at one time.

Phase Three will begin on May 12 and includes the reopening of all consumer, retail, and services industries. These businesses will have similar protocols as those mentioned above. However, hair salons, gyms, movie theatres, daycares, restaurants, and other similar businesses remain closed.

STATE – VIRUS TRACING WORKFORCE PLAN
Ohio has created a “workforce plan” to gather volunteers and workers to help conduct contact tracing of the coronavirus over a long period of time. The workforce plan will rely on volunteers initially, but the state will seek to gather funding to grow a workforce of paid workers to help track the virus. It is expected that 1,750 workers will be needed to help with tracing by June 1.

FEDERAL – MORE PPP LOAN FUNDS AVAILABLE
President Trump signed into law on Friday a new $484 billion coronavirus relief package, including more than $300 billion in additional funds for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). As of today, the SBA has resumed accepting PPP applications from participating lenders. The package includes $60 billion for small and midsize lending institutions, $60 billion in disaster relief loans, $75 billion for hospitals, and $25 billion to boost coronavirus testing. If businesses are unable to apply for a PPP loan through a national or regional bank, they are encouraged to apply through an SBA approved nonbank or lending company.

ABOUT THE SS+D COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM
The SS+D COVID-19 Response Team was formed to provide clients, colleagues, and friends of the Firm updates for the foreseeable future on COVID-19 issues facing businesses, executives, and employees. Please let us know if there are any items/issues you would like for us to track or summarize.