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Corona Virus Update

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Those with a necessity to operate vehicles for their business may need additional vehicles in order to separate employees or to meet increased demand as a result of COVID-19. Enterprise Fleet Management has established a special account code with our affiliate, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, for our partners here in South Florida. The account number is XZ41COV and is ready for active use.

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COUNTY ANNOUNCES CORONAVIRUS HOTLINE

Beginning Saturday, March 21, 2020, Broward County partnered with the Florida Department of Health in Broward County to open a special telephone line to assist in answering public questions about COVID-19. Call takers can also conduct over-the-phone pre-screening for testing eligibility. The new number is 954-357-9500. The temporary COVID-19 call center will accept calls from 8AM to 8PM, 7 days a week.

For future updates on COVID-19, visit FloridaHealth.gov, email COVID-19@flhealth.gov or call the COVID-19 Call Center at 954-357-9500. 

NEW! Update on Federal Paid Leave Mandates under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, H.R. 6201

On March 20, Treasury, IRS and DOL announced  their intent to implement these new mandates. Items to note:

  • SMALL BUSINESS EXEMPTIONS:
    It appears that guidance/regulations will be issued from the Secretary of Labor to exempt small businesses with fewer than 50 employees from the leave requirements relating to school closings or child care unavailability where the requirements would jeopardize the ability of the business to continue. The exemption will be available on the basis of simple and clear criteria that make it available in circumstances involving jeopardy to the viability of an employer’s business as a going concern.
  • PROMPT PAYMENT FROM IRS TO EMPLOYERS MANDATED TO PROVIDE LEAVE:
    Under guidance that will be released next week, eligible employers who pay qualifying sick or child care leave will be able to retain an amount of the payroll taxes equal to the amount of qualifying sick and child care leave that they paid, rather than deposit them with the IRS. The payroll taxes that are available for retention include withheld federal income taxes, the employee share of Social Security and Medicare taxes, and the employer share of Social Security and Medicare taxes with respect to all employees. If there are not sufficient payroll taxes to cover the cost of qualified sick and child care leave paid, employers will be able file a request for an accelerated payment from the IRS. The IRS expects to process these requests in two weeks or less. The details of this new, expedited procedure will be announced next week.
  • NEW! Summary of Paid Leave Mandates under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, H.R. 6201
    On March 18, 2020, Congress approved and the president signed into law legislation that includes mandates for employer-fronted federal paid leave—emergency sick leave and emergency paid family and medical leave described below. These requirements take effect on April 2, 2020, and sunset on December 31, 2020. However, the legislative environment remains fluid. The Senate could consider altering these paid leave mandates in a COVID-19 economic investment bill, a third COVID-19 relief bill. Such a measure could pass within days and would then need to be considered by the House before it became law. As such, please note that the information in this document is potentially subject to change before it takes effect. Read more.

SFACA has assembled general guidance and links to information from our federal agency partners and health organizations. SFACA will continue to monitor the situation and update the information on this page accordingly.

What is COVID-19?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people such as with MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and now with this new virus (named SARS-CoV-2). The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person in China and some limited person-to-person transmission has been reported in countries outside China, including the United States. However, respiratory illnesses like seasonal flu, are currently widespread in many US communities.

Symptoms of COVID-19

Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure*:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath

*This is based on what has been seen previously as the incubation period of MERS-CoV viruses.

Call your healthcare professional if you develop symptoms, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or if you have recently traveled from an area with widespread or onging community spread of COVID-19.

What Should Employers Do?

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is encouraging businesses to begin preparations for the spread of the Coronavirus in the United States. In order to assist you in these preparations, you are encouraged to take the following steps:

  • Hygiene and health is key – Practicing standard sanitation and hygiene regimens is a top priority.
    • Encourage frequent and thorough hand washing with soap and water Hand Washing Guidance.
    • Hand sanitizer, with at least 60% alcohol content, is a secondary option.
    • Remind everyone to keep noses and mouths covered when coughing or sneezing Coughing and Sneezing Etiquette.
    • Avoid touching in and around the eyes, with unwashed hands.
    • Everyone who has not yet had a flu shot should get one as soon as possible.
  • Follow the CDC recommendations for employers: 
    • Employer Guidance: PREPARE NOW.
    • Emphasize staying home when sick, respiratory etiquette, and hand hygiene by all employees.
    • Perform routine environmental cleaning.
    • Update your absenteeism policy and communicate the requirements.
    • Update your work from home policy and communicate the requirements.
  • Planning Considerations
    • Prepare for increased absenteeism
      • Cross train employees to handle other functions
      • Encourage employees to develop contingency plans for child care in the event there are long term closures of schools and day care centers
    • Prepare for business interruption
      • Identify alternative suppliers
      • Prioritize certain customers
      • Prepare to shut down certain functions

Additional Resources