Tuesday, March 17, 2020
New coronavirus stable for hours on surfaces SARS-CoV-2 stability similar to original SARS virus.
This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (yellow)—also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19—isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in the lab.NIAID-RML
WhatThe virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is stable for several hours to days in aerosols and on surfaces, according to a new study from National Institutes of Health, CDC, UCLA and Princeton University scientists in The New England Journal of Medicine. The scientists found that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was detectable in aerosols for up to three hours, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. The results provide key information about the stability of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 disease, and suggests that people may acquire the virus through the air and after touching contaminated objects. The study information was widely shared during the past two weeks after the researchers placed the contents on a preprint server to quickly share their data with colleagues.
The NIH scientists, from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Montana facility at Rocky Mountain Laboratories, compared how the environment affects SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1, which causes SARS. SARS-CoV-1, like its successor now circulating across the globe, emerged from China and infected more than 8,000 people in 2002 and 2003. SARS-CoV-1 was eradicated by intensive contact tracing and case isolation measures and no cases have been detected since 2004. SARS-CoV-1 is the human coronavirus most closely related to SARS-CoV-2. In the stability study the two viruses behaved similarly, which unfortunately fails to explain why COVID-19 has become a much larger outbreak.
The NIH study attempted to mimic virus being deposited from an infected person onto everyday surfaces in a household or hospital setting, such as through coughing or touching objects. The scientists then investigated how long the virus remained infectious on these surfaces.
The scientists highlighted additional observations from their study:
If the viability of the two coronaviruses is similar, why is SARS-CoV-2 resulting in more cases? Emerging evidence suggests that people infected with SARS-CoV-2 might be spreading virus without recognizing, or prior to recognizing, symptoms. This would make disease control measures that were effective against SARS-CoV-1 less effective against its successor.
In contrast to SARS-CoV-1, most secondary cases of virus transmission of SARS-CoV-2 appear to be occurring in community settings rather than healthcare settings. However, healthcare settings are also vulnerable to the introduction and spread of SARS-CoV-2, and the stability of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosols and on surfaces likely contributes to transmission of the virus in healthcare settings.
The findings affirm the guidance from public health professionals to use precautions similar to those for influenza and other respiratory viruses to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
ArticleN van Doremalen, et al. Aerosol and surface stability of HCoV-19 (SARS-CoV-2) compared to SARS-CoV-1. The New England Journal of Medicine. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMc2004973 (2020).
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Filing for Unemployment During the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis
CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) ACT
The President signed the CARES Act to expand unemployment insurance benefits. Once the Department is provided with operational instructions from USDOL, we will work to make the benefits approved by the Act available to qualified individuals. Please continue to monitor our website and your My UI account for updates.
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Coronavirus Resource for Employers: Provided by Constangy, Smith, Brooks & Prophete, LLP
As the COVID-19 outbreak evolves, Constangy has created this resource page for employers, to stay abreast of the latest guidance and provide answers to frequently asked questions.
This resource center is made available for educational purposes only, to provide general information and not to provide specific legal advice or to establish an attorney-client relationship. Further, the issues related to COVID-19 are constantly evolving. There have been substantial changes in the governmental guidance and even in the underlying laws on almost a daily basis, which will impact the analysis of the legal issues related to COVID-19. As such, this resource center should not be used as a substitute for up-to-date legal advice from an attorney licensed in your state. Go to Constangy's website for the complete employers COVID-19 outbreak frequently asked questions and resource guide.
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Prepared by the U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY LOANS
Small Business Guide and Checklist
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocated $350 billion to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. Known as the Paycheck Protection Program, the initiative provides 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses who maintain their payroll during this emergency. Importantly, these loans may be forgiven if borrowers maintain their payrolls during the crisis or restore their payrolls afterward. The administration soon will release more details including the list of lenders offering loans under the program. In the meantime, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has issued this guide to help small businesses and self-employed individuals prepare to file for a loan. Here are the questions you may be asking— and what you need to know.
1. Am I ELIGIBLE?
2. What will lenders be LOOKING FOR?
3. How much can I BORROW?
4. Will this loan be FORGIVEN?
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LEGAL BULLETIN from Constangy, Smith, Brooks & Prophete, LLP
March 26, 2020
Extension of income tax deadlines results in extension of deadlines for some benefits-related matters, IRS says
By Deborah Hembree and Dana Thrasher / Birmingham Office
The Internal Revenue Service recently issued Notice 2020-18, which
delays the federal income tax filing and payment deadlines for individuals,
corporations, and others from April 15 to July 15. In a Q&A related to the
Notice, the IRS has clarified the implication of this extension for certain
benefits-related matters.
The IRS has clarified that this extension means that the end of the grace
period under Section 404(a)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code for those
employers to make contributions to their qualified retirement plans on
account of the 2019 plan year is also extended to July 15, 2020. The IRS
provides as an example an employer who is a corporation with an April 15,
2020, due date for filing the Form 1120. In that circumstance, the grace
period under Section 404(a)(6) for the employer to make contributions to
its workplace-based retirement plan that are treated as made on account of
2019 ends on July 15, 2020.
The federal tax deadline extensions are also providing employees with
more time to contribute money to their Health Savings Accounts for 2019.
Generally, contributions to an HSA for a particular year may be made at any time during that year or by the employee’s due date for filing a tax return for that year. But the IRS has clarified that because the due date for filing federal income tax returns is now July 15, 2020, employees may make contributions to their HSA for 2019 at any time up to July 15, 2020.
There is also some tax relief for employees related to distributions taken
under their retirement plans. Employees who took distributions in 2019 for
which they owe the 10 percent additional tax penalty (that is, they took a
distribution and they were under the age of 59 ½, and no exception applies), would ordinarily have had to pay that additional tax penalty by April 15, 2020. However, because the IRS has extended the filing and payment date for federal income taxes, the 10 percent additional tax penalty payment is also extended. The reason for the extension is based on the fact that the 10 percent penalty is calculated, reported, and paid at the same time as the income tax otherwise owed on the distribution. Thus, the reporting and payment of the penalty has also been extended to July 15, 2020.
Employees who made excess deferrals to a retirement plan, however, must still take those excess deferrals (and income) out of the retirement plan no later than April 15, 2020, in order to exclude the distributions from income. That date has not been extended by the IRS relief.
For more information, check out our Resource Center for FAQs and updates about the coronavirus.
Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete offers a wider lens on workplace law. We have counseled employers exclusively since 1946. With offices in 15 states, we are one of the largest labor and employment law practices in the U.S. Constangy has been named as a top firm for women and minorities by organizations including Law360, the National Law Journal and Vault.com. Many of our more than 190 attorneys have been recognized by leading authorities such as Chambers & Partners, Best Lawyers in America® and Martindale Hubbell. Find out more about us online at www.constangy.com or follow us on Twitter @ConstangyLaw.
Office Locations Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
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Georgia Department of Public Health COVID-19 Daily Status Report
Georgia Department of Public Health COVID-19 Daily Status Report For: 03/30/2020 These data represent confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported to the Georgia Department of Public Health as of 03/30/2020 11:28:11.
A confirmed case is defined as a person who has tested positive for 2019 novel coronavirus.
COVID-19 Confirmed Cases: No. Cases (%)
Total 2809 (100%)
Hospitalized 707(25.17%)
Deaths 87 (3.1%)
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