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Coronavirus Actions, Plans and Risks to Consider

The number of national media stories regarding impacts from the novel coronavirus, also called COVID-19, have skyrocketed over the past week. Many businesses and governments have activated emergency response plans, canceled nonessential travel and planned more based on local factors.    

This sample of coronavirus media headlines speaks to the scope of unprecedented challenges organizations are currently facing:

• NY Times — Workplace vs. Coronavirus: ‘No One Has a Playbook for This’: The deadly disease has arrived in some offices, and employers are figuring out how to adapt.
• Bloomberg — Send Workers Home Now If You Can, U.S. Business-Crisis Experts Say: With the virus spreading, experts say companies should at least test their systems for remote work.
• The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) — Schools Shut in Seattle Area as Coronavirus Spreads: New York, Illinois and other states report new cases as tech companies in Seattle urge employees to work from home.
• NBC News — 10 ways the coronavirus is making people change their daily lives: Don’t bring your reusable cup to Starbucks, just listen to music at home and stop shaking hands.

National Guidance and Specific State Actions Taken

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued interim guidance for how businesses and employers should respond, including these steps (with more specific details under each bullet at the website link):

• Actively encourage sick employees to stay home;
• Separate sick employees;
• Emphasize staying home when sick, respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene by all employees;
• Perform routine environmental cleaning;
• Advise employees before traveling to take certain steps;
• Additional measures in response to currently occurring sporadic importations of the new COVID-19.

Meanwhile, most states have taken proactive measures. For example:

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday declared a state of emergency after the first death from (Read more...)