Perspectives on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force

Turf magazine

Like new cases of COVID-19, the number of business interruption suits appears to be increasing exponentially. In the last few weeks, dozens of plaintiffs in at least six lawsuits across four states have sought insurance coverage for business losses associated with the COVID-19 outbreak.

This updates our prior Alert regarding the importation and distribution of respirators and other masks to be used to meet the significant US health care challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In part two of our discussion, we talked with Aaron Jacoby and Oliver Spurgeon about how the new legislation is helping practitioners, including those on the frontlines fighting the pandemic.

What is the DPA? How has the administration used it in response to the COVID-19 crisis? What is the impact of the Administration’s DPA-related orders and memoranda? What about enforcement? What does it all mean for exporters?

In the true spirit of Arent Fox, we are working to be Smart in Your World as many of us are doing the best we can to stay safe in our own communities (i.e., social distancing).

To facilitate the importation of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies responsive to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID–19) pandemic, the government continues to waive some tariffs, but balks on broad relief.

On April 3, the Small Business Administration issued two additional rule updates affecting the Paycheck Protection Program.

Today is the first day to submit applications for a Small Business Administration loan under the new Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), one of the key components of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and. Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Complying with California’s wage and hour rules can be hard in ordinary times. Now, along with the many challenges that the COVID-19 emergency poses, California employers may face new situations and issues. 

On March 31, Health & Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced the creation of a new FDA program, the Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program (“CTAP”), designed to speed up the development of life-saving treatments that have the potential to be both safe and effective.

With businesses facing reduced hours or closures because of the COVID-19 pandemic, business interruption coverage is top of mind. In today’s episode, we talked to James Westerlind about the types of coverage and policy exclusions that can impact your ability to make a claim.

We previously reported on Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order which put in place mandatory stay-at-home restrictions except for workers in “essential businesses” as part of an effort to help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) provides, among other things, immediate eviction relief for certain residential tenants, but does not address relief for commercial tenants.

Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) employers with 499 or fewer employees are responsible for providing employees with paid sick leave and paid expanded family and medical leave under certain circumstances related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).  

On Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a temporary final rule providing further clarity on how the agency will be implementing the paid emergency family and medical leave and emergency paid sick leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

The recently passed CARES Act makes critical investments in telehealth and medicare reimbursements. We talked with Aaron Jacoby and Douglas Grimm about the impact the CARES Act will have on key components of the health care industry.

Dealers’ service and parts departments have been deemed “essential.” Sales operations are not so clear. With scaled-down to zero onsite sales operations, ramping up online sales efforts is critical.

In a letter dated March 28, FDA announced it was issuing an Emergency Use Authorization for oral formulations of chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate for the treatment of COVID-19.

As recently reported by our COVID-19 Task Force, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan issued an amended Executive Order on Monday requiring all Maryland residents to stay at home starting at 8 p.m. on March 30, 2020.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service have published more information on refundable tax credits that reimburse small and mid-size employers, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, for the cost of providing their employees paid sick and family leave related to COVID-19.

On March 25, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) granted public company regulatory relief and issued Staff guidance regarding disclosure obligations in light of the continued complications associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Project delays and work stoppages are increasing the likelihood of claims. In part three of our conversation with Mark Bloom and Andrew Ross, we discuss ways to limit your exposure and mitigate claims that may arise related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As our country grapples with the health, economic, and social impacts of COVID-19, the US Congress has weaponized the US tax law to provide economic stimulus and soften the financial blow dealt by COVID-19 through two key pieces of legislation.  

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act includes three programs aimed at providing relief to businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic: the new Paycheck Protection Program, the new Mid-Size Business Loan Program, and an expansion upon the existing Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program.