COVID-19 April 14 Update

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COVID-19 April 14 Update
Summary of Gov. Hutchinson’s April 14 COVID-19 Press Conference here.
COVID-19’s impact on Arkansas's economy here.
Attorney General Leslie Rutledge provided the following tips in order to protect the public health and to avoid unintended consequences and financial losses:
  • When ordering PPE from online retailers, always verify the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and confirm “https” in the web address, as a lack of a security certification (“https”) may be an indicator that the site is insecure or compromised.
  • The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Air purifying respirators approved by NIOSH are available at https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/default.html.
  • Consult the NIOSH website to –
  • determine if an offered product is on the NIOSH Certified Equipment List.
  • determine if the manufacturer is on the NIOSH Approved Manufacturers Listof N95 respirator masks, and validate approval and certification numbers.
  • find examples of unapproved or counterfeit N95 respirator masks.
  • For further guidance regarding non-NIOSH-approved respirator masks that may qualify as approved, consult guidance from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) at https://www.fda.gov/media/136403/download.
  • If procuring other categories of PPE such as gowns, gloves, goggles, and face shields, consult the manufacturer to verify authenticity and availability.
  • Be wary of unprompted solicitations to purchase large quantities of PPE and do not provide usernames, passwords, personal identifying information (PII) such as social security number and date of birth, or financial information in response to an email or robocall.
  • Ask the seller for information about the manufacturer, its location and its reputation for manufacturing high-quality goods.
  • Check with the Secretary of State’s Office to determine if the broker is registered to do business in Arkansas and is in good standing.
Federal News
The U.S. Treasury Department has updated information on the Paycheck Protection Program including an Interim Final Rule here.
Deal expected soon in Congress for additional round of COVID-19 relief here.
The CDC has issued updates on a variety of topics here.
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Paid Leave Requirements under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) here.

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