Worker and Employer Coronavirus Response and Resources in the District of Columbia

Click the link to be taken to the section below:

Small Business Resources
Private Resources
General Coronavirus Information/Resources
Council Legislation on Coronavirus

Small Business Resources

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US Small Business Administration Disaster Loans

Link to apply.
Information on the application process.

DC Public Health Emergency Small Business Grant Program

Created in Council legislation passed March 17, 2020.
Launch: Tuesday, March 24, 2020, with $25 million.
Deadline: Tuesday, March 31, 2020.

Applications open Tuesday, March 24.

Visit: https://coronavirus.dc.gov/recovery-business

The DC BizCAP Collateral Support Program is available to provide capital to District small businesses and entrepreneurs who continue to encounter reductions in the availability of credit and heightened requirements to obtain financing.
DC permits restaurants to sell sealed beer, wine, and spirits through carryout and delivery if ordered with food.

Click here to register to sell beer, wine, and spirits through carryout/delivery.

Business tax deferrals

DC will waive penalties for failure to timely pay sales and use tax due for periods ending on February 29 and March 31, 2020.
All vendors are still required to file sales and use tax returns on either a monthly or a quarterly basis are eligible for this relief, except for hotels and motels.

Real property tax payments for hotels and motels within the District of Columbia have been deferred until June 30, 2020.
Prohibition on utility shutoff and evictions

Commercial tenants are protected in that the summons that would usually be necessary to evict them requires seven-day warning that will only begin after the end of the public health emergency.

Unemployment insurance

District residents may file for unemployment compensation at http://dcnetworks.org.
Additional resources and links available at https://coronavirus.dc.gov/recovery-individuals

Private Sector Resources

Facebook – Facebook Small Business Grants Program
Recording Academy MusiCares – MusiCares, a part of the Recording Academy, is providing funds for lost income due to the cancellation of scheduled gigs or performances due to Coronavirus/COVID-19 precautionary measures.
Comcast Internet – Comcast is offering two free months of its Internet Essentials service.

General Coronavirus Information/Resources

Check http://coronavirus.dc.gov for the latest information from the District government and DC Health.

DC Health has asked that older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 and should avoid gatherings of 10 or more people.

Effective Monday, March 16, restaurants, bars, and taverns are limited to carry-out and delivery service.
Check http://cdc.gov for the latest from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

March 15, 2020 – CDC recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the U.S.
Even if you are young, or otherwise healthy, you are at risk and your activities can increase the risk for others. It is critical that you do your part to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
If you feel sick, stay home. Do not go to work. Contact your medical provider.
If your children are sick, keep them at home. Contact your medical provider.
If someone in your household has tested positive for the coronavirus, keep the entire household at home. Do not go to work. Contact your medical provider.
If you are an older person, stay home and away from other people.
If you are a person with a serious underlying health condition that can put you at increased risk (for example that impairs your lung or heart function or weakens your immune system), stay home and away from other people.
Avoid discretionary travel, shopping trips, and social visits.

Get Health Insurance! DC Health Link has a special enrollment period so individuals without insurance can get covered now. If you do not have insurance, call (855) 532-5465 and DC Health Link will help you get covered. You can visit: www.dchealthlink.com for more information.
Volunteering:

Serve DC is coordinating people who may like to volunteer.
Ward 5-based Food & Friends looking for eligible volunteers as well.
DC Health has asked potential volunteers to consider the District of Columbia Medical Reserve Corps.

DC Public School (DCPS) buildings are closed starting Monday, March 16, 2020 and students are instructed to engage in distance learning. For the latest information, visit: http://dcps.dc.gov/coronavirus.
DCPS has also established locations for students to access meals during this break:

School Name	Address	Hours
Brookland Middle School	1150 Michigan Ave NE	10 am – 2 pm
Friendship Armstrong PCS	1400 First St NW	8:30 am – 11:30 am
Friendship Woodridge International PCS	2959 Carlton Ave NE	8:30 am – 11:30 am
Langdon Elementary School	1900 Evarts St NE	(Starts March 25) 10 am – 2 pm
Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS	1404 Jackson St NE	9 am – 12 pm
McKinley Education Campus	151 T St NE	10 am – 2 pm
Wheatley Education Campus	1299 Neal St NE	10 am – 2 pm

Senior services and meals:

Senior Wellness Centers operated by the DC Office on Aging and Community Living will be closed for regular use starting Monday, March 16 through at least April 1.

Senior Wellness Centers and Community Dining Sites – modified. Activities at Senior Wellness Centers and Community Dining Sites are suspended. Effective March 20, 2020, lunch pick-up is available only on this date at 10 am – 2 pm for current participants at the following sites: Bernice Fonteneau Senior Wellness Center, Vida Senior Center (Calvert), Adas Israel, Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center, Vida Senior Center (Brightwood), Edgewood Terrace Apartments, Model Cities Senior Wellness Center, Petersburg Senior Village, Fort Lincoln, Vicksburg, Hayes Senior Wellness Center, Washington Senior Wellness Center, and Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center.
Beginning March 23, 2020, all meal sites will be converted to home delivery for current participants.
Social and Recreation Programs – suspended. This includes group trips, in-person fitness classes, and other wellness activities.
Adult Day Health Programs – suspended. Effective March 20, 2020, Adult Day Health Programs are suspended.
Please contact Seabury Resources at 202-724-5626 for more information or visit https://www.seaburyresources.org.

DC Recreation Centers will be closed starting Monday, March 16 through Friday, April 24, 2020.
All DPR facilities, gated parks, playgrounds and athletic fields are closed from Monday, March 16 to Friday, April 24, 2020.
DC Public Libraries are closed starting Monday, March 16 through Friday, April 24, 2020.
DC Public Works will continue to operate, and residents should expect the standard trash pickup.
WMATA MetroBus and MetroRail is available for essential travel only. For complete information on WMATA, visit: https://www.wmata.com/coronavirus.

Don’t take Metro or public transit if you are sick!

Council Legislation on Coronavirus
Below is emergency legislation voted on by the DC Council on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in response to the public health emergency.

B23-0718 – COVID-19 Response Emergency Amendment Act of 2020
B23-0719 – COVID-19 Response Temporary Amendment Act of 2020
PR23-0772 – COVID-19 Response Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2020

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