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Connecticut Lodging Association
Coronavirus Update 7/10/20
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ACTION ALERT - lawmakers are planning to change the workers’ compensation system
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Key state lawmakers are planning to change the workers’ compensation system to create a presumption that virtually any worker who had to work outside the home during the pandemic and contracted COVID-19 did so while at work.
What does that mean for your business?
Even if you took every precaution to keep your employees safe, and even if an employee
li
kely contracted the virus elsewhere, the burden will be on you to prove the employee DID NOT contract the virus at your workplace. This could mean a significant increase in your workers’ compensation costs.
Why is this a dangerous idea?
- It will increase your insurance costs for at least three years due to paying claims for workers who contracted the virus—including those that may have ignored social distancing measures off the clock or ignored travel restrictions. An analysis by the independent National Council on Compensation Insurance shows that if left open-ended, your workers’ compensation costs could rise as much as 238%.
- This change is unnecessary as frontline healthcare workers and first responders—those most likely to contract the virus in the line of duty—are already covered by the workers’ compensation system.
- It ignores the fact that emergency federal benefit programs were put in place to provide replacement wages for workers who contracted COVID-19.
- We have not been given any examples of people who should have received benefits but were denied after filing a claim with the Workers’ Compensation Commission.
The New York state legislature abandoned a similar proposal because it was projected to cost employers in the state $31 billion.
Connecticut employers implemented broad safety measures and incurred significant expenses to ensure the safety of their employees and customers—additional cost burdens will only weaken the state’s economic recovery.
Act now!
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Coronavirus (COVID19) in Connecticut
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Overall Summary Total**; Change Since Yesterday
COVID-19 Cases
47,209; +101
COVID-19-Associated Deaths
4,348; +5
Patients Currently Hospitalized with COVID-19
90; +2
COVID-19 PCR Tests Reported
543,636; +8,171
**Includes confirmed plus probable cases
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As of Tuesday, July 7, there are nineteen states that meet the criteria:
Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah
FAQ for Lodging:
- If I am coming to Connecticut to a hotel or bed and breakfast, can I do the quarantine there? Yes. Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey are all asking hotels to communicate the 14-day quarantine to guests who have traveled from one of the impacted states.
- Can travelers be tested for COVID-19 instead of self-quarantine? Quarantine is the best option to prevent spread of disease. However, if a 14-day self-quarantine is not possible, travelers from the impacted states may enter Connecticut if they have had a negative viral test (not an antibody test) for COVID-19 in the 72 hours prior to travel.
- Phase 2 - Lodging Guidelines: English | Spanish
- Gatherings Expanded: Effective, Friday July 3
- Indoor private gatherings – 25 people
- Outdoor private gatherings – 100 people, one time exception for graduations at 150 people
- Outdoor organized gatherings (e.g. fireworks, concerts in municipal parks) – 15 feet of space blanket to blanket, cap of 500 people. Event organizer responsible for compliance with guidance.
- Outdoor event venues (e.g. amphitheaters, race tracks) – 25% of fire capacity and distancing
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For COVID 19 Information Connecticut Residents Can Call 2-1-1 or text CTCOVID to 898211
NEWS
Daily coronavirus updates: Positive cases, hospitalizations rise in Connecticut for third consecutive day
courant.com
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State Business Liability Protection:
Seven states have enacted business liability protection, either through legislation or executive actions, with one state having sent liability protection bills to their governors for expected approval. This type of legislation would offer liability protection to hotels and lodging facilities that stayed open or reopened safely during the pandemic from frivolous lawsuits.
COVID-19 Precautions for Hotels, a new course developed by AHLEI in collaboration with the American Hotel & Lodging Association's Safe Stay Initiative, available now. As states reopen their economies, hotels must be prepared to welcome back guests and employees while addressing new health and safety challenges presented by COVID-19. COVID-19 Precautions for Hotels, created in consultation with the AHLA's Safe Stay Advisory Council, presents united industry guidelines endorsed by all major U.S. hotel brands to help hotel operators achieve their top priority – protecting guests and employees against the coronavirus.
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Webinars
AHLA Government Affairs Advocacy Update
Presented by AHLA Government Affairs Team
Thursday, July 9 at 2pm EDT
Survive and Start to Thrive in a Post-COVID World
Tuesday, July 14 at 2pm EDT
*Please login using your member ID to view the webinars.
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For the first time in 12 weeks, hotel occupancy dipped over the July 4 weekend, a worrying sign of a potential occupancy plateau or decline nationwide. Occupancy was 45.6% for the week ended July 4, down from 46.2% the prior week,
according to STR. Occupancy had risen in week-to-week comparisons for 11 straight weeks since mid-April.
The performance gap between the top 25 travel markets and smaller, secondary markets continues to widen. The average occupancy in the top 25 markets is 39.6%, compared to a national average of 45.6%. Just four of the top 25 markets surpassed 50% occupancy.
FULL ARTICLE
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In Spite Of European Ban And Coronavirus Surge, American Travelers Press On
forbes.com
Hotel Operators Must Be flexible, Be Lean and React Quickly to Change, Says HVS Webinar Panelists
hotel-online.com
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Lodging Reopening Guidelines and Resources
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All businesses subject to the Phase 1 and Phase 2 reopening rules are required to self-certify prior to opening, this includes all lodging.
Guidelines:
PPP Application Deadline Extension - The federal government has extended the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) until August 8. Businesses that haven’t yet applied for a PPP loan can find a list of SBA-approved banks and credit unions that accept PPP applications at
sba.gov/paycheckprotection/find
CT Office of Tourism: New So Good to See You safety videos- These videos spotlight the many protocols businesses across the state have put in place to welcome visitors back safely. Each video includes interviews with a sampling of our restaurant, lodging and attraction leaders who showcase how well-prepared the entire Connecticut tourism industry is for the return of our residents and area visitors alike. To see all Tourism Safety videos
CLICK HERE. Download Lodging Safety Video
HERE.
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COVID19: What is the current situation?
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Total cases: 3
,047,671; +64,771
Total deaths:
132,056; +991
NEWS
Coronavirus Live Updates: Death Tolls Rise in Some U.S. States, Signaling a Possible End to the National Decline
nytimes.com
The US is diving into a dark Covid hole -- and there's no plan to get out
cnn.com
Photo: By The New York Times | Source: Johns Hopkins University
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CDC Resources
COVID-19 Travel Recommendations
- The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19.
- CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential international travel. CDC recommends that travelers avoid travel to Brazil, China, Iran, Most European Countries, United Kingdom and Ireland
- U.S. Travel: Travel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19. Do not travel if you are sick, or if you have been around someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days. Do not travel with someone who is sick. Protect yourself and others during your trip.
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World Health Organization Situation Report
who.int
11 874 226 cases; +204 967
545 481 deaths; +5 575
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The Connecticut Lodging Association is a trade association representing and promoting the lodging industry in Connecticut. Want to know about CLA benefits and membership? Visit us at
ctlodging.org/membership
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Connecticut Lodging Association
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