Wednesday July 15, 2020
Hello Chamber Members and Partners,

Here are the latest updates and resources for businesses and employees during this uncertain time.

Send us any questions or updates you may have. We are here to help provide information, connect the dots and assure those in the North Country that we will get through this together.

Onward and Be Well!
IT'S TAX DAY!
Personal income tax and corporation tax returns for tax year 2019 due on April 15, 2020, and related payments of tax or installments of tax, including installments of estimated taxes for the 2020 tax year, will not be subject to any failure to file, failure to pay, late payment, or underpayment penalties, or interest if filed and paid by July 15, 2020.
NY'S ECONOMY & FINANCES
The State Comptroller's office is committed to keeping New Yorkers regularly updated on the state's economy and finances.

Visit our web page  for the latest updates on these important topics:

  • Employment Trends
  • Health and Financial Impacts
  • Business Conditions and Expectations
  • New York State's Budget

This is the first in a series of updates on what's happening with economic and fiscal news that impacts New York.
FOUR MORE STATES ADDED TO THE NYS TRAVEL ADVISORY
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that four additional states meet the metrics to qualify for the travel advisory requiring individuals who have traveled to New York from those states, all of which have significant community spread, to quarantine for 14 days. The newly-added states are Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio and Wisconsin . Delaware has been removed. The quarantine applies to any person arriving from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a 7-day rolling average or a state with a 10% or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average. Yesterday, Governor Cuomo  announced a travel enforcement operation  will commence today at airports across the state to help ensure travelers are following the state's quarantine restrictions and to help contain the rates of COVID-19 transmission in New York State.
COVID-19 NURSING HOME VISITATION UPDATES
State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker announced today that nursing homes and long term care facilities in New York will be allowed to resume limited visitations for facilities that have been without COVID-19 for at least 28 days, a threshold set by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 
Residents in these facilities will be allowed two visitors at a time, and the visitors must undergo temperature checks, wear face coverings and socially distance during the visit. 

At least one of the two visitors must be at least 18 years of age or older. 

For each facility, only 10 percent of the residents can be allowed visitors at any time; for example, in a 100-bed facility no more than 10 residents can have visitors per day in order to maintain proper social distancing and ensure safe compliance. 
Nursing Homes accepting visitors will be required to send their visitation plan to NYSDOH and affirmatively attest that they are following the guidance outlined  here .
View State DOH  guidance  for resumption of limited visitation at:

LARGE-SCALE COVID-19 PATIENT ANALYSIS SHEDS NEW CLUES ON HARDEST HIT AGE GROUPS & REGIONAL LOCATIONS
For the first time since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak appeared in the United States new research from the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research provides a comprehensive analysis of the New York population that sought care from Northwell Health, New York State’s largest health system.
MASK SIGNAGE
Courtesy of the Essex County Health Department , this signage can be used at your business to help customers understand that masks are no longer an option and must be worn.




To help the North Country reopen safely and meet the state and local mandates, The North Country Chamber of Commerce has created a comprehensive list of resources to navigate state and local requirements. Check out the home page for details. There is also a series of webinars available for businesses to help educate and provide answers to common questions.
QUICK LINKS:

  • Forward NY: Official State Website for opening procedures and guidelines.

  • Looking for Supplies: If your business is looking for hard to find protective products, we have created a list of businesses offering hand sanitizer, gloves, wipes, masks and other items.


  • Now Hiring: Whether you are hiring or looking for work, we have a page dedicated to helping pair potential employees with employers.

  • Webinars: Did you miss one of our webinars, you can find them all here.

  • SCORE: Visit Scores Coronavirus page for webinars and useful articles for small businesses.
Have Questions? We're here to help!

North Country Chamber of Commerce
518.563.1000