In order to keep you informed on the evolving impact of COVID-19 on our local community, the Plano Chamber will be publishing updates every weekday as the Daily Business Bulletin. We will share the top news items that you need to read to stay up-to-date on important health, community, and business issues as they develop.

March 27, 2020

A message from Governor Abbott

Yesterday the Texas Health and Human Services Commission submitted a waiver request to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid that, if approved, would ensure Texans on Medicaid continue to have their routine needs met, even as the state responds to COVID-19.

Find more information on the waiver HERE.

A message from the Texas Association of Business

Hope rises in Texas as Senate cuts deal on $2 trillion stimulus
After days of negotiation between congressional Republicans and Democrats and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Senate leaders announced early Wednesday they had a deal, with hopes of passing the legislation today and getting checks out to Americans and loans to business and industry within weeks.

Read more HERE.

A message from the Texas Workforce Commission

Taking care of your workers during COVID-19 is our top priority.
Mass Claims program streamlines the unemployment benefit claims process for employers faced with either temporary or permanent layoffs. Employers can submit basic worker information on behalf of their employees to initiate claims for unemployment benefits. You can get started 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In order to keep you informed on the evolving impact of COVID-19 on our local community, the Plano Chamber will be publishing updates every weekday as the Daily Business Bulletin. We will share the top news items that you need to read to stay up-to-date on important health, community, and business issues as they develop.

March 26, 2020

Governor Greg Abbott announced today that visitors flying in to Texas from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and New Orleans are now required to self-quarantine for 14 days.

https://www.texastribune.org/2020/03/26/texas-orders-self-quarantine-air-travelers-new-york-and-new-orleans/

In order to keep you informed on the evolving impact of COVID-19 on our local community, the Plano Chamber will be publishing updates every weekday as the Daily Business Bulletin. We will share the top news items that you need to read to stay up-to-date on important health, community, and business issues as they develop.

March 25, 2020

Today, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) published its first round of implementation guidance pursuant to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).   The guidance addresses critical questions such as:

• How does an employer count its number of employees to determine coverage?
• How can small businesses obtain an exemption?
• How does an employer count hours for part-time employees?
• How does an employer calculate wages employees are entitled to under the FFCRA?

The initial Wage and Hour Division (WHD) guidance is available in three-parts:

• Fact Sheet for Employees
• Fact Sheet for Employers
• Questions and Answers

A workplace poster model for covered employers will be published later this week, along with additional fact sheets and FAQs.

In order to keep you informed on the evolving impact of COVID-19 on our local community, the Plano Chamber will be publishing updates every weekday as the Daily Business Bulletin. We will share the top news items that you need to read to stay up-to-date on important health, community, and business issues as they develop.

March 24, 2020

Today Judge Hill announced an executive order for all of Collin County that includes:

• All persons in Collin County are hereby ordered to stay home except for travel related to work and other essential activities.
• Anyone showing COVID-19 symptoms is ordered to stay home besides seeking medical care.
• If any one person in a household is diagnosed with COVID-19, all persons in that household are required to stay home until cleared by a medical professional.
• All businesses in Collin County are deemed “essential businesses” and may continue to operate so long as they comply with requirements to stop spread of COVID-19 including:
  • Practicing social distancing or taking extreme care to reduce risk of exposure;
  • Avoiding mass gatherings;
  • Working from home, if possible;
  • Canceling or postponing large meetings;
  • Not shaking hands; and
  • Complying with Governor Abbott’s March 19^th Executive Order which prohibits gathering in groups of more than 10, dine-in restaurants and bars, gyms and massage parlors.  Drive-thru, pickup or delivery options for bars/restaurants is still allowed.

Read the full order here.

In order to keep you informed on the evolving impact of COVID-19 on our local community, the Plano Chamber will be publishing updates every weekday as the Daily Business Bulletin. We will share the top news items that you need to read to stay up-to-date on important health, community, and business issues as they develop.

March 23, 2020

• Governor Greg Abbott announced on Sunday that he supported local authorities’ decision to executive shelter-in-place orders, but stopped short of issuing one statewide, indicating he wanted to give his current executive order which banned gatherings greater than 10 people and closed restaurants and bars, as well as schools, throughout the state more time to see if it’s working.  He also ordered the postponement of all non-necessary medical surgeries, and waived state regulation allowing more than one patient to be treated in a room to help increase hospital capacity.  Furthermore, Governor Abbott waived requirements for final-year nursing students, retired nurses and others that recently moved to Texas to allow them to immediately begin practicing in our hospitals.
• Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins immediately issued a shelter-in-place order for Dallas County following the Governor’s press conference.  Judge Jenkins indicated he believes a shelter-in-place is the only way to prevent overwhelming our hospital systems within the next few weeks.  Essential businesses such grocery stores, medical offices, construction and more are exempt.  It has been reported that Travis County is drafting a similar order.
• Plano City Council postponed tonight’s council meeting as they make arrangements to hold future meetings via video conference.  The next meeting is scheduled for March 30.
• Congressman Van Taylor is hosting a Coronavirus Telephone Town Hall in conjunction with Collin County Judge Chris Hill, State Representatives Jeff Leach and Matt Shaheen, and officials from the Collin County Department of Public Health on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 3:45 PM CT.  You can join the call by signing up here.
• Negotiations over a massive Coronavirus relief bill have stalled in Washington, DC.