News
State on Track to Vaccinate Californians Over 65 by June
By Preston Young - January 22, 2021 The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) expanded the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine to people over the age of 65 after frontline health care workers and residents in congregate care facilities are inoculated. The allocation change was made pursuant to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While the CDC guidance and CDPH actions offered hope and relief to nearly 6.2 million Californians over the age of 65, in reality it
CA Department of Industrial Relations Critical Requirements Related to COVID-19
The Department of Industrial Relations is providing you with a list of critical requirements related to COVID-19 that may apply to you and your workplace. This letter includes relevant workplace requirements across Cal/OSHA, the Labor Commissioner’s Office, and the Division of Workers’ Compensation.Cal/OSHA and Public Health RequirementsCOVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards: California approved emergency temporary standards on COVID-19 infection prevention on November 30, 2020. The emergency standards
COVID-19 Vaccine: Can It Be Required?
In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss what employers need to consider before mandating that their employees get the COVID-19 vaccine. The recent distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine has sparked a lot of questions from employers and many of them are asking whether employees can be required to get the vaccine, Frank tells podcast listeners. Because the COVID-19 vaccine is so new,
Biden Signs Burst of Virus orders, Vows ‘Help is on the Way’
Associated Press By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR and ZEKE MILLER With a burst of executive orders, President Joe Biden served notice Thursday that America’s war on COVID-19 is under new command, promising an anxious nation progress to reduce infections and lift the siege it has endured for nearly a year. At the same time, he tried to manage expectations in his second day in office, saying despite the best intentions “we’re going to face setbacks.” He brushed off a reporter’s question on whether his goal of
Orange County Vacine Program Opens
The County of Orange has opened a vaccination Super POD (Point of Distribution) at Disneyland. Currently, those in the first Tier 1A are receiving priority for vaccinations to include those 65 years and above. Registration is required and persons can download the Othena application for your smart phone or all residents are encouraged to register to be notified when the County of Orange’s vaccine and testing management app, Othena, has appointments available and is ready for their use by visiting
Cal/OSHA Revises Guidance on COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards
By Matthew Roberts-January 15, 2021 Last year, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) approved emergency COVID-19 temporary standards, which became effective and enforceable on November 30, 2020. Under the standards, employers needed to take certain actions to safeguard the workplace from COVID-19, like creating and implementing a written COVID-19 prevention plan, planning to address and combat outbreaks, and following rules regarding employer-provided housing and
SBA Re-Opening Paycheck Protection Program to Small Lenders on Friday, January 15 and All Lenders on
Lenders with $1 Billion or Less in Assets Will be Able to Submit First and Second Draw PPP Applications on Friday – Continuing Dedicated Access for Community-Based Lenders WASHINGTON– The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, will re-open the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan portal to PPP-eligible lenders with $1 billion or less in assets for First and Second Draw applications on Friday, January 15, 2021 at 9 a.m. EST. The portal will fully open on
California Allows Everyone 65 and Older to Get COVID-19 Vaccine
By Melody Gutierrez, Colleen Shalby Los Angeles Times California officials on Wednesday announced a major expansion of vaccination eligibility guidelines, allowing all residents 65 and older to more quickly qualify for COVID-19 vaccinations in response to new guidance from the Trump administration aimed at speeding up vaccine rollouts across the country. The move signals a fresh urgency to increase access to the vaccine amid surging caseloads. Officials in Orange County were the first to adopt the new
SBA Re-Opening Paycheck Protection Program to Small Lenders on Friday, January 15 and All Lenders on Tuesday, January 19
Lenders with $1 Billion or Less in Assets Will be Able to Submit First and Second Draw PPP Applications on Friday – Continuing Dedicated Access for Community-Based Lenders The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, will re-open the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan portal to PPP-eligible lenders with $1 billion or less in assets for First and Second Draw applications on Friday, January 15, 2021 at 9 a.m. EST. The portal will fully open on Tuesday,
COVID-19 vaccines to be administered at Disneyland, Orange County’s first ‘super’ distribution site
Santa Ana, Calif. (January 11, 2021) – In a vital step to help battle the spread of COVID-19, the County of Orange has established the first large Point-of-Dispensing (POD) site to provide COVID-19 vaccines to residents at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. “The Disneyland Resort, the largest employer in the heart of Orange County, has stepped up to host the county’s first Super POD site – undertaking a monumental task in our vaccination distribution process,” said acting Chairman Andrew Do, First District. “We
California Department of Public Health Seeks to Accelerate Vaccine Distribution
ByPreston Young-January 12, 2021 The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued recommendations for accelerating the pace at which COVID-19 vaccines are distributed to Californians. Currently, the state’s population is divided into four prioritization groups which outlines when and who receives the vaccine. The CDPH’s most recent recommendations to local health departments and providers states that COVID-19 vaccines should be immediately administered to individuals in all tiers of Phase 1a.
Orange County Opens Coronavirus Vaccinations to Anyone 65 and Older
Any Orange County resident age 65 and older is now eligible to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, county health officials said Tuesday, Jan. 12. People age 75 and older – as well as city and county fire department personnel – were recently given preference by the OC Health Care Agency as it starts up the vaccination campaign’s second stage, Phase 1B. But after reviewing some alarming statistics on who is hospitalized and in intensive care because of COVID-19, the county’s vaccine task force late
Airline travelers to U.S. must pass COVID-19 tests under new rule effective Jan. 26
By Bloomberg,Jan. 12, 2021,2:45 PM The U.S. will require proof of a negative COVID-19 test before allowing visitors to fly into the country from other nations in an effort to help airlines regain at least some of their most lucrative international travel — a rule that airlines had lobbied for. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday that it approved the new anti-pandemic measure, which will take effect Jan. 26. It requires travelers to be tested within three days before leaving for
Wedding Ceremonies, Small Ones, Resume at Historic Orange County Courthouse
By Jeff Gritchen | jgritchen@scng.com | Orange County RegisterPUBLISHED: January 11, 2021 at 5:03 p.m. | UPDATED: January 12, 2021 at 3:25 p.m. For 99 days the Honda Center was the only place the County of Orange was marrying couples. From March 9 to Dec. 31, more than 11,000 couples were married outside the Anaheim venue, and 22,897 licenses were issued. With the start of the hockey season, County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen said his office had to find a new location. The new location ended up being
SBA and Treasury Announce PPP Re-Opening; Issue New Guidance
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, announced today that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open the week of January 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. To promote access to capital, initially only community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday, January 11, and Second Draw PPP Loans on Wednesday, January 13. The PPP will open to all participating lenders shortly thereafter.
County to Open Super-PODS for Vaccine Distribution
The County of Orange is working on securing agreements with sites that are adequately sized to reach a daily goal of 7,500 persons vaccinated. Ultimately, there could be up to 5 Super Point Of Distributions (POD) sites within the County. Following State guidelines, the County is using a phased approach to vaccinations and distribution will be increased over time and based on available supplies. Currently, the phased approach is geared towards vaccinating critical and healthcare workers, to include
SBA Re-Opens PPP to Community Financial Institutions First
Community Financial Institutions get dedicated access starting today WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, re-opened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan portal today at 9 am ET. SBA is continuing its dedicated commitment to underserved small businesses and to addressing potential access to capital barriers by initially granting PPP access exclusively to community financial institutions (CFIs) that typically serve these
California's Return to Work Webinar
On January 25-27, 2021, the California Workforce Association, in partnership with the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, the Employment Development Department, and the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), will host a series of California’s Return to Work webinars to provide vital workplace safety information to businesses throughout California. The two-hour interactive session is designed to give employers and workforce professionals the latest information on
Learn more about the Economic Aid Act & PPP Relaunch
The SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to help businesses recover from declared disasters. The SBA’s Orange County / Inland Empire District office, in collaboration with SCORE, invites you to join us to learn more about the Economic Aid Act and the PPP Relaunch. In this webinar, we will cover the application process, required forms and guidance, and conduct a Q&A session for attendees.Please Join UsJanuary 12: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PSTJanuary 12: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm PSTJanuary 13: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
New Federal COVID Law Includes Option to Offer Paid Sick Leave
By David Leporiere -January 8, 2021 I remember reading that the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was scheduled to expire on December 31, 2020. Do I need to pay anything to my employees who get sick with COVID 19 after the first of the year? The Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) and the Expanded Family Medical Leave (EFMLA) that were mandated in the FFCRA did expire on December 31, 2020.Employer Choice However, the new COVID-19 relief package that was recently passed by Congress and
Governor Gives Preview of Business Recovery Plan
$575 Million More for Small Business Grant Program his week, Governor Gavin Newsom released a preview of his budget plan to help California businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor’s Equitable Recovery for California Businesses and Jobs plan contains business and workforce recovery elements, including adding $575 million to the $500 million previously allocated for the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant. CalChamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg welcomed the
Newsom's State Budget Earmarks Billions in COVID-19 Help for Workers and Schools
Los Angeles Times By John Myers, Sacramento Bureau Chief Gov. Gavin Newsom sent a budget to the California Legislature on Friday that calls for a swift and expansive boost in the state government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, earmarking much of an unallocated tax revenue windfall for efforts to help workers and businesses, boost public health and speed up the reopening of public school classrooms. In all, the proposal dedicates more than $14 billion to coronavirus relief efforts in
Paycheck Protection Program Reopens January 11
On January 8, 2021, the U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Department of Treasury, announced that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open the week of January 11, 2021 for new borrowers and some existing PPP borrowers. The initial wave of loans issued on Monday, January 11, and Wednesday, January 13, will only be available to community financial institutions, but the PPP will open up to all eligible lenders shortly after.SBA has provided information for small business
COVID-19 Pandemic PTO Trends
Jessica Mulholland January 7, 2021 As the COVID-19 pandemic continues into 2021, the importance of paid time off (PTO) for employees remains — despite some mixed feelings about actually using that PTO. The pandemic has changed how both employees and employers feel about benefits, according to benefits and absence management firm The Hartford, whose Future of Benefits Study polled U.S. workers and human resources benefit decision-makers in early March 2020 just before the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S.,
CalChamber Asks Cal/OSHA to Delay Enforcing Emergency COVID-19 Rules
ByRobert Moutrie -January 7, 2021 The California Chamber of Commerce is urging the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) to delay enforcement of the emergency COVID-19 rules. The emergency regulations went into effect on November 30, 2020, less than two weeks after the Cal/OSHA Standards Board voted to adopt them. They apply to all employers with employees working outside the home (except health care employers covered by the Aerosol Transmissible Diseases standard) and were
Governor’s Recovery Plan to Add $575 Million to Small Business Grant Program
Yesterday, Governor Gavin Newsom released a preview of his budget plan to help California businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor’s Equitable Recovery for California Businesses and Jobs plan contains business and workforce recovery elements, including adding $575 million to the $500 million previously allocated for the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant. CalChamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg welcomed the Governor’s announcement on help for small businesses.
Hospitals Struggle to Keep Up in COVID-19 Hotspot California
LOS ANGELES (AP) — California is so swamped by coronavirus cases that the state has ordered those with room to accept patients from others that have maxed out on intensive care beds. The public health order issued late Tuesday is the latest attempt by authorities in the nation’s most populous state to confront a surge in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations, a deteriorating situation that could worsen before it gets better, as gatherings during the recent holidays possibly accelerate cases. The
Newsom proposes $600 payments to Californians in need and extending COVID-19 eviction moratorium
By PATRICK MCGREEVY STAFF WRITER, LOS ANGELES TIMES JAN. 6, 2021, 10:10 AM, SACRAMENTO With a state law protecting California tenants from pandemic-related evictions expiring at the end of this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed Wednesday to extend the protections and expedite distribution of $2.6 billion in federal rental assistance for low-income tenants. Newsom said the budget he was releasing Friday would include the rental assistance money and a $600 state stimulus check to low-income residents.
COVID dangers intensify: California now in ‘deep dark part of the tunnel,’ top health official says
As a new, highly infectious coronavirus variant appears in California, state health officials try to speed up vaccine distribution. California moved into a dangerous new phase of the coronavirus pandemic in the new year’s first week as besieged hospitals ran short of oxygen and the state’s COVID-19 cases rose to more than 2.4 million. Six cases involving the more infectious U.K. coronavirus strain have been reported in Southern California. Los Angeles’ mayor said Sunday that the city’s residents are
Guide to Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Loans
What Small Businesses Need to Know About the New Pandemic Relief Package -- Changes to PPP and More As part of an end-of-year pandemic relief package, Congress has passed several changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and created a “Second Draw” PPP for small businesses who have exhausted their initial loan. Other changes impact eligibility for initial PPP loans, the loan forgiveness process, and the tax treatment of PPP loans. Congress has also made changes to other programs –
Meet the Person Who Transformed Knott’s Berry Farm Into a Food Festival Venue
John Storbeck’s reinvention of the Buena Park theme park as a socially-distanced food festival venue kept thousands of employees working while serving hundreds of thousands of customers. By Brady MacDonald | bmacdonald@scng.com |PUBLISHED: January 4, 2021 at 6:49 a.m. | UPDATED: January 4, 2021 at 9:39 a.m. Jon Storbeck launched a series of successful outdoor food festivals that brought thousands of Knott’s Berry Farm employees back to work and safely entertained hundreds of thousands of people
Applications for $500 Million in Grant Funding for Small Businesses Now Available
The first round of applications for the Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program is now open. On November 30, 2020, Governor Newsom and the State Legislature announced the allocation of $500 million available to small businesses and nonprofits that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is administered by California’s Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), part of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). “Small business owners and our nonprofits
SBDC to Host Webinars on COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program
The State of California has announced its COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program to help small businesses located in California who have been affected by COVID-19.In response, the Small Business Development Center will host informational webinars to provide more information about the grant program, eligibility, what the funds can be used for, how to apply, and necessary documents.Webinars Occur at 11:00 AM Daily:Dec 31 – English/FarsiJan 2 – English/VietnameseJan 3 – English/KoreanJan 4 –
SBA Extends COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Application Deadline through Dec. 31, 2021
The U.S. Small Business Administration today announced that the deadline to apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program for the COVID-19 Pandemic disaster declaration is extended to Dec. 31, 2021. The deadline extension comes as a result of the recent bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill passed by Congress and enacted by President Trump on Dec. 27, 2020. To date, the SBA has approved $197 billion in low-interest loans which provides working capital funds to small businesses, non-profits and
Trump Signs COVID Relief, Averts Federal Sshutdown
Associated Press: By JILL COLVIN, LISA MASCARO and ANDREW TAYLOR President Donald Trump has signed a $900 billion pandemic relief package, ending days of drama over his refusal to accept the bipartisan deal that will deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and avert a federal government shutdown. The deal also provides $1.4 trillion to fund government agencies through September and contains other end-of-session priorities such as an increase in food stamp benefits. The signing Sunday,
