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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Right now, we are going through a challenge unlike anything most of us have ever experienced before. The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak has had a devastating impact on people's health and financial well-being, and the routine of daily life is far different than it was just a month ago. My heart goes out to the family in Puyallup who lost a loved one earlier this week, and to all of the families across the state who have lost loved ones due to this virus. As we continue to battle COVID-19, it is imperative that we all work together to flatten the curve and slow its spread.
The 2020 legislative session came to a close last week in a spirit of bipartisanship, as the Legislature approved a bill (HB 2965) to appropriate $175 million from the state's rainy-day fund to assist with COVID-19 response efforts. Governor Inslee signed that bill into law earlier this week.
These funds will be used in a variety of ways, including covering unemployment claims. While most large businesses in our state have the necessary cash reserves to weather a financial downturn and still pay their employees, the same cannot be said for many of our small businesses. If you can, I would urge you to place orders for merchandise, buy gift cards, order takeout or delivery, or do anything else you can think of that would be helpful to them. Together, we can help our small business owners and their employees get through this crisis.
The state's Department of Revenue, Department of Financial Institutions, and Employment Security Department have created web pages focused on business relief, benefits available for workers, and unemployment assistance.
- dor.wa.gov/taxrelief
- dfi.wa.gov/coronavirus-small-business-resources
- dfi.wa.gov/coronavirus-financial-resources
- dfi.wa.gov/coronavirus-resources-dfi-licensees
- esd.wa.gov/newsroom/covid-19
I also wanted to provide a number of other links to critical information, along with resources and guidance, that I hope will be helpful to you and your family over the next several weeks. If there is information you're looking for that is not listed below, please contact me at (360) 786-7948 or Kelly.Chambers@leg.wa.gov.
Be safe, stay strong, support one another, and please help flatten the curve. We will get through this together.
It is an honor to serve you.
Sincerely,
Kelly
General information
Washington state's official COVID-19 site:
General guidance from the Department of Health:
- Novel Coronavirus Fact Sheet
- Wash hands often with soap and water. If not available, use hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home while you are sick and avoid close contact with others.
- Cover your mouth/nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
Department of Health:
- Call center | 1-800-525-0127
- 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week.
- 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak (COVID-19)
- Symptoms and Testing.
- Resources and Recommendations.
- Current Situation in Washington – What's the current risk?
- 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Washington.
Health Care Authority:
- Mental health crisis lines | Washington Recovery Help Line: 1-866-789-1511 (24/7)
- County crisis line phone numbers.
Updates from the Governor's Office:
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Information and Updates
- Public and constituent inquiries | (360) 902-4111
Teach with TVW:
Contact information for local health departments and districts
Department of Health:
Recent announcements and news releases
Recent announcements and news releases from the Governor's Office and Department of Health:
- Inslee announces relief for businesses, workers, renters and more in response to COVID-19 outbreak | March 18, 2020
- Inslee signs bill package to support state effort combating the COVID-19 outbreak | March 17, 2020
- Inslee announces statewide shutdown of restaurants, bars and expanded social gathering limits | March 16, 2020
- Inslee statement on statewide shutdown of restaurants, bars and limits on size of gatherings expanded | March 15, 2020
- Leave some for your neighbors: Don't buy more than you need | March 14, 2020
- State waives costs for COVID-19 testing | March 14, 2020
- Inslee announces statewide school closures, expansion of limits on large gatherings | March 13, 2020
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) | K-12 schools
OSPI:
- Guidance for Long-term School Closures as of March 18, 2020
- Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance & Resources
- Guidance for Long-term School Closures as of March 13, 2020
- School Closure FAQ
- Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in K–12 Schools: A Parent Guide
- Talking to your children about school closures
Universities and colleges
Washington State Council of Presidents:
Washington State Community and Technical Colleges:
Independent Colleges of Washington:
Employers and employees
Governor's Office | Partial list of resources to support economic retention and recovery related to COVID-19 coronavirus:
- COVID-19 resource list for impacted Washington businesses and workers
- Financial assistance.
- Export assistance.
- Employer and worker assistance.
- Insurance assistance.
Employment Security Department:
- For workers and businesses affected by COVID-19 (coronavirus)
- COVID-19 | Scenarios & Benefits Available
U.S. Small Business Administration:
- SBA COVID19 Disaster Loan Program Open for Applications
- Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Department of Labor:
Department of Revenue:
- 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak (COVID-19) Update
- COVID-19 Related Relief for Taxpayers.
- Requesting Relief.
- Temporary Business Registrations.
- Online Filing and Call Center Assistance.
Department of Financial Institutions:
- Financial Resources for Washington Residents Impacted by COVID-19
- Accessing Your Financial Institution.
- Unemployment Help.
- Trouble Paying Credit Cards.
- Trouble Paying Your Mortgage.
- Trouble Paying Rent.
- Student Loans Deferment.
- Short Term and Emergency Loans.
- Paying Utilities.
- Insurance Issues.
- Avoiding Scams.
- At Home Financial Education Resources for Students.
- Additional Resources.
Department of Labor & Industries:
- Paid Sick Leave and Coronavirus (COVID-19) Common Questions
- Workers' Compensation Coverage and Coronavirus (COVID-19) Common Questions
- Can COVID-19 ever be allowed as a work-related condition?
- When to file a claim.
- When will a claim likely be denied?
- How can I file a COVID-19 claim?
- Filing a worker's compensation claim: Exposure vs. contraction of COVID-19
- Quarantine.
- Covered treatment and post-exposure care.
- Additional information on COVID-19.
Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave:
- COVID-19 (coronavirus) and Paid Family and Medical Leave
- Worker FAQ.
- Employer FAQ.
Office of the Insurance Commissioner:
- Coronavirus
- Health insurance.
- For insurers and medical providers.
- Travel insurance.
- Other types of insurance
Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA):
- Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) | Frequently Asked Questions
- Food Safety.
- Access to Food.
- Pet Safety.
- Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.
- Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Program Guidance on Human Pandemic Response
- Automatic State Flexibilities.
- Additional USDA Authorities.
- Partnering to Ensure Access to Food.
- USDA Information.
- Federal Resources.
- FNS Actions to Respond to COVID-19
- Child Nutrition Programs.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
- FNS Pandemic Guidance.
- Additional Resources.
- What's New.
Military & Veterans
U.S. Department of Defense:
Washington Military Department:
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:
- Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
- What is VA doing?
- What should Veterans do?
- How to protect yourself
- VA COVID-19 Cases
Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs:
Other federal agencies
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- What You Need to Know.
- Resources for the Community.
- COVID-19 Cases in the U.S.
- Latest Updates
- Information for Healthcare Professionals
U.S. Food and Drug Administration:
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services:
- National Institutes of Health | Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- What You Need to Know.
- Cases and Latest Updates.
- Healthcare Professionals & Laboratories.
- Local Mitigation Strategies.
- Schools, Workplaces & Community Locations.
- Travel.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:
If you are looking for information that isn't listed above, please get in touch with me at (360) 786-7948 or Kelly.Chambers@leg.wa.gov.
It is an honor to serve you.
Sincerely,

Kelly Chambers