Alerts

As we reported earlier this week, in an effort to increase the domestic supply of hand sanitizer, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced policies that temporarily relax certain requirements for the production of alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

FDA has issued a new Enforcement Policy that allows manufacturers of certain FDA-cleared non-invasive devices to expand their use for healthcare professionals to monitor patients remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this week, the IRS released updates on the status of its operations as the COVID-19 outbreak continues and also on the IRS’s new People First Initiative. In addition, Illinois extended its tax filing and payment deadline (but not the deadline to make estimated tax payments) to match the IRS July 15 deadline.

Due to “shelter-in-place” or “stay at home” orders that are in place in many jurisdictions throughout the country, government offices are generally closed to the public and public gatherings are limited.

As cases of COVID-19 continue to increase across the country, uncertainty in the construction industry about projects, including potential project risks, proliferates.

The SEC extended its previously granted public company regulatory relief and issued staff guidance yesterday regarding disclosure obligations in light of the continued complications associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

On March 24 and 25, the U.S. Department of Labor released guidance on the implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which we wrote about here when it passed last week.

The soon to be passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act includes these key details surrounding the Health Care Industry, Not-for-Profits, and debt restructurings. 

Since last week when we wrote about the “shelter in place” and “stay at home” orders issued in California, New York, and Illinois, many more states have issued similar orders. The general discussion from our prior alert still applies, but below is an up-to-date list of the states that have adopted the stay-at-home approach to fighting the spread of COVID-19.

Like some other states, California has its own state version of the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a memorandum to State Survey Agency Directors that provides further guidance regarding survey priorities for health care facilities, providers, and clinical laboratories due to COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

On Wednesday, March 25, 2020, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is scheduled to publish a Federal Register notice requesting comments on the removal of Section 301 tariffs from Chinese medical-care products—including those that have been previously denied an exclusion—needed to respond to the COV

Employers are facing many employment decisions regarding their workforce amid the COVID-19 crisis. H-1B employees have rules particular to them which employers should bear in mind. This e-alert highlights the issues to consider. 

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has led to a dramatic increase in the demand for, and a shortage of, hand sanitizer in the US.

On March 13, 2020, the Division of Corporate Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission published guidance (Staff Guidance for Conducting Annual Meetings in Light of COVID-19 Concerns) to assist issuers of securities in navigating their legal requirements to hold annual meetings.

Current thinking from public health experts is that COVID-19 will affect the American economy for several months.

In response to an executive order by California Governor Gavin Newsom, the California Department of Public Health has issued an All Facilities Letter waiving hospital regulatory requirements and suspending regulatory enforcement until June 30, 2020, with certain exceptions.

FDA has just issued what it calls “FAQs on Diagnostic Testing for SARS-CoV-2” that provides information on which tests and which testing laboratories have received Emergency Use Authorization for the testing for the COVID-19 virus.

After midnight on the East Coast on Wednesday, March 25, negotiators from the U.S. Congress and Trump Administration finally agreed to the framework of a historic $2 trillion bill. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) constitutes a new Marshall Plan for our nation.

On March 20, 2020, Governor Cuomo signed the “New York State on PAUSE” Executive Order (“PAUSE Order”) to ensure safety for residents across New York State. Effective 8PM Sunday, March 22, 2020, all statewide non-essential businesses must close all in-person operations.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, California has taken the extraordinary action of limiting the regulatory enforcement of most licensed health facility requirements.

FDA has just published a new Guidance that will allow for the suspension of reporting of certain adverse event reports while the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

On March 19, 2020, Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, issued Executive Order N-3-20, which put in place mandatory stay-at-home restrictions as part of an effort to help contain the novel coronavirus, for an indefinite period of time.

As more and more states order businesses to close their physical locations because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, employers are being encouraged by the federal and state governments to work remotely and not have their employees report to worksites unless they fit into the definition of essential

On Monday, March 23, Governor Inslee signed the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” Executive Order, effective midnight, March 25.