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March 18, 2020

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The 2020 legislative session ended the evening of Thursday, March 12. It was an anticlimactic finish this year due to the concerns, fears, and unknowns surrounding our current environment and the coronavirus.

We left Olympia with an unsettling feeling of what the future holds. The coronavirus continues to threaten our health, lives, economy and state finances. We did pass a bill before session concluded providing significant funding for coronavirus response. Gov. Inslee has signed this bill into law to provide immediate funding to local and state agencies at the forefront of response to this virus.

It's critical we work together during this challenging time. I know our families, local communities, businesses and district have been heavily impacted by this “new normal” we're learning to navigate. Everyone is stepping up to the plate and working together to help those in need. It's been reassuring to see how well, as a community and district, we can pull together during challenging times.

In this email update, you'll find critical information to keep you and your families as informed as possible. My caucus has also created a website with local, state and national resources. Our communications staff updates this site daily. I encourage you to bookmark this website. You can access our website by clicking here.

For other daily resources and the latest news headlines, I encourage you to subscribe to my caucus' daily headlines – known as the Capitol Buzz. You can do so by clicking here. I also encourage you to follow our news aggregator The Ledger. You can bookmark the site by clicking here.

If there's anything I can do to help you, your families, and your businesses, please don't hesitate to contact my office at (360) 786-7824 or by emailing me at Andrew.Barkis@leg.wa.gov. You can always reach out to my Legislative Assistant, Kendra, as well. She's always happy to assist you. Her email is Kendralee.Harris@leg.wa.gov.

I'm confident we'll get through this.

In service,
Andrew

Coronavirus | Information and Resources

Information for you and your family

• What You Need to Know (from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Symptoms
  • If You Are Sick
  • If You Are at Higher Risk
  • How It Spreads
  • How To Protect Yourself
  • Protect Your Family
  • Protect Your Home
  • Frequently Asked Questions
    
    
• Resources for the community
  • Travel
  • Guidance for School Settings
  • Resources for Businesses and Employers
  • Resources for Community – and Faith-Based Leaders
• COVID-19 Cases in the U.S.
• Latest Updates
• Information for Healthcare Professionals

Recent announcements and news releases from the Governor's Office and Department of Health

• 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

Information for parents from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)

• 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

Information for employers and employees

Governor's Office | Partial list of resources to support economic retention and recovery related to COVID-19:

• 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
• COVID-19 | Scenarios & Benefits Available

U.S. Small Business Administration:

• Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019
  • Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
  • Guidance for Businesses and Employers
  • SBA Products and Resources
  • Government Contracting
  • Local Assistance

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers

Department of Labor:

• Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19

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:

• 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.

Office of the Insurance Commissioner:

• Coronavirus
  • Health insurance.
  • For insurers and medical providers.
  • Travel insurance.
  • Other types of insurance

It's an honor to serve you.

In Service,

Andrew Barkis