updated 02-17-2021 10:04am
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COVID-19 Self-Checker
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Disaster Loans, Financing Programs, Grants |
- Short-term bridge loans for restaurants and microbusinesses Rhode Island Commerce, in partnership with Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC), the Rhode Island Hospitality Association and Bank Newport, is launching a short-term bridge loan program for our restaurants and smallest businesses (businesses must have 1 to 10 employees to be eligible; restaurants may have any number of employees). The program is funded through $1 million from the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation’s Small Business Loan Fund and $1 million from Bank Newport.
Grants |
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Community & Medical Contacts |
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Employment including: UI, TDI, TCI |
- I received, or my employer received, a notice but I never filed an unemployment insurance claim. What should I do?
-If you did not file a claim, please visit https://risp.ri.gov/fcu/FUICI.php
- You may also contact the RI DLT Fraud Unit by phone (401) 462-1522, email at mailto:DLT.investigations@dlt.ri.gov; by fax at (401) 462-8474; or by mail at: RI Department of Labor and Training UI/TDI Fraud Unit, 1511 Pontiac Ave. Cranston, RI 02920.
Anyone may report alleged fraud anonymously. However, please know that if you choose to provide your contact information, it will remain strictly confidential.
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Multiple Areas Covered: |
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Key Phone Numbers & Contact Information
RI Dept of Health Hotline 401-222-8022 for health related advice and guidance |
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RI Dept of Labor |
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CommerceRI Small Business Hotline | 401-521-4357 (HELP) SBA Loans - Financing Options - Assistance Navigating |
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Grants For COVID-19 Response |
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Short Term Bridge Loans for Relief for Restaurants and Microbusinesses Details & Application |
If you have a business question that you do not see covered please email
Improving Your Credit Score
We have heard from some people that their loan application was denied because of credit score. Below are two articles that were shared with us that may be of interest to you or someone you know.
Credit Repair Kit
SBA COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
Streamlined Process, includes the ability to request a $10,000 advance
SBA Express Bridge Loan
This pilot program allows SBA Express Lenders authority to deliver expedited SBA-guaranteed financing on an emergency basis for disaster-related purposes to eligible small businesses, while the small businesses apply for and await long-term financing.
SBA Disaster Customer Service 1-800-659-2955 | disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
| RI Receives Declaration been
declared |
Eligibility - Examples of eligible industries include but are not limited to the following: hotels, recreational facilities, charter boats, manufacturers, sports vendors, owners of rental property, restaurants, retailers, souvenir shops, travel agencies, wholesalers and more. There are types of businesses that are ineligible. Check the loan information below for complete details. www.sba.gov/disaster | Loan Application Filing Deadline December 17, 2020 "These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits or for expansion. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%. SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay." https://www.sba.gov/disaster-assistance/coronavirus-covid-19 |
| COVID19 Workplace Fact Sheet |
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For Employees & Employers
RI Dept. of Labor & Training |  English - Spanish |
EMPLOYEES DLT will waive the seven-day waiting period for UI claims related to COVID-19.
For COVID-19 related claims, DLT will waive the seven-day minimum amount of time that claimants must be out of work to qualify for TDI/TCI benefits. For individuals under quarantine, DLT will waive the required medical certification, and instead will allow them to temporary qualify via self-attestation that they were
under quarantine due to COVID-19 | EMPLOYERS
Affected businesses with questions on Unemployment Insurance, Paid Sick and Safe Leave, or other work-related programs should contact the DLT by emailing dlt.covid19@dlt.ri.gov or calling (401) 462-2020. If you are temporarily ceasing or limiting operations as a result of COVID-19, please contact the DLT to discuss how we can provide assistance. Requests for assistance can be made by emailing dlt.covid19@dlt.ri.gov or calling (401) 462-2020 |
If you are unable to work, but your place of business remains open, you may be eligible for Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI). Click Image above for Details | If you are out of work and are not being compensated, you may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance (UI).
Click Image above for Details
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| Governor's Press Releases |
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Business Tips, Tactics & Topics on YouTube 
Remote Access to Computers | Email - Forwarding Phones - Keeping in Touch with Customers - Finances - Managing Remote Workers - Chat Feature - Virtual Meetings - Filing for UI or TDI - Reducing Anxiety - Talking To Children - Communicating with Elders - Taking Care of You - and more
CDC Employer Recommendations
Actively encourage sick employees to stay home:
• Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever (100.4° F [37.8° C] or greater using an oral thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants). Employees should notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick.
• Ensure that your sick leave policies are flexible and consistent with public health guidance and that employees are aware of these policies.
• Talk with companies that provide your business with contract or temporary employees about the importance of sick employees staying home and encourage them to develop non-punitive leave policies.
• Do not require a healthcare provider’s note for employees who are sick with acute respiratory illness to validate their illness or to return to work, as healthcare provider offices and medical facilities may be extremely busy and not able to provide such documentation in a timely way.
• Employers should maintain flexible policies that permit employees to stay home to care for a sick family member. Employers should be aware that more employees may need to stay at home to care for sick children or other sick family members than is usual.
Separate sick employees:
• CDC recommends that employees who appear to have acute respiratory illness symptoms (i.e. cough, shortness of breath) upon arrival to work or become sick during the day should be separated from other employees and be sent home immediately. Sick employees should cover their noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or an elbow or shoulder if no tissue is available).
Emphasize staying home when sick, respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene by all employees:• Place posters that encourage
staying home when sick,
cough and sneeze etiquette, and
hand hygiene (washing) at the entrance to your workplace and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.
• Provide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles for use by employees.
• Instruct employees to clean their hands often with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60-95% alcohol, or wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty.
• Provide soap and water and alcohol-based hand rubs in the workplace. Ensure that adequate supplies are maintained. Place hand rubs in multiple locations or in conference rooms to encourage hand hygiene.
• Visit the
coughing and sneezing etiquette and
clean hands webpage for more information.
Perform routine environmental cleaning:• Routinely clean all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace, such as workstations, countertops, and doorknobs. Use the cleaning agents that are usually used in these areas and follow the directions on the label.
• No additional disinfection beyond routine cleaning is recommended at this time.
• Provide disposable wipes so that commonly used surfaces (for example, doorknobs, keyboards, remote controls, desks) can be wiped down by employees before each use.
Advise employees before traveling to take certain steps:• Check the
CDC’s Traveler’s Health Notices for the latest guidance and recommendations for each country to which you will travel. Specific travel information for travelers going to and returning from China, and information for aircrew, can be found at on the
CDC website.
• Advise employees to check themselves for symptoms of
acute respiratory illness before starting travel and notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick.
• Ensure employees who become sick while traveling or on temporary assignment understand that they should notify their supervisor and should promptly call a healthcare provider for advice if needed.
• If outside the United States, sick employees should follow your company’s policy for obtaining medical care or contact a healthcare provider or overseas medical assistance company to assist them with finding an appropriate healthcare provider in that country. A U.S. consular officer can help locate healthcare services. However, U.S. embassies, consulates, and military facilities do not have the legal authority, capability, and resources to evacuate or give medicines, vaccines, or medical care to private U.S. citizens overseas.
Additional Measures in Response to Currently Occurring Sporadic Importations of the COVID-19:• Employees who are well but who have a sick family member at home with COVID-19 should notify their supervisor and refer to CDC guidance for
how to conduct a risk assessment of their potential exposure.
• If an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19, employers should inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Employees exposed to a co-worker with confirmed COVID-19 should refer to CDC guidance for
how to conduct a risk assessment of their potential exposure.
The State has taken additional preparedness steps that include: Establishing and Incident Command System response; Regularly communicating with RIDOH's Infectious Disease Epidemiology Advisory Committee (IDEAC) to track any clinical and epidemiological developments related to COVID-19; Receiving and following up on illness reports from RI healthcare providers; Regularly sending to local healthcare providers summaries of the national situation, criteria to guide evaluation of patients, and guidance on specimen collection, testing, and reporting; Coordinating closely with healthcare facilities and emergency medical services; communicating regularly to community partners.
More information about COVID-19 is available in multiple languages at //health.ri.gov/covid
What Does It All Mean | COVID 19 - Coronavirus
We do not mean to alarm anyone but understanding just what the coronavirus (COVID-19) is, how it can be spread and what you can do to prevent it is key in minimizing the impact and spread . We hope you find the information below to be helpful.
The Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce is a member of the RI Alliance for Business Resiliency (RIABR). The Alliance was formed to help companies be prepared for what the day may bring and to improve situational awareness so better decisions can be made. Today the decisions to be made include those at work as well as at home.
Much of the discussion at the recent alliance meeting included what steps everyone should take and how businesses can/should proceed. The links and information contained in this email has been gathered from content shared by RIDOH, CDC, FEMA, DHS, HHS, RIEMA and the RIABR.
The recommendation is to... Call, do not just go visit, your health care provider with questions.
R.I. Dept. of Health Hotline for Coronavirus 401-222-8022
Where Did It Come From
The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCOV) was first identified in Hubei Province, China. Hundreds of cases have been confirmed in China, including cases outside Wuhan, with additional cases being identified in a growing number of countries internationally.
Current data can be found on:
Johns Hopkins Global Case Map
Cases Confirmed - Deaths - Recovered
Symptoms Current
symptoms reported for patients with COVID-19 have included mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).
Be PreparedHow It Spreads is based on current understanding what is known about similar coronaviruses.
According to the R.I. Department of Health (RIDOH) this virus is most commonly spread through respiratory droplets, Rhode Islanders are to take the same measures that healthcare providers recommend annually to prevent the spread of the flu and other viruses.
Steps To Take
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Get your flu shot, and make sure the people around you do the same.
• Wash your hands often throughout the day. Use warm water and soap. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand gel (at least 60% alcohol). Wash for at least 20 seconds.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow. Flu is spread through coughing or sneezing on other people or into your hands. Cover your coughs and sneezes to prevent others from getting sick.
• Stay home from work or school if you are sick
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious foods.
• Keep surfaces (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, and toys for children) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant.
• Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious foods.
• Keep surfaces (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, and toys for children) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant.
The virus can live up to 9 days on surfaces but normal household disinfectants (wipes, sprays) will eliminate the germs.
The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. You should only wear a mask if a healthcare professional recommends it. A facemask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. This is to protect others from the risk of getting infected.
What To Do If You Are Sick
Call ahead to a healthcare professional if you develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty breathing, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or if you live in or have recently traveled to an area with ongoing spread. Tell your healthcare professional about your recent travel or contact. Your healthcare professional will work with your state’s public health department and CDC to determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19.
CDC - Printer friendly version | 
Treatment
There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19. People with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms. For severe cases, treatment should include care to support vital organ functions.
People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider immediately.
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The survey has concluded but thank you for sharing your information...
Has Your Business, Is Your Business Being Impacted by COVID-19? RI Commerce is collecting information from impacted businesses to use in Rhode Island’s application for an SBA disaster declaration. This disaster declaration will unlock SBA tools including economic impact disaster loans.
To request a disaster declaration, the SBA asks that we collect information that shows that businesses have suffered a substantial economic injury as a result of the disaster, the COVID-19 pandemic. We are seeking businesses willing to fill out a survey and share with us how their business has been impacted. The survey is online (link to survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/estimated-disaster-economic-injury-worksheet .
If you are in contact with or aware of businesses that have been impacted, please ask them to complete this survey. If you work with business groups or organizations, please share the survey with those organizations. Sharing this survey far and wide will enable us to gather information on businesses impacted by COVID-19. We would like to be on the leading edge of filing an SBA disaster declaration to unlock the SBA loan tool as quickly as possible. |
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