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COVID-19 Resources

This information was updated on January 25, 2021

Commerce Chenango continues to extend our services and advocate for all businesses and groups in Chenango County throughout the pandemic.  Visit https://forward.ny.gov/ to keep up-to-date on industry reopening phases, or https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home for daily updates, and https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/ for information on vaccine guidance and protocols.

Our doors continue to remain closed to the public for safety purposes, but someone from the staff is here Monday-Thursday 8:00 – 5:00 p.m. and Friday until 4:00 p.m. Please contact Commerce Chenango at 607-334-1400 or email us if you have any questions, or would like to make an appointment to see one of the staff.

Vaccine Procedures and Protocols

https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/

The Governor has announced the launch of a new COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker Dashboard. The dashboard will update New Yorkers on the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine including the number of doses received by the state, a breakdown of first or second doses, and the number of persons inoculated with the first and second doses in each region. The New York State Department of Health requires vaccinating facilities to report all COVID-19 vaccine administration data within 24 hours; the vaccine administration data on the dashboard is updated daily to reflect the most up-to-date metrics in the state’s vaccination effort. To access the dashboard, go to ny.gov/vaccinetracker.

The COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline is open 7AM – 10PM, 7 days week, to help New Yorkers determine if they are eligible and schedule vaccination appointments. 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829)

Due to limited allocation by the federal government, limited appointments have filled up quickly. Currently, appointments have been made for the next 14 weeks. Vaccinations are performed by local health departments, pharmacies, doctors’ offices, and hospitals. Please call them for appointments as they become available & for additional information.

Prior to receiving the vaccination, you must complete the New York State COVID-19 Vaccine Form. This form can be completed online and you will receive a submission ID, or you can fill out the form at your vaccination site. Individuals being vaccinated must bring proof of eligibility to the vaccination site. This may include an employee ID card, a letter from an employer or affiliated organization, or a pay stub, depending on the specific priority status. Check your eligibility phase HERE. Appointments could take up to 14 weeks due to limited federal allocation and all vaccines are by appointment only. Click HERE to determine eligibility and schedule appointments with administrating providers.

COVID-19 Vaccine Transportation Offered

Rural Health Network of South Central New York’s mobility management program, Getthere, can provide rides to vaccinations. Please contact Getthere if you, a loved one, or a client living in Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, or Tioga counties are unable to get to a COVID-19 vaccination site. The Call Center can be reached at (855) 373-4040 Monday – Friday from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. A Mobility and Transportation Advocate will help schedule a safe, secure ride. No referral is needed.

Getthere is a mobility management program of the Rural Health Network of South Central New York serving Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, and Tioga counties.

Quarantine Requirements For Exposure To COVID-19

Consistent with recent CDC guidance, quarantine for individuals exposed to COVID-19 can end after ten days without a testing requirement if no symptoms have been reported during the quarantine period.

  • Individuals must continue daily symptom monitoring through Day 14;
  • Individuals must be counseled to continue strict adherence to all recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions, including hand hygiene and the use of face coverings, through Day 14.
  • Individuals must be advised that if any symptoms develop, they should immediately self-isolate and contact the local public health authority or their healthcare provider to report this change in clinical status and determine if they should seek testing.

These quarantine requirements are also applicable to travelers who are not essential workers and/or who did not complete the testing requirements described in Executive Order 205.2.

Travel Guidelines

The new guidelines are in effect that allows out-of-state travelers to “test out” of the mandatory 14-day quarantine. Check out what’s different HERE.

Local health departments will validate tests, if necessary, and if a test comes back positive, will issue isolation orders and initiate contact tracing. The local health department must make contact with the state the traveler came from, to ensure contact tracing proceeds there as well. All travelers must continue to fill out our traveler form upon arrival in New York State to contribute to New York State’s robust contact tracing program.

The travel guidelines require all New Yorkers, as well as those visiting from out of state, to take personal responsibility for compliance in the best interest of public health and safety. For general inquires contact the call the Hotline: 1-888-364-3065 or Ask a Question. To file a report of an individual failing to adhere to the quarantine pursuant to the travel guidelines click here or call 1-833-789-0470. Individuals may also contact their local department of health.

Updated Sports and Recreation Guidance

The Department of Health’s (DOH) New York Forward Sports and Recreation guidance has been updated and posted on the “Statewide Guidelines” webpage.  The detailed guidance can be found here.

Funding Opportunities

DCC COVID Loan Fund ~

Development Chenango Corporation (DCC), the Economic Development arm of Chenango County and part of Commerce Chenango, Inc. recently announced a new loan opportunity for Chenango County businesses needing financial help amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The loan funds, with a maximum amount of $25,000 per project, can be used to reopen your business, hire back employees, replenish your inventory, or for working capital. Funds may be used for equipment or rebuilding if it pertains to COVID-19 related loss or injury; they cannot be used for additions or capital improvements unless there is a specific need related to the new COVID-19 operating guidelines. Streamlined and simplified for a quick turnaround, this is a rolling submission process and funds will continue to be awarded until the money is depleted. For more information, email Kgreen@chenangony.org or call Kerri at 607-334-1404.

The new PPP Changes ~

Here are some more key changes to this round of PPP compared to how the program operated in 2020:

  • PPP borrowers can set their PPP loan’s covered period to be any length between 8 and 24 weeks to best meet their business needs, the SBA says.
  • PPP loans will cover additional expenses, including operations expenditures, property-damage costs, supplier costs, and worker-protection expenditures.
  • The program’s eligibility is expanded to include 501(c)(6) nonprofits, housing cooperatives, and destination-marketing organizations.
  • The PPP provides greater flexibility for seasonal employees.
  • Certain existing PPP borrowers can request to modify their first-draw PPP loan amount.
  •  Updated PPP Lender forms, guidance, and resources are available at www.sba.gov/ppp  and www.treasury.gov/cares.

 

The New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF) ~

This is a new economic recovery loan program aimed at supporting New York State small businesses, including Minority and Woman-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs)**, nonprofits, and small landlords that have been excluded by other relief and recovery efforts, as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE.

The NYFLF now targets the state’s small businesses with *50* or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, nonprofits, and small residential landlords that have seen a loss of rental income.

An Eligible Small Business must:

  • Employ *50* or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees;
  • Have gross revenues of less than *$5 million* per year;
  • Must not have received a U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program of greater than $500,000 or an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) for COVID-19 of greater than $150,000;
  • Have suffered a direct economic hardship as a result of COVID-19 related social distancing policies and stay-at-home order that have materially impacted their operations;
  • Been in business for at least 1 year as of the date of the application; and
  • Be located in the State of New York.

For more information and to start your pre-application visit click HERE> www.nyloanfund.com

Empire State Development Announces “Raising The Bar” Restaurant Recovery Fund

The “Raising the Bar Restaurant Recovery Fund” will help eligible restaurants adjust their operations to the impacts of COVID-19 and adherence to New York State’s public health and safety measures during the winter months when outdoor dining is limited.

Qualifying purchases and expenditures must be from September 1, 2020, onwards to be eligible. The initial round of grants is up to $5,000. Restaurants can apply starting Monday, January 11, 2021. For more information, visit the ESD website at https://esd.ny.gov/raising-bar-restaurant-recovery-fund

Families in Need and Community Programs

Families in need of food, rent/utility assistance, or childcare may call the United Way offices at 607-334-8815 for a referral to one of the programs collaborating with the Chenango United Way and the Chenango Area Recovery Team (CART) on COVID 19 assistance. Some of those organizations include; Roots & Wings at Catholic Charities, Emmanuel Episcopal Church’s Our Daily Bread and Emmanuel Mission, Oxford’s Taste N See Soup Kitchen, Chenango County Area Agency on Aging, Chenango Health Network, The Place, Norwich Family YMCA, Family Enrichment Network or one of several other community programs.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) issues electronic benefits that can be used like cash to purchase food. Learn more to see if you are eligible and apply for SNAP here: www.ny.gov/services/apply-snap. 

FOOD Resources can be found at helpme211.org or by calling 1-800-901-2180.

Health Information and Updates

Local

Bassett Healthcare: 607-547-5555 or visit https://www.bassett.org/covid-19

Chenango County Health Department: https://www.co.chenango.ny.us/public-health/

UHS Chenango Memorial: (607) 337-4111 – To be evaluated online through the UHS Virtual Walk-in visit https://www.nyuhs.org/

State

NYS Health Department: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home

Mental Health Counseling: New Yorkers can call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314

Federal

Centers for Disease Control (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Federal/National Resources

Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE): https://resources.acce.org/crisismanagement

National Restaurant Association: https://www.restaurant.org/Home

New York State Tourism Industry Association: https://www.nystia.org/covid-19

Small Business Development Center: https://www.nyssbdc.org/

U.S. Chamber of Commerce: https://www.uschamber.com/co/start/strategy/small-business-resources-for-surviving-coronavirus

U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/additional_resources.html

U.S. Small Business Administration: Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources – https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources

U.S. Travel Association: https://www.ustravel.org/toolkit/covid-19-cares-act-relief-resources

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