IOSH has put together a COVID-19 webpage with advice, guidance and resources for the occupational safety and health community. It includes 

• Preventative measure
• Emergency planning advice
• Managing your workers
• Travelling for work

as well as a list of useful ressources.

This list provides resources from the United State’s OSH agencies charged specifically with OSH issues: the National Institute for Occupational Safety (NIOSH) and Health and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The resources include links to information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (NIOSH’s parent agency) and U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) (OSHA’s parent agency).

The NIOSH links provide specific information on PPE and also resources and guidance for emergency response situations.  CDC links provide a more general overview of workplace precautions to lower risk as well as a map tracking global outbreak status, cases, and latest updates. The OSHA/DOL links provide specific guidance for key at risk industries. The Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19  PDF provides specific guidance on classifying worker exposure and protection measures as well as addressing workers on international assignment. The OSHA links provides other materials available in PDF for printing and distribution. Several of these are provided in Spanish. There are also links to OSHA’s respiratory safety video and eTool.

lefigaro.fr (02.04.2020)

Les soignants atteints par le Coronavirus auront droit à la prise en charge à 100% au titre de la maladie professionnelle.

noticias.anses.gob.ar (31.03.2020) La ANSES informa que los beneficiarios de Asignación Universal por Hijo (AUH) y por Embarazo (AUE) comenzarán a cobrar el próximo viernes 3 de abril el Ingreso Familiar de Emergencia (IFE) de 10.000 pesos instituido por el Decreto 310/20 con carácter excepcional ante la situación creada por la pandemia de Coronavirus COVID-19.

A efectos de facilitar el cobro y evitar aglomeraciones que afecten negativamente la cuarentena vigente hasta el 13 de abril próximo, los beneficiarios de AUH y AUE cuyos documentos de identidad terminen en los números 0, 1, 2 y 3 tendrán los 10.000 pesos acreditados en sus cuentas el próximo viernes 3, y podrán retirarlos por cajeros automáticos o, en caso de dificultades para hacerlo por esa vía, por cajero en la sucursal bancaria correspondiente.

ec.europa.eu (10.03.2020) During today's EU leaders' videoconference on the response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Commission received a mandate to further step up its response to the Coronavirus, or COVID-19 outbreak, on all fronts and coordinate Member State actions. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said:"The investment will be sizable and reach €25 billion quickly. To realise this, I will propose to Council and Parliament this week to release €7.5 billion of investment liquidity. I will set up a Task Force to work with Member States to ensure that the money starts flowing in the coming weeks. Today marks an important step in a coordinated response that the 27 Heads of State and Government, the President of the European Council and the Commission have been calling for. Now it is time for action.”

romania-insider.com (18.03.2020)

The set of measures to be analyzed and adopted by the Government on Wednesday aims to increase the liquidity of the companies, support the companies that temporarily suspend their activity in paying the technical unemployment benefits (75% of wages) to their employees, reduce the direct interaction of citizens with state institutions (by for instance extending the tax payment deadlines), and stimulate the production capacities for goods needed during this crisis, mainly sanitary protection materials, disinfectants.

government.se (19.03.2020) In light of the COVID-19 virus, the Government on March 19 decided that its proposed additional amending budget for 2020 will include a supplementary system of support for short-time work schemes. The new system was presented on Monday by the Government, together with the Centre Party and the Liberal Party, and means that central government will take a greater share of the costs for short-time work in 2020. It is proposed that the new rules enter into force on 7 April, but that they apply from 16 March.

cnbc.com (19.03.2020) Abu Dhabi has also announced a raft of measures to support its economy in this period. That includes a 5 billion dirham ($1.36 billion) water and electricity subsidies for citizens and businesses. Rental rebates are also being offered to restaurants, as well as the tourism and entertainment sectors.

meijburg.com (18.03.2020)

With the passage of time, the corona pandemic is having an increasingly dramatic effect on the Dutch business community. The measures announced by the government on March 12, 2020 proved to be inadequate. For this reason additional measures to further support the Dutch business sector have been implemented and complement or extend the measures of March 12, 2020. 

- Businesses that have been forced to cease most of their activities immediately due to the government measures to combat the coronavirus and have seen all or most of their turnover evaporate, can claim an allowance in the form of a gift. This concerns a one-off fixed amount of EUR 4,000 for the period of three months.
- The GO scheme, for businesses that have difficulty obtaining bank loans and bank guarantees, will be increased and the maximum relief per company will increase from EUR 50 million to EUR 150 million.
- Qredits, a provider of micro-credits to start-ups and small businesses, will be financially supported with a maximum amount of EUR 6 million to support businesses affected by measures to combat the coronavirus.
- Government-guaranteed scheme for loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (Borgstelling MKB-kredieten; BMKB): the share for which the government is guarantor will be temporarily increased from 90% of 75% of a line of credit.
-The State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK) has decided to accelerate (as of March 16, 2020) temporarily expand the Government-guaranteed scheme for agricultural loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (Borgstelling MKB-landbouwkrediet), so that companies with a healthy future perspective can continue to be financed.

bm.dk (22.03.2020)

A 30-day online qualification course is now being offered to unskilled and skilled professionals in the service, tourism, hotel and restaurant sectors. While employees participate in distance education, companies can cover their salary losses through funds from WEU reimbursement and competency funds. During the training period, companies can receive the pay loss partly from the WEU allowance and partly from the competence fund funds, if these are available through the agreement. This means that companies do not have to pay employees' salaries during the training period. The companies pay the course fee alone.

government.nl (15.03.2020) The coronavirus COVID-19, and the measures taken to restrict the spreading of the coronavirus in the Netherlands, have a huge impact on the Dutch economy, and affect business and employees. The measures announced on 12, 17, 23, and 31 March, to curb the spreading of the coronavirus, mean significant loss of turnover for many businesses. The Dutch government is taking measures to help entrepreneurs affected by the crisis. The government has announced extensive measures to help businesses that have been affected by the corona pandemic.  The reduction in working hours scheme has been reintroduced, the Tax and Customs Administration may defer payment of taxes, while the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy is expanding the SME loan guarantee scheme. This scheme enables business owners in for example the hospitality or travel sector, who face problems because they have had to close their business or because their customers are staying at home, to borrow money more easily.

Treasury.gov.au (01.04.2020)

The Australian Government is providing financial assistance to Australians to support them through the Coronavirus. This assistance includes income support payments, payments to support households and temporary early releases of superannuation.

Le vaccin BCG aurait des conséquences sur le développement réduit du Covid16 chez les enfants...

regjeringen.no (16.03.2020)

The government has proposed two new loan measures, providing support of a total of NOK 100 billion. The package will improve Norwegian businesses’ access to the necessary liquidity in the challenging situation they are now facing. The Government has proposed to establish a state guarantee targeted at bank loans to small and medium-sized enterprises suffering losses as a result of the extraordinary situation arising from the spread of the corona virus. The initial package of NOK 50 billion will be increased if needed. The Government has proposed to reinstate the Government Bond Fund (NOK 50 billion, to be invested in bonds issued by Norwegian companies.). This will contribute to increased liquidity and access to capital in the Norwegian bond market, where larger companies typically raise their funding.

whitehouse.gov (18.03.2020)

The Family First Coronavirus Response  Act provides free coronavirus diagnostic testing for the American people, regardless of their economic circumstances or health coverage.

gov.ie (20.03.2020) Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty provided an update on developments regarding her department’s Employer Refund Scheme. The new scheme allows the employer to pay the worker €203 and receive a refund from the State in the circumstances where the employer has ceased trading and as a result of financial difficulty have to temporarily lay off staff. Employers engaged with the scheme will be allowed to top up the payment provided by the State. The details are now being finalised and will be announced early next week.

regjeringen.no (20/03/2020)

The outbreak of Covid-19 is serious for life and health. To counter the outbreak, strong measures have been taken in Norway as well as in other parts of the world. The event will have a major impact on the economy and significantly weigh on economic activity in the short term. The uncertainty about the impact is huge. Overview of tax-related measures to mitigate effects of Covid-19:

• Change corporate tax regulations so that companies that are lossmaking can re-allocate their loss towards previous years’ taxed surplus.
• Change the tax regulations so that owners of lossmaking companies can postpone payments of wealth tax.
• Suspend the tax on air passengers for flights in the period from 1 January until 31 October 2020.
• Suspend payments of aviation charges until 31 June 2020.
• Reduce the low rate of VAT, which includes passenger transport, accommodation and parts of the cultural sector, from 12 to 8 per cent in the period from March 20 to October 31, 2020.
• Defer the deadline for payment of the first VAT period from 14 April to 10 June 2020.
• Postpone the deadline for payment of the second tax installment for companies from 15 April to 1 September 2020.
• Postpone the deadline for payment of employers' contributions from 15 May to 15 August 2020.

regjeringen.no (13.03.2020)

The Government has today announced immediate measures to avoid unnecessary layoffs and bankruptcies in viable companies from the economic shock of COVID-19, and will in the coming weeks and months monitor the situation closely and act appropriately to respond to the situation as it evolves. The government is working on measures in three phases. In all three phases, measures should be targeted, effective and reversible. In phase 1, the government has prioritized immediate measures to avoid unnecessary layoffs and bankruptcies in viable companies that face an abrupt fall in income. To that end, the government has today announced the following measures: Measures in the health care system to handle the acute crisis. This include securing necessary equipment and personnel. Reduce the number of days that employers are obliged to pay salary to workers at temporary lay-offs, from 15 to 2 days. This will be a temporary measure to improve companies’ liquidity and help avoid massive lay-offs. Remove the three waiting days between the period when employers have to provide salary to workers in temporary layoffs and the period when the workers are entitled to daily unemployment benefits. This will reduce the loss of income for workers. The Government proposes to increase support for skills enhancement and corporate training. During a period of lower activity, it may be beneficial for companies to increase their efforts to strengthen the skills of employees. The county municipalities will receive increased funding for this purpose in order to meet regional needs. This will benefit both employees and companies in the slightly longer term.

canada.ca (23.03.2020)

We continue to support people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 outbreak by providing $157.5 million to the Reaching Home initiative. The funding could be used for a range of needs such as purchasing beds and physical barriers for social distancing and securing accommodation to reduce overcrowding in shelters.

regjeringen.no (13.03.2020)

The government is now presenting the first and necessary immediate measures to secure jobs and help businesses in a demanding situation. The comprehensive measures taken in recent days both here at home and in many countries are necessary to limit infection. They have consequences for the individual, for Norwegian companies, jobs and employees, and for society at large.  The government proposes to take measures in the health care system to deal with the emergency situation. The objective is to safeguard the necessary access to medicines, medical devices and resources to conduct necessary corona tests. Efforts may be needed from health care professionals who have retired. The Government propose a legislative change so that efforts in connection with the outbreak of virus do not lead to a reduction of the pension.

regjeringen.no (17.03.2020)

Kindergarten and school are now closed shallow corona eruptions. This has financial consequences for both parents and kindergartens. Now the government has decided that parents should not have to pay, and that kindergartens should cover the loss of parental payment. In addition, the kindergartens must be paid the usual subsidy from the municipality. The exemption from parental payment in kindergarten and SFO also applies to parental payment for children who, for various reasons, receive an offer during this period, to be convicted because the parent has key positions.

nav.no (23.03.2020)

During the corona pandemic, NAV accepts sick leave without personal attendance, regardless of the patient's diagnosis. The same applies to other types of medical certificates. The doctor assesses whether it is professionally justifiable to write a sick leave or medical certificate without personal attendance. NAV also accepts sick leave reports from manual therapists and chiropractors without personal attendance.  No medical certificate required to use care days: employees, freelancers and self-employed persons have the right to use care days if the kindergarten or school closes due to the coronavirus. 

governo.it (16.03.2020)

In order to avoid the lack of liquidity for businesses and families, numerous interventions have been envisaged, including through collaboration with the banking system. The measures mainly include credit support for families and micro, small and medium enterprises, through the banking system and the use of the central guarantee fund.

bmfsfj.de (31.03.2020) Familien mit kleinen Einkommen können einen monatlichen Kinderzuschlag (KiZ) von bis zu 185 Euro erhalten. Ob und in welcher Höhe der KiZ gezahlt wird, hängt von mehreren Faktoren ab - vor allem vom eigenen Einkommen, den Wohnkosten, der Größe der Familie und dem Alter der Kinder. So kann eine Familie mit zwei Kindern und einer Warmmiete von 1.000 Euro den KiZ erhalten, wenn das gemeinsame Bruttoeinkommen rund 1.600 bis 3.300 Euro beträgt. Wer Kinderzuschlag erhält, ist zudem von den Kita-Gebühren befreit und kann zusätzliche Leistungen für Bildung und Teilhabe beantragen.

Eine weitere Anpassung: Wenn Sie bisher schon den höchstmöglichen KiZ von 185 Euro pro Kind erhalten, wird Ihre Bewilligung ohne erneute Prüfung automatisch um weitere sechs Monate verlängert. Wenn Sie nicht den höchstmöglichen KiZ von 185 Euro beziehen, Ihr Einkommen sich aufgrund der Corona-Pandemie aber verringert hat, können Sie einmalig in den Monaten April oder Mai einen Überprüfungsantrag stellen. Sie können dann gegebenenfalls auch den Notfall-KiZ erhalten. Den Notfall-KiZ kann man jedoch nicht zusätzlich zum KiZ bekommen.

bmas.de (30.03.2020)

Das Sozialdienstleister-Einsatzgesetz (SodEG) regelt: Den Einsatz sozialer Dienstleister zur Krisenbewältigung und einen Sicherstellungsauftrag der Leistungsträger für soziale Dienstleister. Die sozialen Dienstleister sollen bei der Krisenbewältigung mit den ihnen zur Verfügung stehenden Kapazitäten unterstützen. Als Ausgleich für die Bereitstellung freier Kapazitäten übernehmen die sozialen Leistungsträger (mit Ausnahme der gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung und der sozialen Pflegeversicherung) einen Sicherstellungsauftrag für diese sozialen Dienstleister. Die gesetzliche Regelung umfasst alle sozialen Dienstleister und Einrichtungen, die mit den Leistungsträgern im Zeitraum des Inkrafttretens von Maßnahmen nach dem Infektionsschutzgesetz zur Bekämpfung der Auswirkungen der Coronavirus-Pandemie in Leistungsbeziehungen stehen.

Durch den Sicherstellungsauftrag wird eine Rechtsgrundlage geschaffen, durch welche die Leistungsträger bei Vorliegen der Voraussetzungen weiterhin Zahlungen an die sozialen Dienstleister und Einrichtungen erbringen und zwar unabhängig davon, ob diese ihre ursprünglich vereinbarte Leistung tatsächlich ausführen oder nicht. Der Sicherstellungsauftrag soll durch monatliche Zuschüsse der Leistungsträger an die sozialen Einrichtungen und Dienste erfolgen. Dabei wird ein Betrag zugrunde gelegt, der grundsätzlich monatlich höchstens 75 Prozent des Durchschnittsbetrages der letzten 12 Monate entspricht. Bei kürzeren Leistungszeiträumen wird dieser (kürzere) Zeitraum zu Grunde gelegt. Die Leistungsträger, d.h. BA, DRV, GUV und die nach Landesrecht zuständigen Stellen der Jugend- und Eingliederungshilfe, können in ihren eigenen Zuständigkeitsbereichen jeweils eine abweichende Zuschusshöhe festlegen, wenn sie dies für erforderlich halten. Soweit ein sozialer Dienstleister weiterhin seine eigenen Aufgaben erfüllt, fließen vorrangig die vereinbarten Zahlungen der Leistungsträger.