CDC's Latest Situation Summary
Info on Louisiana's Stay At Home Order
Resources for Specific Groups, Professions, etc.
Louisiana-Specific Resources
Resources for Small Businesses and Employers
Apply for Unemployment
Tax Relief Information
Paycheck Protection Program Info & Application
Info about the CARES Act and How it May Impact You
Info about other COVID-19 Legislation and the Federal Response
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Information About Louisiana's Stay at Home Order
Resources for Specific Groups, Professions, etc.
- Travelers
- Households
- Pregnant Women & Children
- People Who are Sick
- Small Business Owners
- Schools
- Teachers
- Healthcare Professionals
- Health Departments
- Laboratories
Louisiana citizens can dial 211, 24/7 to reach a live 211 specialist to discuss available help and information for COVID-19. Citizens can also text the keyword "LACOVID" to 898-211 to have instant access to the most current information available in our state.
Resources for Businesses and Employers
For additional information, please contact the SBA. Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
Tax Relief
What is the special filing and payment relief announced by the Treasury Department?
All taxpayers qualify for the option to delay filing of their tax returns and payment of any tax debt until July 15, 2020 with no penalties or interest.
Who is eligible for tax deferral?
All individual and business taxpayers.
If I am eligible, do I still need to file my taxes by April 15?
No. The tax filing deadline has also been extended to July 15, 2020. This maximizes flexibility for taxpayers during this challenging time. For taxpayers that expect to receive a refund, you are still encouraged to file as soon as possible. The sooner you file, the sooner you can receive your refund.
I pay estimated taxes. Am I eligible for a tax deferral?
Payment relief is only for 2019 income tax payments and 2020 estimated income tax payments due on April 15, 2020. So if you have a tax payment that is due on another date, such as May 15 for some exempt organizations or any date other than April 15, this relief does not apply to you.
Where can I find additional information from the IRS on this special tax relief?
IRS is working on additional information but in the meantime, you can refer to the IRS resource page on Coronavirus. Please note the guidance released earlier this week by IRS (Notice 2020-17) is likely to change.
IRS resource page on Coronavirus Tax Relief foundHERE
Review the CDC's updated PPE recommendations for acceptable facemasks, which is designed to help cope with the N95 shortage. Congress is working on legislation to provide additional flexibility to allow N95 masks manufactured for other industries to be applied in a healthcare setting. Subsequent updates on this effort to follow.
CDC provides guidance around the use of PPE in healthcare and applicable settings. However, HHS's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) administers the Strategic National Stockpile, which is the nation's largest supply of medical supplies for use in a public health emergency severe enough to cause local supplies to run out.
Regarding use of Strategic National Stockpile assets, if state and local supplies are depleted and commercial supplies are unavailable, state health officials may recommend the governor or the governor's designee request federal assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Local health should work with State Health partners if any shortages are occurring.
If a State makes a request for federal assets, the HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response is responsible for approving and directing the deployment of products from the Strategic National Stockpile to the state in need. HHS is developing formal guidance so for now, requests are to be submitted to the HHS Operations Center, hhs.soc@hhs.gov.
KN-95 respirators. On April 3, 2020, in response to continued respirator shortages, the FDA issued a new EUA for non-NIOSH-approved N95 respirators made in China, which makes KN-95 respirators eligible for authorization if certain criteria are met, including evidence demonstrating that the respirator is authentic.
The FDA also issued guidance (SEE GUIDANCE HERE) to provide a policy to help expand the availability of general use face masks for the general public and respirators for healthcare professionals during this pandemic. The guidance applies to KN95 respirators as well. It explains that for the duration of the pandemic, when FDA-cleared or NIOSH-approved N95 respirators are not available, the FDA generally would not object to the importation and use of respirators without an EUA, including KN-95 respirators, if they are on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) list of respirator alternatives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additional Resources:
FAQs on Shortages of Surgical Masks and Gowns.
Enforcement Policy for Face Masks and Respirators During the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency
Emergency Use Authorizations
Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators
Maritime Industry-specific Information
Coast Guard Marine Safety Information Bulletins (LINK)
CDC Guidance for Maritime Industry (LINK)
The CDC requires that ships destined for a U.S. port of entry immediately report any death onboard or illness that meets CDC's definition of "ill person," including suspected cases of COVID-19, to the CDC Quarantine Station with jurisdiction for the port.
The CDC Quarantine Station for Louisiana is in Houston. Their COVID Hotline: 800-232-4636 or TTY 888-232-6348
