Last updated 04/12/2020 (Updates posted below the article)
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Hey guys! I hope everyone is having a relaxing and positive week! Due to the overwhelming response among our communities due to the Corona COVID-19 virus, Puget Sound Furs (Our local Washington state event host) has decided to halt and delay our future events until further notice to help contain and prevent further contamination of our communities with this deadly threat. Our governor has already declared a state emergency to limit all public venues, and last night President Trump declared a state of emergency because of this virus. Not only this, but public schools across WA state, among other states, are being closed down temporarily (Our public schools will be closed until April thus far).
What can you do to help prevent further spread?
Our staff strongly recommend staying home when possible, practicing really good hygiene, washing your hands frequently, and taking other necessary precautions to help prevent further spread of the virus. We recommend, if possible, staying home is the best option for preventing further spread. If you have any feeling of possibly being sick, the feeling of a fever, or any similar signs normally associated with a cold or the flu, we encourage you to get checked immediately AND STAY HOME! It's already made known that the virus can easily spread among hundreds of people in a small area showing little to no symptoms at all, and is highly contagious even with no symptoms. This is especially dangerous for people with compromised and weak immunity (Especially our elders and children).
Try to stay calm, collected, and try not to panic!
Right now across all sorts of news media, social media, and more there have been clear signs of mass panic in some of our communities. A lot of retail stores have been emptied out of toilet paper, sanitizing agents, and other necessities as well as lots of non-perishable food like rice, pasta, and beans. Please try to stock up on a few necessities but please, for the sake of the elderly and people who need help, do not take an entire stock-load of items, and leave some behind for others. Gather what you need sparingly if you end up staying home for long periods of time through this difficult time.
Among the viral infection, there's already signs of jobs and buildings either closing down or slowing way down, and it's already affected people's pay and financial situations. If you need sick days, do not be afraid to take them! We strongly encourage preparing for a slower season than normal in your finances, as this can severely negatively impact not only our community's health, but its economic state. So please be careful and plan ahead!
What if I feel any symptoms of being sick?
The virus can go unnoticed for a typical patient for nearly 2 weeks, and most showing symptoms within 1 week. Symptoms usually include, but not limited to, upper respiratory problems, chest pains, dry cough, trouble breathing, and high fever. If you feel any symptoms at all, please get checked immediately! Don't panic! If you are sent home, stay home and follow instructions; the majority affected are able to get through this with time, medicine, and patience much like the flu or a bad cold. While we are not professionals in the medical industry, we do want you to make sure to stay hydrated (Drink LOTS of water, enough to make you use the bathroom a lot!), try to relax and stay calm (Stress can make it worse!), eat healthy non-sugary products, and stay indoors to help your body recover.
We want everyone to stay safe!
We want everyone to be safe, practice good habits to prevent further spread, and stay calm during this epidemic. King county and Snohomish are the most affected areas right now of western WA state. We will make a future announcement with any crucial local updates and more information as it arrives to help keep everyone in the loop. We love you guys, and we hope you stay safe during this difficult time.
UPDATE 04/12/2020
The IRS has released a web page for the Corona Stimulus Act package for those who have not filed for your 2018 or 2019 tax returns. This will use your information to confirm eligibility and send a stimulus payment. Using the tool to get your payment won’t result in any taxes being owed. Entering bank or financial account information will allow the IRS to deposit your payment directly in your account. Otherwise, your payment will be mailed to you.
IRS Stimulus Payment page: www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here
UPDATE 04/02/2020
The Washington "Stay at Home" order has been extended until the beginning of May.
Source: www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-extends-stay-home-stay-healthy-through-may-4
UPDATE 03/31/2020
Last Friday the "Corona Stimulus" package was voted through and signed into action. With the financial loss of the recent outbreak, the federal government has [finally] committed to a $2 trillion "corona" stimulus package that includes payments of up to $1,200 for individual US taxpayers. For some, these checks may be received in just 3 weeks, assuming you're eligible. The total amount of your stimulus check will be based on your adjusted gross income, from your 2019 federal tax filing (Or 2018 if 2019 has not been filed). Couples who have filed jointly may get $2,400 and families with children may be given $500 per child, depending on your last tax filing.
IRS Page on COVID-19 updates and what you need to know: www.irs.gov/newsroom/economic-impact-payments-what-you-need-to-know
Details found here on the Act posted on Congress.gov.
UPDATE 03/27/2020
This Friday the House will vote on a Corona Stimulus package already passed by the Senate to give individuals and families a one-time financial aid check to help with relief from the COVID-19 situation. This stimulus package will include stimulus payments to individuals, expanded unemployment coverage, student loan changes, different retirement account rules and more.
Find out more information at www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-stimulus-package-questions-answers.html
IRS relief webpage for COVID-19: www.irs.gov/coronavirus
UPDATE 03/24/2020
All businesses, except "essential" businesses will remain closed. All public and social gatherings are banned. Unless it is an essential activity or an emergency, all residents are required to stay home. If you are near other people, such as at retail stores, you must stay about 6 feet from each other. You can see our governor's transcript here.
More details at www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-announces-stay-home-stay-healthy%C2%A0order
UPDATE 03/17/2020
Amazon is temporarily suspending the majority of all shipments, except essential items, until the beginning of April due to the high demand affiliated with COVID-19. Amazon will be temporarily prioritizing household staples, medical supplies and other high-demand products coming into their warehouse centers.
This will be in effect today through April 5, 2020.
More info: sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/help.html?itemID=GF37V7QBB8WSVF43&tag=bisafetynet2-20&
UPDATE 03/16/2020
You can help scientists and researchers develop a cure by using your hardware to better understand the 2019 Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) to accelerate the open science effort to develop new life-saving therapies. With Folding@Home, you can donate your unused computational resources to the Folding@home Consortium, where researchers working to advance their understanding of the structures of potential drug targets for 2019-nCoV that could aid in the design of new therapies. The data you help generate will be quickly and openly disseminated as part of an open science collaboration of multiple laboratories around the world, giving researchers new tools that may unlock new opportunities for developing lifesaving drugs.
If you'd like to help, check out the free program here: foldingathome.org/2020/02/27/foldinghome-takes-up-the-fight-against-covid-19-2019-ncov/
UPDATE 03/15/2020
Our governor has temporarily shut down all restaurants, bars and the limits on size of gatherings expanded down to 50 instead of the previous declaration limit. More info @ www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-statement-statewide-shutdown-restaurants-bars-and-limits-size-gatherings-expanded
Some important resources of information:
Main CDC page for COVID-19 virus: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html
Washington's COVID-19 website: www.coronavirus.wa.gov/
CDC page on public gatherings: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/mass-gatherings-ready-for-covid-19.html
WA declares state of emergency: www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-issues-emergency-proclamation-limits-large-events-minimize-public-health-risk
Public schools shut down: www.seattleschools.org/district/calendars/news/what_s_new/coronavirus_update
Wa.gov COVID-19 page: www.doh.wa.gov/emergencies/coronavirus
Business and worker support: www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-announces-support-workers-and-businesses-impacted-covid-19
Getting tested for COVID-19: www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/NovelCoronavirusOutbreak2020/TestingforCOVID19
Info on the spread of COVID-19: www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/
Amazon Shipment Suspension: sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/help.html?itemID=GF37V7QBB8WSVF43&tag=bisafetynet2-20&
IRS COVID-19 Relief page: www.irs.gov/coronavirus
World-wide view of the amount of confirmed cases: google.org/crisisresponse/covid19-map?hl=en
Corona Stimulus Package Act: www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/748/text
IRS Corona Stimulus Act information and FAQs page: www.irs.gov/newsroom/economic-impact-payments-what-you-need-to-know
IRS Stimulus Payment page: www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here
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