COVID-19 Resources

by admin | March 21, 2020

#OpenWeStand

This page is dedicated to providing links to what is hoped to be helpful information for the community as we adapt to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Cybercriminals take advantage in times of uncertainty to capitalize on hunger for information and fear. Be extra vigilent in examining any email with a Covid-19-related subject line, attachment, or hyperlink, and be wary of social media pleas, texts, or calls related to Covid-19. Verify URLs before and after clicking. Use trusted sources of information and be particularly wary of social media links. Links on this page are being left exposed to make your job just a little easier.

In most cases, links are to home sites where there are obvious links to current information. Due to the rapidly changing status of absolutely everything, poke around a bit.

Be informed, be safe and through this we will adapt together. If you have recommendations to post or questions, please do not hesitate to give us a call!

Local Business

Warren's Office Supplies introduces residential delivery for work at home customers https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Essential-Business-Update.html?soid=1103282508817&aid=zHwmu8r1YcA

GoDaddy has set up a page to support small business with links to useful information and resources including free ones. They also provide a media kit for online presence including posters for brick and mortar establishments to inform customers of adaptations. https://www.godaddy.com/open-we-stand

Internet Service

Due to the Coronavirus emergency, internet service providers are beginning to offer special free service to new customers and grace to existing customers. Offers are at the vendors' discretion, so contact them for specifics. Listed are known deals and contact info for area providers. Understand that new service may take a couple weeks or more to receive due to sudden high demand.

Atlantic Broadband ME/NH https://atlanticbb.com 844-574-8435 Contact residential service about 60 day free basic service.

Comcast ME/NH https://internetessentials.com 866-203-0432 In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency, Internet Essentials has increased speeds to 25/3 Mbps for all customers - no action is required. In addition, new customers will receive two months of free service.

Spectrum https://www.spectrum.com 877-217-5063 Currently providing students and teachers 60 days free. Others can see if eligible for Spectrum Internet Assist https://www.spectrum.com/browse/content/spectrum-internet-assist 855-243-8892

GWI (Great Works Internet) https://www.gwi.net 207-496-1287

Consolidated Communications https://www.consolidated.com 844-968-7224

Local Media

Local media outlets are regularly reporting information useful to both businesses and individuals.

Coronavirus Tax Relief

Economic impact payments: What you need to know

IR-2020-61, March 30, 2020 WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today announced that distribution of economic impact payments will begin in the next three weeks and will be distributed automatically, with no action required for most people. However, some seniors and others who typically do not file returns will need to submit a simple tax return to receive the stimulus payment. See https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/economic-impact-payments-what-you-need-to-know

Government Agencies on Business & Labor

US government

Coronavirus (COVID-19) hub of links https://www.coronavirus.gov

US Small Business Administration https://www.sba.gov/disaster-assistance/coronavirus-covid-19

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources

COVID-19 and the American Workplace https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic

FEMA

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus

IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief

Home site https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus

Maine Business and Labor

Maine Department of Labor Information About COVID-19 https://www.maine.gov/labor/covid19

The governor’s page dedicated to COVID-19 for individuals and businesses https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/covid-19

Dept. of Administrative and Financial Services Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Resources (includes links for general public) https://www.maine.gov/dafs/covid-19

Maine Department of Labor (unemployment info) https://www.maine.gov/unemployment

New Hampshire Business and Labor

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 https://www.nh.gov/covid19/residents

COVID-19 NH Business Resources https://www.nheconomy.com/covid19 https://www.nheconomy.com/covid19

Unemployment Assistance Hotline at 603-271-7700 File a claim https://www.nhes.nh.gov/notice.htm

Other Agencies for Business Help

FAME COVID-19 Relief Loan Programs https://www.famemaine.com/business/programs/covid-19-relief-loan-programs

The Swanson Group is posting blog updates on government relief and tax notes with a CPA's insight. https://yourmainecpa.com/blog

Government Agencies on Health

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Home site https://www.cdc.gov

Links to information for specific audiences https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

National Institutes of Health

Home site https://www.nih.gov

Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention

Home site https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/index.shtml

Maine alerts page https://www.maine.gov/portal/CAS

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

Home site https://www.nh.gov/covid19

World Health Organization

Home site https://www.who.int

FEMA

Home site https://www.fema.gov

Rumor Control https://www.fema.gov/Coronavirus-Rumor-Control

Mental Health Resources

Times are stressful and maybe you or someone you know needs some help. You are not alone. Find the support you need.

Maine Department of Health and Human Services https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/hotlines.shtml

NH Department of Health and Human Services https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcbcs/bbh Call the statewide suicide hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or 911.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org Website has options for deaf and hard of hearing. A national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Specific tips for coping with the COVID-19 outbreak https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/current-events/supporting-your-emotional-well-being-during-the-covid-19-outbreak Call 1-800-273-8255.

Science

Take serious care when searching for information on treatment and other facts about the virus--many malicious sites are springing up that may or may not have correct information. Infections are not readily apparent because they are designed to run silently while harvesting information from your computer use.

Johns Hopkins Medicine

COVID-19 page https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/index.html

Mayo Clinic

COVID-19 page https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/category/covid-19

Home with Kids?

Educational material for educators and parents https://mainepublic.pbslearningmedia.org

Educational resources with tools while schools are closed https://pbskids.org/grownups

Take a Break!

CA high school chamber group virtual performance of Somewhere Over the Rainbow https://chinohillshowler.org/10263/feature/the-show-must-go-on-for-the-chhs-chamber-singers

We all could use a little yoga at this point. Check out this little chihuahua taking instruction in Italian. Bravo! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn3mMmy_ghY

Get some excercise courtesy of YMCA 360 https://ymca360.org

Find some live streaming music https://www.npr.org/2020/03/17/816504058/a-list-of-live-virtual-concerts-to-watch-during-the-coronavirus-shutdown

Virtually visit some museums https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/mar/23/10-of-the-worlds-best-virtual-museum-and-art-gallery-tours

Get Involved / Find Help

Mainers Together has been established to meet the needs of our neighbors. Need help? Let them know. Can you help someone out? Join forces. https://www.mainerstogether.com

The Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine continues their awesome work to provide fresh, nutritious food to distribution outlets. Check this page for ways to help https://www.gsfb.org/mainecovid. For those in need, they've also published a means to more easily find food https://www.gsfb.org/get-help/food-map

Offering Curbside Pickup and/or Delivery

Finding curbside pickup may get easier. Right now, here are the locations we know of offering the service. Please realize any one of these could change and you should confirm for yourself for any given location. Call your local small businesses as they might offer it, too!

One Earth Natural Food Store https://www.oneearthnaturalfoodstore.com/curbside-pickup

Maine Farm Product and Pickup Directory listing local Maine farm products and seafood alternative pickup options https://extension.umaine.edu/agriculture/farm-product-and-pickup-directory

Walgreens https://www.walgreens.com

Walmart https://grocery.walmart.com

LoyalCompanion (pets) https://loyalcompanion.com

Petco (pets) https://www.petco.com