COVID-19 State and Local Updates
Updated April 20 @ 9:45 AM
The great news that the CISA guidance was updated to specifically include printing and packaging provided a great lift to both the weekend and the industry. We are still working through details as to how this new guidance will be implemented by states that adopted the CISA guidance for their definitions of “essential business.”
Here are a few updates:
Extensions:
- Mississippi: Extended until April 27th
- Indiana: Expected that the order will be extended until May 1st.
Texas: On April 17, Gov. Abbott established by executive order his “Strike Force to Reopen Texas,” which outlines the governor’s “expectation that it [the stay at home order] will not be extended in its current form” past May 1st. This does not signal the end of the order but does call on the Strike Force to develop recommendations before May 1 on the gradual return to normal business in Texas.
On April 16, the Dallas County imposed new requirements that individuals who work in essential businesses to wear face masks “to the greatest extent possible” when performing work. Individuals who are patronizing essential businesses or riding mass transit are also required to cover their face, and essential businesses are permitted to turn away patrons who are not wearing face coverings.
Washington: Employers are required to take extra measures to accommodate employees characterized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to be at higher than normal risk of severe illness or death if they contract COVID-19. Governor Inslee issued a proclamation prohibiting all Washington employers, both public and private, from failing to provide accommodations to high-risk workers, defined by the CDC as:
- Employees age 65 or older
- Employees with serious underlying health conditions, including:
- Moderate to severe asthma
- Heart disease
- Lung disease
- Diabetes
- Chronic kidney disease, undergoing dialysis
- Liver disease
- Severe obesity
- A condition that renders the employee immunocompromised, such as HIV or cancer treatment.
The measures discussed below are triggered only if the high-risk employee requests such an accommodation. There is no obligation to affirmatively provide accommodations if the employee has not initiated the process. But the Proclamation also implies that you cannot force a high-risk employee to accept an accommodation such as a reassignment or leave if the employee has not requested an accommodation; the discretion lies with the employee.
Marcia Kinter is the Vice President, Government & Regulatory Affairs at PRINTING United Alliance. Ms. Kinter oversees the development of resources for the Association addressing environmental, safety & health, and sustainability issues. She represents the printing industry, as well as their associated supplier base, before federal and state regulatory agencies on environmental, safety and other government issues directly impacting the printing industry.
In 2008, Ms. Kinter, in conjunction with colleagues from other printing trade associations, was instrumental in launching the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership program. The SGP Program is a registry system for printing facilities that includes third party verification. The program successfully launched as an independent organization in August 2008.
Ms. Kinter is a member of and serves as Secretary for the Academy of Screen and Digital Printing Technologies. In 2001, Ms. Kinter received the William D. Schaeffer Environmental Award for significant advancement of environmental awareness in the graphic arts industry.
Before joining the PRINTING United Alliance, Ms. Kinter worked for The American Waterways Operators, Inc., the national association for the barge and towing industry.
Ms. Kinter holds bachelor’s degree in urban planning from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a master’s degree in public administration from George Mason University.
In 2008, Kinter, in conjunction with colleagues from other printing trade associations, was instrumental in launching the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership program. The SGP Program is a registry system for printing facilities that includes third party verification. The program successfully launched as an independent organization in August 2008.
Kinter is a member of and serves as Secretary for the Academy of Screen Printing Technology. In 2001, Kinter received the William D. Schaeffer Environmental Award for significant advancement of environmental awareness in the graphic arts industry.
Before joining PRINTING United Alliance, Kinter worked for The American Waterways Operators, Inc., the national association for the barge and towing industry.
She holds bachelor’s degree in urban planning from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a master’s degree in public administration from George Mason University.
