Some of these measures include:

• A new requirement passed by the Legislature to provide paid sick leave to any employee quarantined as a result of exposure to COVID-19;
• Workplace restrictions on personnel in businesses classified as “non-essential” to report to the workplace;
• A 90-day freeze on mortgage payments to homeowners who are experiencing financial hardships (their company has closed, they’ve been laid off or face a reduction in hours) due to COVID-19; banks will have to temporarily suspend overdraft fees on ATMs and credit cards.

“It is imperative that we act swiftly and decisively to listen to the experts on what we can do as a community to stop the spread of the coronavirus,” Tague said. “I am immensely proud to stand alongside my peers in the Legislature as we work together to save lives and reduce the economic impact this peril has on our state.”

The realities now facing the state’s job creators and employees will almost certainly be felt well into the future. If you or someone you know is unemployed due to the business closures or quarantines in place due to this current health crisis, New York State has waived the seven-day waiting period for unemployment insurance benefits. For more information on to apply, visit https://labor.ny.gov/unemploymentassistance.shtm