Mississippi Coronavirus Update April 3, 2020


Dear Friend,

Thank you for staying up to date and doing your part to end the coronavirus outbreak by practicing social distancing and washing your hands. For resources
on the federal and state coronavirus response, CARES Act provisions, and other information on managing the outbreak, please visit my Coronavirus Relief webpage.
Also, please encourage your friends and family to subscribe to my newsletter for reliable updates on the coronavirus outbreak.

Paycheck Protection Program

Today, the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) launched for businesses to begin applying for low-interest loans. Small businesses
and sole proprietorships with less than 500 employees are eligible today to apply for the PPP, and independent contractors and self-employed individuals
will be able to apply for the PPP beginning next Friday, April 10th. These loans can be used to cover up to 8 weeks of payroll and benefits costs,
as well as rent, mortgage, and utility expenses. These loans are 100% guaranteed by the SBA, have 2-year terms, and have interest rates of 1%. These
loans are eligible for forgiveness if used to cover the costs outlined above during a timeframe of February 15th to June 30th, 2020. Furthermore, the
program provides flexibility for businesses that re-hire employees previously laid off.

While the SBA experienced challenges with the launch of the program today, we expect that issues will continue to be addressed over the coming days. You
can find more resources on the PPP and other small business assistance by clicking on the following links:

Social Security Recipients Will Automatically Receive Economic Impact Payments

The U.S. government has made it easier for individuals receiving Social Security benefits to obtain their economic impact payment checks. Social Security
beneficiaries will no longer need to provide an abbreviated tax return this year. Individuals receiving these benefits will receive their rebate payment
as a check or direct deposit, just as they receive their benefits. For more information, please see the Department of Treasury’s press release.

Unemployment Numbers and Job Loss

Recent numbers show that the United States lost 701,000 jobs in March and unemployment numbers continue to climb. Congress anticipated large job loss numbers
and rising unemployment claims and have made resources available for those impacted. If you or someone you know becomes unemployed, you might be eligible
to file for an unemployment claim. Please contact the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) at 601-321-6000 for assistance. You can
also visit the MDES website to submit a claim.

Current Statistics

As of Friday, April 3rd, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 239,279 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the United States, 5,443 individuals have passed away as a result of infection, and 50 states,
the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have at least one case. See below for an infographic
from the Mississippi State Department of Health on the number of cases in Mississippi.

 

 

Sincerely

 

Michael Guest

Member of Congress