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Paid Sick Days for Covid-19-related Illness

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Congress passed a relief package to support Americans during this time called Families First Corinavirus Response Act (HR6201). The Federal Government has also implemented monetary policies and are now working on a fiscal relief package. The relief package included emergency paid sick days relevant for employees of businesses with fewer than 500 employees, who are infected by the virus, quarantined, have a sick family member or are affected by school closings. Employees can take up to two weeks of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical leave for up to 2/3rd of their regular pay. This is critical to ensure that people do not attempt to go to work ill and infect others and ensure our people are treated fairly during a crisis. Municipalities and individual employers can adopt more generous sick day policies. A recent report shows that the economic impact on business that offer paid sick leave is minimal, and yet the public health benefits are significant when sick workers can take the time the need to heal.