• • Allowing sick employees to work from home or take a leave as appropriate. (89%)
  • Minimizing unnecessary travel. (87%)
  • Educate employees on the signs and symptoms of the Coronavirus, as well as the precautions to take. (74%)
    • Tools:
      • Poster of Coronavirus symptoms for the work place
      • Poster on “What you need to know and how to protect yourself from the Coronavirus” for the workplace
      • Educational videos from the CDC
  • Minimizing unnecessary meetings and visitors. (74%)
  • Establishing first-line points of contact within the HR team responsible for managing employee questions or concerns. (38%)
  • Implementing and/or evaluating workplace emergency response protocols. (35%)
  • Training supervisors about strategies to address overreaction from employees and conflict in the workplace. (13%)
  • Other:
    -Asking all employees to work from home. (Our survey shows the number of companies initiating this policy is on the rise.)
    -Doing mock drills to ensure company does not have disruption should employees need to work from home.
    -Creating internal COVID-19 Task Force.
    -Establishing a hotline for employees to call with questions.
    -Providing employees with access to hand sanitizers as well as sanitizing common touch points within the office, such as copy machines, coffee makers, door handles, etc.

• Providing other meeting options, such as video conferencing, to avoid travel. (78%)
• Monitoring and sharing travel advisories and warning with employees. (72%)
  • Click here for international travel news.
  • Click here for CDC’s live Travel Health Alert Notice.
• Suspending all travel to affected areas. (67%)
• Asking employees who have recently returned from affected regions to work from home. (50%)
• Implementing guidelines for travel to affected regions. (48%)
  • Click here for a sample Company Policy Memo developed by a BioNJ Member Company and issued to its’ global staff.
• Contingency planning for operations and supply-chain disruption that may occur due to travel restrictions in affected areas. (35%)
• Developing a policy to address employees who refuse to work with co-workers returning from travel in affected regions to avoid anti-harassment/discrimination. (8%)
• Other:
  – No U.S. travel to states that have declared a state of emergency.
  -Asking employees not to attend meetings of 20 or more individuals.
  -Allowing employees who have pre-existing medical conditions, childcare needs or other concerns related to COVID-19 to work from home.

Click here to download a copy of the World Health Organization’s guide to developing a
“Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan for the New Coronavirus

• Defining when an ill employee must stay home, when an ill employee will be sent home and when and in what circumstances the employee may return to work. (87%)
• When an employer may require an ill employee – or those who have been exposed – to be quarantined. (63%)
• Whether the employer will pay employees for the time spent in quarantine as well as an outline of benefits available to employees. (58%)
• What illnesses or exposure to illness an employee must disclose to the employer, and when and how such disclosure should be made. (52%)
• Other: Allowing employees who have pre-existing medical conditions, childcare needs or other concerns related to COVID-19 to work from home.

• Yes (22%)
• N0 (79%)

• The Road Back: Restoring Economic Health Through Public Health
• NJ A3095 (20R) provides county clerks an extra week to mail ballots for the 2020 primary election.
• NJ 3840 (20R) requires schools to provide school meals and meal vouchers to students entitled to free and reduced lunches for as long as facilities are closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
• NJ A3843 (20R) directs the State’s Medicaid program and health benefit plans to cover Coronavirus testing. The Governor took similar action last week, advising plans to cover Coronavirus testing as well as emergency room, urgent care and office visits. The guidance applies to any health plan available through the state’s individual, small and large group marketplaces.
• NJ A3845 (20R) allows the Economic Development Authority to extend grants to small businesses impacted by the virus.
• NJ A3848 (20R) would prohibit employers from firing workers who need to take time off because of the Coronavirus.
• NJ A3849 (20R) grants some flexibility for custodians under the State’s open records law, extending the time frame by which they have to respond to requests during a state of emergency, public health emergency or State of local disaster emergency.
• NJ A3850 (20R) allows public bodies to conduct business remotely, or using electronic means, during a period of emergency.
• NJ A3851 (20R) would extend the deadline by which local and county governments have to adopt their budgets during periods when New Jersey is in a state of emergency or public health emergency.
• NJ A3854 (20R) would allow licensed health care facilities to collect swabs during the period covered by Murphy’s public health state of emergency and grants Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli the ability to waive any staffing requirements for those facilities during that period.
• NJ A3855 (20R) would require the State’s departments and agencies to put information about accessing food on public notifications relating to public health emergencies.
• NJ A3861 (20R) would allow corporations to hold shareholders’ meetings remotely, rather than in person, during a state of emergency.
• NJ A3865 (20R) would allow grocery stores to limit returns of goods purchased during the current public health state of emergency.
• NJ AJR158 (20R) urges the FCC to take temporary measures to secure broadband access for those affected by COVID-19.
• A-2371/S-865 requires large food waste generators to separate and recycle food waste and amends definition of “Class I renewable energy.”
• A-3901/S-2334 permits professional and occupational licensing boards to reactivate licensure of certain individuals during state of emergency or public health emergency.
• A-3903/S-2336 allows remote notarial acts during Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020.
• A-3904/S-2337 permits use of virtual or remote instruction to meet minimum 180-day school year requirement under certain circumstances.
• A-3910/S-2333 provides civil and criminal immunity to certain health care professionals and health care facilities during public health emergency and state of emergency; facilitates issuance of certain temporary licenses and certifications during public health emergency and state of emergency.
• A-3913/S-2374 expands protections of the Family Leave Act to allow employees forced to take time off to care for a family member during the COVID-19 outbreak with up to 12 weeks of unpaid family leave in a 24-month period without losing their jobs.
• A-3915/S-2342 permits nonprofit corporations to allow members to participate in meetings by means of remote communication, and permits nonprofit corporations to hold meetings in part or solely by means of remote communication during state of emergency.
• A-3918/S-2338 “COVID-19 Fiscal Mitigation Act”; clarifies filing and payment deadline for CBT and GIT taxpayers, modifies duration of State Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021, requires certain updates and presentation for State Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021.
• A-3922/S-2349 changes date of 2020 primary election from June 2 to July 7.
• A-3938/S-2353 excludes from severance requirements under “Millville Dallas Airmotive Plant Job Loss Notification Act” mass layoffs resulting from Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
• Executive Order 107 provides that “all New Jersey residents shall remain home or at their place of residence,” with certain specified exceptions. With regard to life sciences companies, EO 107 provides an exception for any business with “employees that cannot perform their functions via telework or work-from-home arrangements” provided that the business makes “best efforts to reduce staff on site to the minimal number necessary to ensure that essential operations can continue.”  It also provides examples of such employees who cannot work remotely, including “lab technicians.” Click here for details.
• Executive Order 109 is intended to assess the availability of PPE as we move forward in the current situation.
• Executive Order No. 112 authorized the Division of Consumer Affairs to temporarily reactivate the licenses of recently retired health care professionals and grant temporary licenses to doctors licensed in foreign countries.
• Executive Order No. 113 authorizes the New Jersey State Director of Emergency Management to use the Governor’s full authority under the Disaster Control Act to commandeer personal services and/or real or personal property.
• Executive Order No. 114 ordered that the U.S. and New Jersey flags be flown at half-staff at all state buildings and facilities indefinitely starting Friday, April 3rd, in recognition and mourning of all those who have lost their lives and been affected by COVID-19.
• Executive Order No. 115 allows retirees to return to State and local government employment without impacting their retirement pensions and removing restrictions on law enforcement’s ability to temporarily supplement their ranks.
• Executive Order No. 119 extends the Public Health Emergency declared on March 9, 2020 through Executive Order No. 103. Under the Emergency Health Powers Act, a declared public health emergency expires after 30 days unless renewed.
• Executive Order No. 120 postpones primary elections on Tuesday, June 2nd to Tuesday, July 7th in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
• Executive Order No. 121 allows an increase in the maximum weight limit on certain interstate highways and toll roads from 80,000 pounds (40 tons) tons to 92,000 pounds (46 tons) for vehicles transporting COVID-19 relief supplies.
• Executive Order No. 122 ceases all non-essential construction projects and imposing additional mitigation requirements on essential retail businesses and essential industries to limit the spread of COVID-19 in New Jersey. The order also outlines specific protections and policies for all essential retail, manufacturing, and warehousing businesses, as well as businesses engaged in essential construction projects.
• Executive Order No. 123 extends grace periods during which certain insurance companies, including health insurers, life insurers, and property and casualty insurers, will not be able to cancel policies for nonpayment of premiums.
• Executive Order No. 126 prohibits cable and telecommunications providers from terminating Internet and voice service due to nonpayment until 30 days after the current public health emergency has ended. The order also mandates that all service downgrades, service reductions, or late fees due to non-payment are prohibited unless they are imposed in accordance with a policy approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.
• Executive Order No. 127 extended various deadlines associated with rulemaking for state agencies until 90 days following the end of the public health emergency.
• Executive Order No. 128 allows tenants to direct their landlords to use their security deposits to offset rent or back rent.
• Executive Order No. 130 allows municipalities to extend the grace period for property tax payments due on May 1st to June 1st.
• Executive Order No. 137  rescinding Executive Order No. 73 (2019), which directed the Department of the Treasury to achieve a $1.276 billion surplus by the end of this current fiscal year.
• Executive Order No. 138 extending the Public Health Emergency declared on March 9, 2020 through Executive Order No. 103 and extended on April 7 through Executive Order No. 119. Under the Emergency Health Powers Act, a declared public health emergency expires after 30 days unless renewed.
• Executive Order No. 140 outlining the formation of a statewide council of leaders to advise on New Jersey’s restart and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Executive Order No. 142 permits the resumption of non-essential construction, curbside pickup at non-essential retail businesses and car gatherings for the purpose of drive-through and drive-in events.

• BIO’s first-of-its-kind, interactive tracker of the new treatments and vaccines in the COVID-19 pipeline.
• BIO Coronavirus Hub FAQ
• BIO Summit Accelerates Collaboration in Fight Against COVID-19
  
• An Update On Drugs In Development For COVID-19
• NJ biotech lab says it has a treatment for very sick COVID-19 patients
• BIO’s Portal: The Coronavirus is No Match for Science — Share What You Need, and How You Can Help
• BIO Coronavirus Hub FAQ
• Video Message from Jim Greenwood
• An informative infographic to share across your social media platforms on how the biopharma industry is leading the charge.
• BIO/PhRMA Commitment to Beat Coronavirus
• PhRMA: New report shows nearly 260 vaccines in development, including dozens for COVID-19
  
• PhRMA New infographic: How we are fighting COVID-19
• PhRMA’s Industry Fact Sheet — COVID-19
• America’s Biopharma Companies Working Around the Clock to Beat Coronavirus
• The Road to a Vaccine Episode 1: How a COVID-19 Vaccine Might Work. Plus, How Quickly We Could Get There
• Akers Biosciences Acquires Licenses to COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate
• Amgen and Adaptive Biotechnologies Webinar on Research to Find New Antibody Treatment for COVID-19
• Amici to start human trials of potential COVID-19 vaccines
• Is This The Pearl Harbor Moment For The U.S. Pharma Supply Chain?
• BD, BioGx Submit FDA Emergency Use Authorization for COVID-19 Diagnostics
• BioCentury Coronavirus Analysis
• COVID R&D: Pharmas Align Behind Crowdsourcing Solution
• Coronavirus: Biopharma Business & Investment Impact Survey Report
• Bristol Myers Squibb Expands Patient Support Programs to Help Newly Uninsured Patients in the U.S.
• Caladris plans to assess cell therapy for repair of COVID-19-induced lung damage
  
• Celularity Expands Strategic Collaboration With United Therapeutics Corporation to COVID-19 Infection and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
• Coriell Institute for Medical Research Fills Gaps in COVID-19 Testing Materials Supply
• Genscript seeks EUA for test that indicates immunity to COVID-19
• An Open Letter from Daniel O’Day, Chairman & CEO, Gilead Sciences
• Hackensack Meridian Health Studying the Blood of COVID-19 Survivors
• Brensocatib (Formerly INS1007) to be Studied in Patients with Severe COVID-19 in Investigator-Initiated Trial
• Insmed Business Decisions in Response to COVID-19 and Suspension of Revenue Guidance
• J&J to begin COVID-19 vaccine human trials in late July
• Johnson & Johnson unit Janssen Pharmaceutical began working on COVID-19 months ago
  
• Johnson & Johnson’s Response to COVID-19
• Johnson & Johnson says Human Testing of its Coronavirus Vaccine to Begin by September
• Lilly Begins Clinical Testing of Therapies for COVID-19
• Lilly and AbCellera to Co-develop Antibody Therapies for the Treatment of COVID-19
• Merck to Announce Multiple Scientific Efforts to Combat COVID-19
• Merck to Donate 300,000 Masks to New Jersey for COVID-19 Emergency Response
• Merck Announces $3M Commitment to Address Critical Maternal Health Needs During COVID-19 Pandemic
• Medical Professionals Across Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer Inc., and Eli Lilly and Company Activate to Support Health Systems, First Responders and Patients Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
• Face shields, masks … maybe even housing: How NJIT is helping N.J. in COVID-19 crisis
• At Novartis, fighting COVID-19 on two fronts
• Novartis and the Novartis US Foundation establish USD 5 million US COVID-19 Community Response Fund
• Novartis Announces Broad Range of Initiatives to Respond to COVID-19 Pandemic; Creates USD 20 Million Global Fund to Support Impacted Communities
• Novartis Commits to Donate up to 130 Million Doses of Hydroxychloroquine to Support the Global COVID-19 Pandemic Response
• Novartis and its Foundation Arm Establish $5M COVID-19 Community Fund
• Pfizer and BioNTech Announce Early Positive Data from an Ongoing Phase 1/2 study of mRNA-based Vaccine Candidate Against SARS-CoV-2
• Pfizer and BioNTech Dose First Participants in the U.S. as Part of Global COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Development Program
• Pfizer: Expanded trials for coronavirus vaccine planned
• Pfizer Outlines Five-Point Plan to Battle COVID-19
• Pfizer and Biontech to Co-Develop Potential COVID-19 Vaccine
• Pfizer Advances Battle Against COVID-19 on Multiple Fronts
• Pfizer and BioNTech Announce Further Details on Collaboration to Accelerate Global COVID-19 Vaccine Development
• PTC Therapeutics Announces the Initiation of a Phase 2/3 Clinical Trial to Evaluate PTC299 for the Treatment of COVID-19
  
• Regeneron to Treat Coronavirus Patients this Week in Trial Using its Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug
• Rowan Makes Hand Sanitizer for Emergency Use
• FDA Approves First At-Home Saliva Collection Test for Coronavirus
  
• Rutgers Brings Its Innovation to Big Ten Task Force Formed in Response to Coronavirus
• Rutgers doctors, University Hospital say use of COVID-19 survivors’ plasma presents ‘real hope for saving lives’
• Rapid Screening Process for Infectious Diseases Being Created in Rutgers University–Camden Research Lab
• Rutgers Creates COVID-19 Center to Fight Pandemic
• Rutgers Launches COVID-19 Center to Aid Pandemic
• Sanofi’s Response to COVID-19
• Sanofi and GSK to join forces in unprecedented vaccine collaboration to fight COVID-19
• Sanofi US Responds to Urgent Community Needs
• Sanofi’s COVID-19 Vaccine Development Efforts
• Sanofi and Regeneron Speed Kevzara into Coronavirus Trials
• Scientist.com Coronavirus Clinical Trials Dashboard
• Soligenix and University of Hawaii at Manoa Initiate Work on Novel Coronavirus Vaccine for COVID-19
• Teva, Bayer Donate Drugs to Target Coronavirus
• Teva to Donate Potential COVID-19 Treatment, Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate Tablets to Hospitals Nationwide