COVID-19 - OMEGA - West Virginia Oil Marketers & Grocers Association

MCSA Extends National Driver HOS Waiver Through May 15, 2020
The FMCSA issued an updated national emergency declaration to provide an extension of the hours of service (HOS) waiver for commercial drivers transporting fuel and other emergency relief in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The FMCSA waiver was slated to expire on April 12, 2020 but has now been expanded to May 15, 2020.

Waiver Peroid
The emergency HOS waiver is effective March 26 through May 15, 2020.

FMCSA Waiver Declaration
The updated FMCSA HOS waiver declaration can be found here. The waiver includes all FMCSA regulations included in Parts 390 to 399 of the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Regulations. Those regulations can be found in the list here. The FMCSA waiver does not apply to drug and alcohol testing requirements. See waiver for more information.

Food Safety and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
The following are resources available to industry members and consumers on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and food safety.
Food Industry Recommended Protocols When Employee/Visitor/Customer Tests Positive for COVID - 19
Drafted Talking Points for Media Requests on Employee and COVID

Guidance for helping EBT clients purchase food under the current COVID-19 social distancing mandates
From the WV Department of Health & Human Resources

1. There are several options available to SNAP clients who would like to order food during the social distancing mandates related to COVID-19. These include:

SNAP client can place an order online or over the phone and pick it up at a store that offers online ordering options.
- If the store has a wireless Point of Sale (POS) device, the customer can complete the transaction without having to leave the car.
- If the store does not have a wireless POS, the client would need to complete the transaction at the POS in the store or
- If the store has vouchers, the client can sign a voucher in lieu of using the instore POS.
SNAP client can place the order online or over the phone and have the order delivered to their designated delivery address.
- The transaction can be completed using a wireless POS.
- The transaction can be completed using a voucher that is signed by the client, if the store has vouchers.
- Delivery fees cannot be charged to the EBT card.
SNAP client can place their order online or over the phone and designate a person to pick the order at the store using the client’s EBT card.
- The transaction can be completed, using the SNAP client’s EBT card, in the store or by using a mobile POS device outside of the store.
- The designated person would need to have the EBT card and the PIN to complete the transaction on a wireless POS or in the store.
- The designated person would need to have the EBT card to complete the transaction using a voucher.

Retailers without wireless POS devices can complete a manual voucher which the SNAP customer or their designee would sign; the client or designee would need to have the EBT card with them to complete the purchase.

Free Webinar Reviewing the Provisions of the New Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
The Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC) is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, April 7, at 12pm eastern which will be open to all PMAA state associations and its members, free of charge. The webinar will review the provisions of the new Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act which are most important for you to know about now with a special emphasis on the Paycheck Protection Program. Please enter “PMAA” when asked What Association Invited You? Click here to register now!
FMCSA Issues Guidance for Drug Testing During Emergency
Federal trucking regulators have issued “reasonable flexibility” guidance for motor carriers and drivers to follow for drug and alcohol testing during the COVID-19 emergency.
Paycheck Protection Program
Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP) which is an 8 week loan that can be forgiven (same as a grant) if handled appropriately. At worst you have a loan at .05% interest over a 2 year period. Click here for Paycheck Protection Program Fact Sheet.
IRS Offers Employee Retention Tax Credit to Qualifying Businesses
The United States Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service launched the Employee Retention Credit, designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll. The refundable tax credit is 50% of up to $10,000 in wages paid by an eligible employer whose business has been financially impacted by COVID-19. The credit is available to marketers who continued to pay employees during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Read more …

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will continue to process new applications for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) authorizations. However, in the interim, there will be a reduction in the volume of hard-copy documents processed. Applicant retailers will be required to upload documents using the Online Store Application (OSA) and newly authorized retailers will receive confirmation of their authorization through an email that will direct them to a new webpage. Upon visiting the website retailers will have access to welcome packet materials.SNAP Emergency Allotments Approved for CA, FL, MO, OK

USDA has approved four additional States’ requests to issue SNAP emergency allotments. CA, FL, MO, and OK have been approved. Please note that MO and OK plan to issue or begin issuing EA’s TODAY. There are also two scheduling revisions for OH and MA. All information is available in this chart.