Coronavirus COVID-19 health, safety & business support

With the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic spreading we’re doing our best to keep up on how your New Tech Northwest community can stay healthy and safe. Please use and share the resources below with your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. Be well and be kind.

* For a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of COVID-19 transmission across Washington State, see the WA State COVID-19 Risk Assessment and WADoH COVID-19 data dashboards.

General COVID-19 Guidelines

• Stay home
• Wear a mask and practice social distancing of at least 6 feet when you have to be in public
• If you exhibit flu-like symptoms, such as respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath or breathing difficulties, please err on the side of caution and self-quarantine, and have your household members self-quarantine, at home for 14 days (or until you are cleared by a healthcare provider)
• If you have a tickle in your throat, or to boost your daily immunity, gargle with apple cider vinegar
• Drink a shot of apple cider vinegar straight or in water, and take at least 5,000 IU (international units) of vitamin D, daily to boost your immunity and lower inflammation in your body
• Frequently and thoroughly clean your hands for 20 seconds with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water
• Clean and disinfect frequently used objects and surfaces
• When coughing and sneezing cover your mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – throw tissue away immediately and wash hands
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
• Avoid close contact (maintain at least 6 feet of distance) with anyone who has a fever, sneezing or cough
• If you have a fever, cough or difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority

Health, Safety and Business Financial Support Resources:

5 Ways Diversity and Inclusion Help Companies Before, During, and After the Pandemic

Bellevue Chamber is matching people (and nonprofits) needing help with people (and nonprofits and businesses!) with something to offer. Learn more and offer help or ask for help here.

Bloodworks Northwest – The COVID-19 outbreak is impacting the PNW blood supply. Anyone who is healthy is encouraged to donate blood or host a blood drive! Appointment and information at Bloodworksnw.org 800-398-7888 or text bloodapp to 91985 to receive a link on your phone.

Body Politic – started the COVID-19 support group after Founder and EIC Fiona Lowenstein, and Creative Director Sabrina Bleich became sick with coronavirus in early March. After falling ill, we quickly realized that there was not enough online content or resources dedicated to people struggling with coronavirus. As we scrolled through Instagram feeds filled with tips on navigating boredom during quarantine, or how not to catch the virus, we felt increasingly isolated, misunderstood, and ignored. With news of infection rates rising, we knew a community of people like ourselves existed, and was growing – we just needed a way to reach each other.

Business Resiliency Toolkit (Washington Small Business Development Center)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CompTIA Covid-19 Resources Forum for technology companies and professionals

COVID-19 Online Resource Center for Women-Owned Businesses

COVID-19 Resources for the Assistive Technology Community

COVID-19 Resources for the Disability Community

COVID-19 testing site locations in Washington

Facebook Small Business Grants Program

FAQs, fact sheets, and live updates (Public Health–Seattle & King County)

Financial Assistance – If you’re a company who has five or less employees, you could be eligible for a $10K grant from the City of Seattle.

Financial, export, insurance and workforce assistance for directly-impacted businesses (Governor’s Office)

Geekwire Coronavirus Live Updates: The latest COVID-19 developments in Seattle and the world of tech

Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Interactive Dashboard – with real-time information on reported cases

KEXP Mental Health Resources

King County & Seattle Public Health

Ladies Who Launch COVID-19 Guide for Women Entrepreneurs

Mental health resources for young people

National Center for Transgender Equality’s Coronavirus Guide for the trans people and their families

“Planning for a Coronavirus Pandemic: Specific Instructions to Employers” (Public Health–Seattle & King County)

Small Business Administration applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans to small businesses heavily affected by the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. These low-interest loans provide working capital to help businesses maintain operations and retain their workforces. The full statement can be found on the SBA website, and they’re also providing additional guidance and resources for employers. These loans can be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. More details can be found here.

Sea.citi Seattle Tech COVID-19 Response – information and resources to help tech workers stay informed and ensure social distancing strategies don’t completely upend community connections.

Seattle Times daily live updates. You can find these on seattletimes.com each morning with need-to-know breaking news and information updated throughout the day. 

Seattle Times visual guide outlining facts about COVID-19 and precautions on how to stay healthy.

Seattle Times complete reporting on this topic, with the latest coverage at the top.

Survivor Corps – is one of the largest and fastest growing grassroots movements connecting, supporting, educating, motivating and mobilizing COVID-19 survivors to support all Medical, Scientific and Academic research,  to help stem the tide of this pandemic and assist in the national recovery.

Techstars COVID-19 Resource Guide –  many in our network have been through tough times before and will help you navigate through this one. That’s why we compiled — and will continue to update — the latest resources and advice to help support you through this time. You can find it all on this page.

Washington SBDC is holding free webinars every few days on small business resiliency and the SBA loan process. Click here to find additional resources from the SBDC.

Washington State Department of Health – has set up a call center to answer questions.  Anyone who has questions about what is happening with coronavirus in Washington State, how it is spread, and what to do if you have symptoms should call the hotline at 1 (800) 525-0127 and press #.

Washington State Shared Work Program

Washington State Standby Program

Washington State Partial Unemployment Program

World Health Organization

Local Resources for Victims of Violent Crime including domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, mental illness and substance abuse

Numerous news and social media outlets have recently been reporting a stark rise in Domestic Violence incidents, also known as “Intimate Terrorism”, an unfortunate consequence of the Shelter in Place quarantines mandated by governments around the world to slow the deadly spread of COVID-19.  Restricted movement may be causing violence in homes to become more common and severe.

Your safety is important, and violence in any form is unacceptable.  Please know help is available for you.  If you believe you are at risk, we encourage you to utilize the local support services listed below:

King County Domestic Violence Help

Kitsap County Domestic Violence Help

Pierce County Domestic Violence Unit

Seattle City Government Crime Victim Assistance

Skaggit Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services

Snohomish County Domestic Violence Services

Whatcom County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS), 360-715-1563; Computer use can be monitored and is impossible to completely clear. If you are afraid your internet usage might be monitored, call the DVSAS 24-hour helpline at 1−877-715-1563.

Thank you to our friends at Sea.citi for compiling the resources below:

HOW TECH COMPANIES ARE SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITIES

• Alice’s COVID-19 Business Resource Center now includes emergency grants.
• All In Seattle is a coalition of tech, business, and sports leaders from across our region who collectively raised $27 million to help people affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Amazon
  • Amazon is redirecting resources to build their own COVID-19 testing lab.
  • Amazon donated 8,200 laptops to Seattle Public Schools to support distance learning.
  • Amazon Web Services partnered with the Consumer Technology Association and the American Telemedicine Association to launch TechHealthDirectory.com, an online resource that lists dozens of digital health products, tools and services.
  • Amazon contributed an additional $100,000 to the Alliance for Education’s Right Now Needs Fund to help Seattle students and families. They have also contributed $50,000 in Amazon gift cards to Bellevue LifeSpring to provide groceries, health products, and personal care items to Bellevue students and families in need. Learn about all of Amazon’s relief efforts here.
  • Amazon launched the AWS Diagnostic Development Initiative to accelerate , research and testing in the fight against COVID-19.
  • Amazon is donating $5m in devices
  • Amazon has announced a $5M fund to support small businesses in SLU, established the Amazon Relief Fund focused on supporting contract workers, and contributed $1M to the Seattle Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund.
  • Amazon’s Future Engineer Program
  • has contributed to a local rental assistance fund, administered by United Way of King County.
  • Amazon, is continuing to pay hourly support staff even as on-campus needs are significantly decreased.
  • Amazon is paying one of their caterers to deliver meals to seniors and people with disabilities in public housing.
  • Amazon gives away a free year of live and on-demand cooking classes on Food Network Kitchen app.
  • Amazon is testing a UV-emitting robot to disinfect surfaces.
• Amazon Web Services, Zillow, Madrona and Uber are a few of the companies participating in CareerConnect@Home — a program of Career Connect Washington where each day in May, employers, labor organizations, and non-profits will host a live, online discussion about their industry and their work for students in grades 7 through 12 statewide.
• Amperity lent their talents to building a website for The Plate Fund — a new effort to support out-of-work restaurant workers in King County.
• Apple awarded $10M to support COVID-19 sample collection kit production.
• Astra Labs, a nonprofit software company, has created a website to help people cope with the impact of COVID-19.
• AT&T
  • committed $1.2M to small businesses focused on distance learning solutions.
  • AT&T to Support Nurses and Physicians With Three Months of Free Service on FirstNet Network
• AT&T, Comcast and Verizon extend no late fee, termination policies through June 30.
• Audible offers free children’s audiobooks while schools are closed.
• Create33, in partnership with Microsoft is launching a startup success program for technology entrepreneurs of color — please apply and/or share!
• DoorDash is reducing commissions for local restaurant partners.
• DreamBox is offering free access to their digital learning platform.
• Expedia partnered with the King County Medical Society to seed a personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturing fundraising effort.
• F5 and NGINX help websites to scale and cope with surges in web traffic — they are providing one free year of NGINX Plus for those in the education, public, and nonprofit sectors and opening up their core training at no cost.
• Facebook:
  • Facebook added a gift-cards and donation tool to its COVID-19 Community Help Hub.
  • Facebook partnered with Carnegie Mellon University to track COVID-19 symptoms.
  • Facebook launched a misinformation warning.
  • Facebook launches a small business grant program.
  • Facebook launched a COVID-19 Information Center — find it at the top of your news feed.
  • Facebook has given the World Health Organization unlimited free ads to help spread sound information on the platform.
  • pledged support to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization.
  • Facebook upgraded its AI to better tackle COVID-19 misinformation.
• Glow, a local podcasting technology startup, has organized Podapalooza, a two-day virtual podcast festival for the benefit of COVID-19 relief.
• Google
  • Google is also extending paid parental leave.
  • Google pledged $800+ million to support small businesses and crisis response, including seeding the Kirkland Small Business Relief Fund.
  • Google is making it easier for businesses and schools to stay connected by offering free access to advanced Hangouts Meet video-conferencing capabilities to all G Suite and G Suite for Education customers globally.
  • Google has also set up a fund to offer paid sick leave to contractors and temp workers and committed to scrubbing misinformation from search and YouTube.
  • Google and Apple have partnered on COVID-19 contact tracing technology.
  • pledged support to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization.
  • Google is offering financial support to local newsrooms hit by the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Google has made it free for merchants to sell on Google
• Headspace is offering free content to help weather the storm.
• JetBrains launches free learn-to-code academy.
• Madrona Venture Group has partnered across tech and other industries to develop a toolkit for reopening the office and getting back to work.
• Instagram now allows users to fundraise for nonprofits while live streaming.
• Microsoft:
  • Microsoft updated its WFH policy.
  • Microsoft launched the CoVIg-19 Plasma Bot, a self-screening tool that anyone can use to see if they qualify to donate their plasma.
  • Microsoft is giving workers paid parental leave because of school disruptions.
  • Microsoft dedicated $20M of their AI health program to COVID-19 data analysis.
  • Microsoft is partnering with Swedish Health Services to build an app that helps hospital staff monitor resources for COVID-19-related care.
  • Microsoft and Adaptive Biotechnologies are partnering to map the immune response to COVID-19.
  • Microsoft has also mobilized its global supply to chain to secure and distribute medical supplies to healthcare workers.
  • Store employees are helping people remotely. The company is also committing $35 million in tech and cloud support to its ongoing aid of nonprofits on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight.
  • has contributed to a local rental assistance fund, administered by United Way of King County.
  • Funded hundreds of wifi hotspots throughout Washington.
• Moz Academy is offering free SEO training through May 31.
• Mystery has adapted to social distancing by developing Mystery Night In — a personalized evening from the comfort of home that supports small businesses affected by COVID-19.
• Paladin has launched a portal for lawyers to provide pro bono support to people impacted by COVID-19.
• Ridwell is using its infrastructure to collect and distribute supplies to vulnerable populations.
• Salesforce
  • Salesforce will be offering small business grants of $10,000.
  • Salesforce is offering a series of new free solutions to help companies stay connected.
• Silver Lining is a free two-way marketplace purpose-built for individuals who’ve been laid off to be discovered by technology companies that are hiring.
• Smartsheet created free templates that can be used by other organizations to build their own coronavirus preparedness dashboard.
• Solius is investigating whether there is a link between vitamin D deficiency and the ability to fight of COVID-19 infection.
• The SnapBar launched Keep Your City Smiling — gift boxes that support local businesses while spreading joy.
• Starbucks has contributed to a local rental assistance fund, administered by United Way of King County.
• Tableau
  • Launched a free resource page that includes relevant data visualizations about the spread of COVID-19 and the public health response.
  • Seattle’s Human Services Department used Tableau’s software to build an online map of available food resources for people in need.
• TikTok launched Donation Stickers, allowing creators to fundraise for coronavirus relief efforts.
• T-Mobile
  • TMobile launched its lowest-priced smartphone plan to help people stay connected.
  • T-Mobile will give up to $500,000 to Feeding America and $100,000 to the Seattle Foundation’s COVID-19 Respond Fund. They will also match employee donations to these efforts 2:1.
• Twitter is adding warnings to misleading COVID-19 information. The company also announced employees may work from home forever.
• Pacific Science Center is providing free, online educational resources
• PhishCloud is offering a year of free service to prevent phishing scams.
• Uber community support:
  • Work Hub to help drivers find work in other areas.
  • Uber’s JUMP Bikes is offering free rides to essential workers.
  • Uber has updated their list of responses to the crisis.
  • Uber is providing 10 million free rides and food deliveries to healthcare workers, seniors, and people in need.
  • Uber is rolling out a series of changes to its ride-hailing and on-demand food delivery apps.
• Unity Learn is offering three months of complimentary access to Unity Learn Premium.
• Verizon has expanded its relief efforts by:
  • Donating up to $5 million to support businesses impacted by COVID-19;
  • Donating $9 million to various relief organizations, including the American Red Cross, and matching employee donations 2:1;
  • Donating $5 million to No Kid Hungry;
  • Offering enhanced pay for essential on-site employees;
  • Implementing a variety of utility relief programs; and
  • Making premium education programming available over its wireless and wireline services.
  • Partnering with The New York Times Company are giving 14 Million high school students and teachers free access to NYTimes.com.
  • Pledged support to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization.
• VidaNyx offers grants to child advocacy centers to implement its software that facilitates secure collaboration and digital workflows.
• YouTeam has assembled a team of volunteer developers to help businesses fighting coronavirus.
• Vulcan pledged $100,000 to the COVID-19 Response Fund for the Chinatown-International District, where they have their HQ, and $25,000 to match employee gifts to the Seattle Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund.
• Zillow expanded their WFH policy through the end of 2020.
• Local tech volunteers launch database for COVID-19 test centers across U.S.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

By now, we’ve all seen the videos and memes about washing our hands (you can even make your own), and read the best advice for staying healthy. Here are other actions you can take to support your community:

• Volunteer — as a virtual tutor for young people in foster care.
• Sew face masks — the most popular request type on United Way of King County’s volunteer website is help producing face coverings for essential social service workers  and clients.
• Don’t hesitate to call 911 — *IF* you or someone in your household is experiencing symptoms of a stroke or heart attack.
• Get tested — *call ahead* and see if you qualify for a free, drive-thru coronavirus test.
• Bake something — no matter your skill level, and if you’re feeling really ambitious, make your own pizza.
• Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month — with music.
• Strike up a conversation with a stranger.
• Help researchers count penguins.
• Participate in a COVID-19 study — if you have had a confirmed case of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with a confirmed case, Adaptive Technologies needs your help.
• Find a job — attend New Tech Northwest’s Job Fair.
• Take engineering action through the National Academy of Engineering.
• Volunteer to help seniors.
• Find other volunteer opportunities through the United Way of King County.
• Sponsor a family — reader Minda’s 1K Project pairs donors with families in need.
• Volunteer  — to help researchers understand how the COVID-19 outbreak is affecting mental health and relationships over time.
• Get a library card and access Seattle Public Library’s online resources.
• Wear a mask — but make sure you know the dos and don’ts.
• Connect  — In The Neighborhood.
• Order from local producers — get fresh, local produce delivered.
• Get your dose of nature — no matter how small.
• Support food access — the newly launched WA Food Fund is raising money to provide food and supplies for those in need.
• Support youth experiencing homelessness — Building Changes, the State’s Office of Homeless Youth and the Raikes Foundation have launched a new response fund.
• Support local students — donate to the Education Equity Fund to make sure all students have access to the resources they need to continue their learning while schools are closed.
• Help local restaurant workers — The Plate Fund is a collaboration between the Schultz Family Foundation, #allinSeattle, UpTogether and local restaurant owners.
• Give blood at T-Mobile Park.
• Support the Pacific Science Center — the Pacific Science Center is a vital part of our region’s STEM network, they rely on financial support from the community to weather this crisis.
• Support food banks — find a food bank you want to support and *call ahead* to understand their most pressing needs and modified operations.
• Donate your old ski goggles.
• Volunteer — to try UW Medicine’s outbreak-predicting smartphone app.
• Support PNW tech communities —  join New Tech NW’s pay-what-you-want subscription-based online community.
• Support local bookstores — the Governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order forced independent book sellers to close, you can still buy books from them online.
• Donate masks — a group of volunteers is collecting mask donations to drop off at hospitals. Thanks to reader Brett from New Tech Northwest for making the connection!
• Have a dance party — join Dance Church’s live stream and/or DJ D-Nice’s live sets on Instagram.
• Join online community groups on Facebook and offer support to your neighbors.
• Donate supplies — the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce has partnered with King County to identify needs for the isolation, quarantine, and recovery sites that the County has set up — see the list of items that the County needs here, and contact Meg Hanan at the Seattle Metro Chamber to coordinate your donation.
• Shop responsibly — grocery and pharmacy workers are on the frontlines, here are some tips to help keep this vital workforce safe.
• The impact of COVID-19 restrictions on our local food and beverage industry can’t be understated, support businesses that are offering take-out, delivery or special services during this time. You can also donate to the Seattle Hospitality Emergency Fund.
• Support local artists.
• Volunteers have set up a mutual aid group — offer your support here, you can also request support.

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Fact check: Debunking 10 myths about the coronavirus that causes COVID-19

How to support employee mental health through coronavirus [podcast] – James Pratt interviews the Head of Global Employee Wellness from Twitter and the Head of Clinical Care from Modern Health

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Working from home in the age of COVID-19: 3 tips for supporting your teams