This page provides a table of contents and links to all of MRSC's local government resources related to the 2020 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
It is part of MRSC's series on Emergency Management and Disaster Planning.
MRSC Resources
- COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions – Answers to questions we have been receiving regarding coronavirus
- COVID-19 Emergency Declarations and Authority – Examples of emergency proclamations issued by various agencies, with information on general emergency authority and statutes
- COVID-19 Operations and Personnel Issues – Resources and sample documents related to continuity of operations, telecommuting, remote council/commission meetings, physical presence at work, pay/leave issues, annual financial reporting, and more
- COVID-19 Economic Impacts and Mitigation – Information on local revenue impacts, federal relief/stimulus efforts, and local efforts to alleviate the economic burden on residents and businesses
- Recent blog posts about coronavirus – Articles written by MRSC staff and contributors about the emerging COVID-19 pandemic. Articles are listed in reverse chronological order, with the most recent first.
State Resources
Below are links to State of Washington websites and information regarding the current COVID-19 pandemic.
- coronavirus.wa.gov – All COVID-19 related information from the State of Washington, including resources, statistics, health recommendations, emergency actions taken, and more
- Governor's Office:
- Proclamation 20-34 (March 26) – Temporarily suspending the 150-day annual financial reporting deadline (May 29 this year). However, the proclamation does not provide an alternate deadline and it expires at midnight on April 25, which means the May 29 deadline would be reinstated unless the order is extended. We have reached out to the state for clarity on this issue.
- Proclamation 20-28 (March 24) – Temporarily suspending portions of the Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act that require in-person meetings or contact and making additional temporary changes.
- Proclamation 20-23.1 (March 24) – Strongly encourages utilities to take reasonable actions to mitigate the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on utility customers, including preventing shut-offs, waiving late fees, and using payment plans.
- Proclamation 20-25 (March 23) – "Stay at Home" order; see list of essential industries and employees, supplemental construction guidance memorandum (March 25), and guidance bulletin listing additional essential services in alphabetical order (first issued March 31 and will be periodically updated)
- Washington Attorney General's Office:
- Washington Department of Health: Emergency Preparedness and Response
- WaTech: State IT Resources Checklist for Local and Municipal Governments During the COVID-19 Crisis (2020) – Checklist for local agencies to provide mobile/remote support for their workplaces, including links to relevant state master contracts
Additional Resources
Below are selected links to other organizations that are providing information about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Coronavirus Disease 2019
- Association of Washington Cities (AWC): Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources Available
- Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC): Coronavirus Resources
- Public Health Seattle & King County: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) – Contains most recent information, fact sheets, information on discrimination, and resources for the general public, schools, employers, health care professionals, and others
- National League of Cities (NLC): Coronavirus Response Resources for Local Leaders – Provides links to a wide variety of resources that are helpful to all local government agencies, not just cities
- International City/County Management Association (ICMA): Coronavirus Crisis Response: Resources for Your Community
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Protecting Workers During a Pandemic (2014) – Tips for how to reduce risk of infection for employees; provides examples of positions at high, medium, and low risk of exposure