Coronavirus (COVID-19)

• FCC agreement stating that providers will waive late fees, not cutoff service for lack of payment and open hot-spots.
• Altice USA is offering Altice Advantage 30 Mbps broadband solution for free for 60 days to any new customer household within their footprint. 
• Armstrong COVID-19 response: offers unlimited data to existing customers and open Wi-Fi hot spots to the general public.
• AT&T COVID-19 response: offers open hot-spots, unlimited data to existing customers, and $10/month plans to low income families
• Comcast COVID-19 response: offers free WiFi for 2 months to low income families plus all Xfinity hot-spots are free to the public during this time
• Comcast Low Cost laptops Program (available to those who enroll in Internet Essentials)
• Charter/Spectrum Free Internet offer for 2 months
• Sprint COVID-19 response: follows FCC agreement, provides unlimited data to existing customers, and, starting Tuesday, 3/17/2020, will allow all handsets to enable hot-spots for 60 days at no extra charge.
• T-Mobile COVID-19 response: follows FCC agreement, plus unlimited data to existing customers, and, coming soon, will allow all handsets to enable hot-spots for 60 days at no extra charge.
• Verizon COVID-19 response: no special offers at this time, but following the FCC agreement.
• Check with your local service providers to see if additional assistance is available

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a newly identified respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. First detected in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in more than 100 locations around the world, including the U.S., Canada, South Korea, Iran, Italy and Japan. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), human coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and usually cause mild to moderate symptoms. Previous coronavirus outbreaks have included Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

Because COVID-19 is a newly identified disease, research is still underway about how it is transmitted and how easily the virus spreads from person to person. The virus is believed to spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, close personal contact (within about six feet) and by touching contaminated objects or surfaces.

Similar to influenza and the common cold, symptoms of COVID-19 may include the following:

• Fever 
• Cough 
• Shortness of breath

Symptoms of COVID-19, which range from minor illness to severe pneumonia, can appear two to 14 days after initial exposure.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, but global research is underway. The CDC recommends taking basic precautionary steps to prevent the spread of germs and respiratory viruses.

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or more, especially after using the restroom, blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
• Use an alcohol-based sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and discard used tissues immediately.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in your home.
• Don’t share food or drink.
• Stay home when you are sick.

According to the CDC, "social distancing means remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible."