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CONTEMPLATING WHAT THEY'LL DO IF ANY OF THOSE WORKERS BECOME INFECTED. (VO 1: INSURANCE AGENCY) DIANE NEWMAN PAPPIN STARTED HER OWN INSURANCE AGENCY BACK IN 19- 93. HER SON AND FOUR EMPLOYEES WORK WITH HER IN PORTLAND. (SOT DIANE NEWMAN PAPPIN, OWNER, NEWMAN INSURANCE AGENCY, 11:11:25) "WE ARE DISINFECTING DURING THE DAY. WE'RE WASHING DOORKNOBS. WE'RE KEEPING THINGS VERY CLEAN." (VO 2: INSURANCE AGENCY) IN THE EVENT OF A WORKER SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF -- OR GETTING -- CORONAVIRUS, SHE'D HAVE EVERYONE WORK REMOTELY. (SOT DIANE NEWMAN PAPPIN, OWNER, NEWMAN INSURANCE AGENCY, 11:10:35) "WE HAVE A BACKUP PLAN IN PLACE FOR TELECOMMUTING. SO, WE CAN WORK FROM HOME, ANSWER PHONE CALLS, IF NEEDED. // (COVERED) IF SICKNESS OCCURS, I WANT MY TEAM MEMBERS TO STAY HOME, TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEMSELVES." (PHIL ON CAMERA OPEN, 12:05:23) "IN ALL, THERE ARE NEARLY 150- THOUSAND SMALL BUSINESSES IN MAINE, AND THEY EMPLOY ABOUT 60- PERCENT OF MAINE WORKERS." (VO 3: PORTLAND HUNT & ALPINE CLUB) BUT TELECOMMUTING IS áNOTá AN OPTION FOR THE RESTAURANT WORKERS ANDREW VOLK EMPLOYEES AT "PORTLAND HUNT AND ALPINE CLUB." (SOT ANDREW VOLK, CO-OWNER, PORTLAND HUNT + ALPINE CLUB, 11:09:30) "IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE STAY HEALTHY THROUGHOUT, WHETHER THERE'S CORONAVIRUS OR WHATEVER'S GOING ON." (VO 4: PORTLAND HUNT & ALPINE CLUB) THOUGH HIS STAFF GETS PAID SICK TIME -- AND IS ENCOURAGED TO TAKE IT, AS NEEDED -- A CORONAVIRUS CASE COULD FORCE HIM TO CONSIDER CLOSING áTEMPORARILY.á (SOT ANDREW VOLK, CO-OWNER, PORTLAND HUNT & ALPINE CLUB, 11:10:02) "WE WOULD CONTACT THE RELEVANT HEALTH AGENCIES AND MAKE SURE WE'RE TAKING EVERYTHING BOTH SERIOUSLY AND TAKING SWIFT ACTION." (VO 5: ZOOTILITY) "ZOOTILITY," WHICH USES LASERS TO MAKE SOUVENIRS AT ITS BAYSIDE FACILITY, HAS 14 EMPLOYEES -- ALL PROVIDED PAID SICK LEAVE AND HEALTH INSURANCE. OWNER NATE BARR IS ALREADY WORRIED ABOUT THE áFINANCIALá PINCH OF A TRAVEL DOWNTOWN. (SOT NATE BARR, OWNER, ZOOTILITY, 11:13:45) "IF SOUVENIR SHOPS ARE HURTING, TOURISTS AREN'T SHOWING UP, WE WILL DEFINITELY FEEL THAT IMPACT." (VO 6: ZOOLTILITY) WHILE SMALL BUSINESSES PREPARE TO KEEP THEIR WORKPLACES SAFE, THEY CAN'T KNOW HOW MUCH A CO

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Many of Maine's small businesses said they are developing contingency plans if the coronavirus causes disruptions.There were no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Maine as of Wednesday.Businesses are heeding the recommendation of health officials to prepare ahead of time."We are disinfecting during the day. We're washing doorknobs. We're keeping things very clean," Newman Insurance Agency owner Diane Newman Pappin said.Pappin said if an employee showed symptoms or was diagnosed with the virus, she would have all of her employees work remotely."We have a backup plan in place for telecommuting so we can work from home, answer phone calls, if needed. If sickness occurs, I want my team members to stay home, take good care of themselves," Pappin said.There are nearly 150,000 small businesses in Maine that employ about 60% of the state's workers.Working remotely is not an option for many of them, including restaurant workers."It's our job to make sure people stay healthy throughout, whether there's coronavirus or whatever's going on," Portland Hunt + Alpine Club owner Andrew Volk said.Though his staff gets paid sick time and is encouraged to take it as needed, a coronavirus case could force the restaurant to close temporarily."We would contact the relevant health agencies and make sure we're taking everything both seriously and taking swift action," Volk said.Zootility, which uses lasers to make souvenirs at its Portland facility, has 14 employees. They are provided paid sick leave and health insurance.Owner Nate Barr said he is worried about the financial impact of a travel downturn because of the coronavirus."If souvenir shops are hurting, tourists aren't showing up, we will definitely feel that impact," Barr said.While small businesses prepare to keep their workplaces safe, they can't know how much a coronavirus disruption might cost or how long it could last.