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VM brings you the latest information from optical companies and organizations responding to the coronavirus pandemic. Elmont, N.Y.-based ESE International announced that they will be closing for the upcoming week due to the New York State Governor’s order concerning the COVID-19 virus. The closure will be started at the end of business on March 20 until the end of the week and will be reassessed in accordance with the instructions provided by the state authorities. "As we all know this is a fluid situation that has no easy answers,” explained ESE CEO Paul Shyer. “We are doing our best job to do the right thing with respect to people’s health as well as trying to maintain our business.” Account managers will be reachable during the closure as will Shyer at pshyer@eseyewear.com and president Jason Shyer at jshyer@eseyewear.com The company will additionally be providing updates via its Facebook page.

Kenmark Eyewear remains open, but reported that about half of its employees are working from home and are being encouraged to do so through the end of March. Employees who feel sick are required to stay home. In the office, Kenmark has implemented a social distancing plan and is taking extra care in sanitizing the facility strongly and more often. Kenmark's customer service team is still available, and kenmarkeyewear.com is still accepting and processing orders. At this time, the company reports that it does not expect delays in shipping what is currently in stock.

Reichert Instruments announced that it remains staffed and operational, and is stocked with critical parts and instruments. The Reicher team is available to assist with technical support, answer questions from customers and fulfill orders, both in their office and remotely, in accordance with local regulations. Customers can visit www.reichert.com to contact the company, get product information, watch informative videos, access user guides, find their local authorized Reichert distributor and place orders.

Schneider US continues to operate as closely to normal as possible while adding measures to protect employees and its customers. Company president Kurt Atchison told VMAIL, “We are providing full service by phone and traveling domestically where appropriate, though travel is extremely minimal and for urgent needs only. We are fortunate to be able to have most employees work remotely, as they can use virtual office to take care of phone technical and parts support without interruption. Only essential employees for warehouse and parts shipment are in the building. We continue to have normal support and shipment from the German headquarters as well, although we are increasing inventories quickly in anticipation of possible delays. We see significant downturns now, as most customers’ volumes are expected to be a fraction of normal now and in the coming weeks.”