Washington Retail has joined a letter to Congressional leadership asking that it provide protection against lawsuits if businesses open during the coronavirus outbreak follow safety guidelines from public health and government authorities and a customer becomes infected.

Such lawsuits will do nothing to reduce transmission of the disease but will threaten the ability of companies to provide necessary services and opportunities for Americans to return to work and recover the economy.

The letter is on behalf of organizations representing the retail, hospitality, travel, restaurant, gaming, attractions and entertainment industries. It notes that Congress has historically acted to provide limited safe harbors from liability in the face of other public crises.

Read the entire letter here.