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POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR
COVID-19
I. Purpose/Background: The purpose of this policy is to establish protocols for the prevention and detection of COVID-19 (coronavirus) while providing Home and Community Based Services.
II. Policy: It is the policy of a Living Bold to establish procedures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to put safeguards in place to protect the health and welfare of the individuals we serve along with our staff, visitors, volunteers, family members/guardians etc…
III. Scope: Living Bold staff, consumers, family members, guardians, visitors, volunteers
IV. State and Federal Laws: Applicable federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations related to COVID-19.
V. Procedures:
As a DSP, your risk of exposure will depend on factors including the setting you work in, the number of people you provide services to, and the spread of COVID-19 in your community.
What is COVID-19 According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.
Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
How COVID-19 Spreads
COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus. Human coronaviruses spread just like the flu or a cold:
Symptoms of COVID-19 can include:
· Fever
The symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure.
When to seek treatment: For severe symptoms (including a fever above 100°), call your health care provider to get tested.
If it's an emergency, call 911.
Emergency warning signs can include:
· Trouble breathing
· Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
· New confusion
· Inability to wake or stay awake
· Bluish lips or face
VI. Preventions:
To prevent the spread of COVID-19 LIVING BOLD has instituted the following safety protocols to comply with the recommendations from the CDC and the PA Department of Health.
When possible, keep at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and others in the home or community setting.
Wear a mask when you are at work.
Follow everyday prevention actions if there are no known or suspected cases of COVID-19 in the community-based setting where you work.
Direct service professionals or other staff, contractors, or consultants that render face-to-face services to individuals, family, or friends must be screened for COVID-19 prior to providing a service.
Wearing a Masks:
· Staff, contactors, consultants, interns that provide direct services must wear a mask that covers the staff person’s nose and mouth during the entirety of the service being provided. The mask must be a cloth covering or other mask that offers a higher degree of protection. For staff, plastic face shields are not acceptable alternatives to masks.
· All staff members must wear a mask and practice social distancing while providing services to individuals.
· Individuals who reside in their own homes are not expected to wear a mask. An individual should not wear a mask if the individual has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance. If an individual cannot tolerate wearing a mask this will be documented in the individual’s record.
· Masks are not required for staff and individuals who are receiving services if they are communicating or seeking to communicate with someone who has a hearing impairment or has another disability, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.
Other infection Protocols:
· Staff, contractors, visitors, interns will be required to sanitize their hands upon entry.
· PPE will be made available to all staff members.
· Everyone must practice social distancing (6 feet apart).
Handwashing
Handwashing prevents the spread of infection. The CDC recommends washing your hands frequently and avoiding touching your face. Wash your hands when entering and leaving the home or community setting; when adjusting or putting on or off facemasks or cloth face coverings; or before putting on and after taking off disposable gloves.
Follow these five steps every time.
1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and
apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of
your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy
Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60
percent alcohol
Suspected of having COVID-19:
LIVING BOLD staff members or individual who has COVID-19, is suspected to have COVID-19, or has been exposed to someone who is suspected of having COVID-19, or has COVID-19, will follow recommended quarantine/isolation procedures. Staff must contact their supervisor and/or HR department immediately if suspected of any of the following above. Staff members will not be allowed to work with individuals until they have been cleared to return to work.
LIVING BOLD must report all cases of COVID-19 to the PA Department of Health. Also, requires the that any suspected or confirm COVID-19 cases amongst staff be reported through the online tool Health Risk Screening Tool (HRST) web-based application at www.myodp.org. If a person for whom LIVING BOLD provides services to is suspected to have COVID-19 or tests positive for COVID-19, please file an incident report in EIM.
Exposed to Someone Who has COVID-19:
Stay home and self-isolate, except to get medical care.
Staying at home helps protect the people you work with who may be at greater risk of infection or severe illness from COVID-19. It also helps protect others in the community.
If you develop symptoms such as a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or new loss of taste or smell or you have been exposed to COVID-19, call your healthcare provider for further guidance.
Notify your supervisor, the client and/or their family or guardian as soon as possible so appropriate plans for an alternate staff member can be made. The client should be monitored for COVID-19 symptoms.
Resources(s)
· Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Guidance on Masks, Close Contact, Screening, and Handwashing ODP Announcement 20-088 UPDATE.
· CDC’s Guidance for Direct Service Providers, Caregivers, Parents, and People with Developmental and Behavioral Disorders.
· Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Requesting Provider Information: New Process for Reporting COVID-19 for Provider Staff ODP Announcement 20-061
· Pennsylvania Department of Health COVID-19 webpage
https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx
· CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov
· World Health Organization (WHO)
· Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)