The Arc Macon Coronavirus Response Plan

Introduction:

This interim response plan is based on what is currently known about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as of 3/16/2020. The Arc Macon will update this interim guidance as needed and as additional information becomes available.

CDC is working across the Department of Health and Human Services and across the U.S. government in the public health response to COVID-19. Much is unknown about how the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads. Current knowledge is largely based on what is known about similar coronaviruses. This plan is based on the CDC most recent data and suggested guidelines.

Corona Virus Definition:

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in humans and many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people, such as with MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV. The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person in China and some limited person-to-person transmission has been reported in countries outside China, including the United States. However, respiratory illnesses like seasonal influenza, are currently widespread in many US communities.

The following interim response plan will be used to help prevent workplace exposures (both employees and program participants) to acute respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, in non-healthcare settings. The guidance also provides planning considerations if there are more widespread, community outbreaks of COVID-19.

To prevent stigma and discrimination in the workplace, use only the guidance described below to determine risk of COVID-19. The Arc does not make determinations of risk based on race or country of origin, and be sure to maintain confidentiality of people with confirmed COVID-19. There is much more to learn about the transmissibility, severity, and other features of COVID-19 and investigations are ongoing. Updates are available on CDC’s web page at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/covid19

Current strategies for The Arc Macon:

  • We will actively encourage sick employees to stay home:
    • Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever (100.4° F [37.8° C] or greater using an oral or disposable thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants). Employees should notify their supervisor and Human Resources and stay home if they are sick.
    • Our PTO policies are will be flexible and consistent with public health guidance and we will communicate to ensure employees are aware of these policies. We will NOT require employees to find their own coverage if home sick with a fever.
    • Temp agencies that provide The Arc with contract or temporary employees will be contacted to reinforce the need for our employees to stay home if sick.
    • We will request a healthcare provider’s note for employees who are sick with acute respiratory illness to validate their illness or to return to work. It is understood however, that healthcare provider offices and medical facilities may be extremely busy and not able to provide such documentation in a timely way.
    • The Arc will maintain flexible policies that permit employees to stay home to care for a sick family member. We are aware and will take into consideration that more employees may need to stay at home to care for sick children or other sick family members than is usual.
  • Separate sick employees:
    • CDC recommends that employees who appear to have acute respiratory illness symptoms (i.e. cough, shortness of breath) upon arrival to work or become sick during the day should be separated from other employees and be sent home immediately. Sick employees will be instructed to cover their noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or an elbow or shoulder if no tissue is available). They will also be instructed to wash their hands frequently.
  • Emphasize staying home when sick, respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene by all employees:
    • We will place posters that encourage staying home when sick, cough and sneeze etiquette, and hand hygiene at the entrance to your workplace and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen have been posted in each program location.
    • The Arc has provided paper products and trash cans for use by employees, as well as ample amounts of soap (please ask your supervisor to contact the main office if these items cannot be located at your location). Employees will be instructed to wash their hands for 20 seconds, often.
    • Hand sanitizer is in multiple locations in the program locations to encourage hand hygiene. Note, we do not have additional hand sanitizer, so please wash your hands with soap and water often after we run out.
    • Please do not remove these items from the program location.
    • Visit the coughing and sneezing etiquette and clean hands webpage for more information.
  • Perform routine environmental cleaning:
    • Employees will be reminded to routinely clean all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace, and program locations; such as workstations, countertops, and doorknobs using the cleaning agents (disinfectant wipes or spray with a paper towel, etc.) that have been provided.
    • No additional disinfection beyond routine cleaning is recommended at this time.
    • The Arc will provide disposable wipes or spray to be used with a paper towel so that commonly used surfaces (for example, doorknobs, keyboards, remote controls, desks) can be wiped down by employees before each use.
    • Our cleaning contractor will be reminded to train all of their employees on the best practices when disinfecting agency bathrooms.
  • Advise employees before traveling to take certain steps:
    • Employees will be provided with the CDC’s Traveler’s Health Notices for the latest guidance and recommendations for each country to which someone will travel. Specific travel information for travelers going to and returning from China, and information for aircrew, can be found at on the CDC website.
    • When known to us, we will advise employees to check themselves for symptoms of acute respiratory illness before starting travel and notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick.
    • Employees who become sick while traveling understand that they should notify their supervisor and the Human Resources department and should promptly call a healthcare provider for advice if needed.
    • If outside the United States, sick employees should obtain medical care or contact a healthcare provider or overseas medical assistance company to assist them with finding an appropriate healthcare provider in that country. The Human Resources department should be notified so that they can work with our Health benefits provider. A U.S. consular officer can help locate healthcare services.
  • Additional Measures in Response to Currently Occurring Sporadic Importations of the COVID-19:
    • Employees who are well but who have a sick family member at home with COVID-19 should notify their supervisor and the Human Resources Department and refer to CDC guidance for how to conduct a risk assessment of their potential exposure.
    • If an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19, employers should inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Employees exposed to a co-worker with confirmed COVID-19 should refer to CDC guidance for how to conduct a risk assessment of their potential exposure. For program staff, guardians of individuals served will also be provided with information about the possible exposure to their loved one. All information related to individuals and their health status is considered confidential and must be protected under HIPPA regulations. No HIPPA information is to be shared.

Planning for a Possible COVID-19 Outbreak in the US

The severity of illness or how many people will fall ill from COVID-19 is unknown at this time. Since there is evidence of a COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S., The Arc plans to be able to respond in a flexible way to varying levels of severity and be prepared to refine our business response plans as needed. For the general American public, such as workers in non-healthcare settings and where it is unlikely that work tasks create an increased risk of exposures to COVID-19, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low. The CDC and its partners will continue to monitor national and international data on the severity of illness caused by COVID-19, will disseminate the results of these ongoing surveillance assessments, and will make additional recommendations as needed.

Planning Considerations

Communication: The Chief Administrative Officer will be the ONLY staff member to communicate with employees and program participants regarding the COVID-19 Virus. These communications will be frequent and based on information received from either the Department of Health and/or the CDC. Communications will include:

(a) reducing transmission among staff,

(b) protecting people who are at higher risk for adverse health complications (including program participants),

(c) maintaining business operations,

(d) minimizing adverse effects on other entities in their supply chains.

Some of the key considerations when making decisions on appropriate responses are:

  • Disease severity (i.e., number of people who are sick, hospitalization and death rates) in the community where The Arc is located;
  • Impact of disease on employees/ program participants that are vulnerable and may be at higher risk for COVID-19 adverse health complications. Inform employees that some people may be at higher risk for severe illness, such as older adults and those with chronic medical conditions.
  • Prepare for possible increased numbers of employee absences due to illness in employees and their family members, dismissals of early childhood programs and K-12 schools due to high levels of absenteeism or illness:
    • The Arc will monitor and respond to absenteeism at the workplace. Essential employees will be identified as those who can maintain the core/ essential functions of the department.
    • Director level staff will Cross-train department staff personnel to perform essential functions so that the workplace is able to operate even if key staff members are absent.
    • Essential functions and the reliance on vendors and others and the community will be assessed. Alternative suppliers will be pursued.
  • Program Directors (Residential and Employment) will provide managers with the authority to take appropriate actions outlined in their business infectious disease outbreak response plan below, based on the condition in each locality.

Important Considerations for Creating an Infectious Disease Outbreak Response Plan

All employers should be ready to implement strategies to protect their workforce from COVID-19 while ensuring continuity of operations. During a COVID-19 outbreak, all sick employees should stay home and away from the workplace, respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene should be encouraged, and routine cleaning of commonly touched surfaces should be performed regularly.

The Arc will:

  • Ensure the response plan is flexible and involve your employees in developing and reviewing your plan.
  • Conduct a focused discussion (with all Director level staff) or exercise using your plan, to find out ahead of time whether the plan has gaps or problems that need to be corrected.
  • Share our plan with employees and explain what human resources policies, workplace and leave flexibilities, and pay and benefits will be available to them.
  • Share best practices with other businesses in your communities (especially those in your supply chain), chambers of commerce/ business partnerships, and associations to improve community response efforts.

Infectious Disease Outbreak Response Plan:

  • Program participants and employees who have increased risk are those who have underlying respiratory issues and/or compromised health; In the event of an outbreak, these individuals will be separated from others. Employees will be asked to self-quarantine, Residential Program participants will be isolated in their bedrooms unless other guidance from health practitioners is provided and Non-Residential Program participants will be asked to stay home. If needed our “Alternate Locations” and “Shelter in Place” policies will be activated to separate individuals who are symptomatic, from those who are not.
  • Employees who work in a home with symptomatic individuals will be asked to wear any available personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • Human resources policies will be reviewed to ensure policies and practices are consistent with public health recommendations and are consistent with existing state and federal workplace laws. Non Exempt will be paid for hours worked and/or PTO can be used, if there is a need to be absent from work.
  • Policies and practices, such as flexible worksites (e.g., telecommuting), conference calling and flexible work hours (e.g., staggered shifts), to increase the physical distance among employees and between employees and others will be observed – as it has been recommended immediately, due to the declaration of the public health state of emergency.
  • For employees who are able to telework, supervisors will be encouraged to have employees to telework instead of coming into the workplace until symptoms are completely resolved. Information Technology Department will assist to ensure that the information technology and infrastructure needed to support multiple employees who may be able to work from home.
  • Identify essential business functions include:
    • Finance, managing cash and reserves in the event that there is a financial need
    • Billing – to ensure ongoing financial resources
    • Purchasing – to ensure adequate supplies and food for programs
    • Maintenance – only priority projects will be completed (those projects that must be completed to ensure the health , safety and welfare of individuals served and employees)
    • Programs -If needed, Employment and Day Support programs will close and these staff will be reassigned to support group homes
    • Technology – ongoing monitoring to ensure infrastructure intact
    • Human Resources – will monitor the health of employees and provide guidance on sick/ leave policies
  • Our Disaster plan will be set into motion as per that plan. Sheltering in place and alternate location schedule policies will be activated as needed. The Executive Staff will trigger this response. Executive Staff will maintain contact with local health officials to identify these triggers.
  • As directed by The CAO, the Executive Assistant will communicate information to business partners on our infectious disease outbreak response plans and latest COVID-19 information. We will anticipate employee fear, anxiety, rumors, and misinformation, and plan communications accordingly. Our Employee Assistance Program will be readily available to our employees.
  • Local conditions will influence the decisions that public health officials make regarding community-level strategies; The Arc will take the time now to learn about plans in place in each community where they have a business.
  • If there is evidence of a COVID-19 outbreak in the US and or in Georgia, The Arc will cancel all business travel per travel guidance on the CDC website.
    • Travel restrictions may be enacted by other countries which may limit the ability of employees to return home if they become sick while on travel status.

Screening and Protection:

  • As per agency policy, employees must be physically able to perform their job functions and must be free of communicable diseases.
  • If there is evidence of a COVID-19 outbreak in the Macon-Bibb or adjacent Counties, The Arc will screen employees prior to entering the work site and at the end of their work shift. This will include at a minimum, taking each employees temperature and screening for coughing and shortness of breath. Each screening will be recorded and maintained in the Human Resources department. Any Employee or Community Program Participant (non-residential) with any of the (3) symptoms screened will be asked to go home immediately and contact their health provider. Any individual served in the Residential Program that displays any of the (3) symptoms, will be quarantined in their bedroom while further instruction from their health care providers and The Macon-Bibb County Department of Health and The Macon-Bibb Office of Emergency Management are contacted for guidance.
  • For employees working with quarantined individuals, The Arc will provide personal protective equipment (PPE), as available, along with instructions on how to use/ wear the PPE.

If the there is evidence of an outbreak in the immediate area (Macon-Bibb and the adjacent Counties), group events, gatherings and meetings will be reassessed and possibly cancelled.

This plan and related policies will be updated as new information is gathered. Updates to this plan will be highlighted to ensure changes are easily identified.

Plan date: __3-16-2020______________

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