COVID-19 Information + Updates

LIKELY SYMPTOMS: 

According to the CDC, "reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death. Symptoms can include: fever, cough, and shortness of breath." Based on past viruses that were similar in nature, the CDC believes that symptoms may appear anywhere between 2-14 days after exposure. 

PREVENTION AND TREATMENT:

There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19. Preventing exposure is the best way to avoid illness. However, the CDC is encouraging all Americans to take the following everyday preventive actions, much like you would during a standard severe flu season. Vigilance in these efforts could save lives:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Wear facemasks in all public environments and maintain 6 feet of distance betweet yourself and others. 
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE OR HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THE CORONAVIRUS: 

According to the CDC, “If you develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath, within 14 days after travel, you should call ahead to a healthcare professional and mention your recent travel or close contact. If you have had close contact with someone showing these symptoms who has recently traveled from this area, you should call ahead to a healthcare professional and mention your close contact and their recent travel. Your healthcare professional will work with your state’s public health department and CDC to determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19.”

Should you find yourself or a loved one in this position, the CDC has issued the following 

recommendations:

• Stay home except to get medical care.
• Separate yourself from people and animals.
• Call ahead and inform your health care provider about your exposure or suspected exposure so that they can protect other patients before your arrival.
• Wear a facemask.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes.
• Clean your hands and “high-touch” surfaces.
• Avoid sharing personal items.
• Monitor your symptoms.

DOWNLOAD the CDC's Fact Sheet for exposure or suspected exposure recommendations:

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EMPLOYERS 

There is a lot that is still unknown about COVID-19. The CDC makes clear that determinations of risk based on race or country of origin are not warranted or appropriate, and like any medical case, the confidentiality of confirmed coronavirus patients must be maintained. Preventative measures like those typically advised for seasonal flu and other contagious respiratory diseases are recommended. Vigilance in the workplace can help control the spread of any such diseases.

• Proactively encourage sick employees to stay home. This is a common struggle during flu season, but especially in light of the coronavirus, active encouragement to not bring illness into the workplace without stigma or guilt for calling out sick is beneficial. Employees with acute respiratory illness should not return to work until they are free of fever and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the assistance of fever-reducing/symptom-reducing medication.
• Encourage companies that you may have contract or temporary employment agreements with to make similar, non-punitive leave arrangements for their employees.
• Do not require a “doctor’s note” for employees who are sick with acute respiratory illnesses, as health care providers may be overwhelmed with similar cases and it may not be medically necessary for a patient to come in.
• The CDC recommends that employees who appear to have symptoms of acute respiratory illness be separated from other employees and sent home.
• Emphasize and encourage good respiratory and hand-cleaning etiquette. Place posters and fact sheets made available by the CDC around your workplace where employees are likely to see them. Instruct employees on hand-washing technique and note that alcohol-based hand sanitizers should contain at least 60-95% alcohol to be considered effective. Make soap, water, and alcohol-based sanitizer available in your workplace.
• Routinely clean surfaces such as workstations, countertops, and doorknobs, and provide disposable wipes for employees to use throughout the day. As of February 25, the CDC is not recommending additional disinfection beyond these standard practices.
• Share the information found on this page, or directly on the CDC website, with your employees. Help inform them of the steps they can take to minimize exposure and risk to COVID-19, seasonal flu, and other respiratory illnesses.

In addition to these everyday steps, the CDC recommends creating an infectious disease outbreak response plan so that in the event of wider outbreak, you are prepared to protect your company and employees. Some things to consider:

• Certain communities are historically more at-risk when exposed to respiratory disease (e.g., older adults, those with compromised immune systems, etc.) Even healthy employees may find themselves having to care for sick loved ones, or take on unexpected care duties if entities like child care facilities close or experience an outbreak. Cross-training personnel is a good way to help spread out the burden of unexpected absences within an organization.
• Coordinate with state and local health officials to ensure you’re receiving and sharing timely and accurate information pertaining to the region(s) your organization operates in.
• Consider establishing procedures such as telecommuting or staggered shifts so that human contact is minimized in the event of an outbreak.

CLICK HERE for additional CDC recommendations on developing an infectious disease outbreak response plan