COVID-19 procedures that are followed for services on site at St. David's Center, at partner sites, and during in-home services.
COVID-19 PREPAREDNESS PLAN FOR SERVICES PROVIDED IN ST. DAVID’S CENTER’S BUILDINGS, AT PARTNER SITES & IN FAMILY HOMES
Introduction: Safety and health are of utmost importance. This plan is dynamic and will be continually updated to reflect emerging information and best practice recommendations based on community COVID-19 numbers and spread, community norms among similar agencies, and guidance from public health organizations and the medical community.
Last Updated: December 6, 2022
1) ILLNESS ASSESSMENT, EXCLUSION & RETURN POLICY Clients, staff, and guests must assess their symptoms before receiving or providing in-person services or working in one of St. David’s Center’s buildings or partner sites. If a client, staff, or guest is feeling unwell or is positive with COVID-19, they must follow illness and/or exclusion guidelines.
Symptoms Assessment: Those with COVID-19 can have a wide range of symptoms, which may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. Symptoms include, but are not limited to, fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
Reporting Protocol: A client or staff either with onset of symptoms or who has tested positive must immediately inform their supervisor (or if a client, your staff contact) and follow the guidelines below. If positive with COVID-19, the staff will complete the online Positive COVID-19 Case Report Form and will immediately inform St. David’s Center leadership.
Exposures to a Positive Case
Symptoms – Exclusion and Return if Experiencing Symptoms of COVID-19 If a staff or client is not feeling well, they must stay home and should consider testing for COVID-19.
Positive Cases – Exclusion and Return if Positive with COVID-19
Calculating Quarantine and Return Date: “Day 0” is the day symptoms start or positive test (whichever is earliest), and “Day 1” is the first full day after Day 0.
2) HANDWASHING All clients and staff will wash hands for 20 seconds or more using proper handwashing techniques when entering a St. David’s Center building, home, or partner site and regularly throughout the day. If soap and water are not immediately available, hand sanitizer may serve as an alternative and is accessible in multiple locations and via portable bottles.
3) FACE COVERINGS Face coverings are optional in all St. David’s Center buildings. We recommend that staff, clients, and families wear face coverings if they are immuno-compromised or otherwise concerned. This guidance is superseded by mandates of local governments or businesses where St. David’s Center provides services.
4) CLEANING & DISINFECTING PROTOCOLS & SUPPLIES A cleaning and disinfecting protocol will be followed throughout buildings, in family homes, and at partner sites with specified, regular frequency in all classrooms, treatment spaces, and other spaces as needed.
5) VENTILATION St. David’s Center’s HVAC systems have been updated as of 2016 (and added bipolar ionization in 2020) in Minnetonka, and 2018 at the Harman Center, including the most recent fresh air exchange elements. Additionally, HVAC systems will be evaluated to be sure we are maximizing the tools available and adding additional components, as recommended.
In addition to email, all communication related to COVID-19 from St. David's Center will be posted to our blog.
Your support is needed now, more than ever. Your gift will help St. David’s Center provide necessary supports to children and families during this public health crisis, including a wide-range of mental health services via telehealth and childcare for emergency and essential workers. With your support we will come out of this crisis stronger than ever.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Put distance between yourself and other people.
Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
