COVID-19 Preparedness Plan

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 from our Medical Director, the Minnesota Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Last Updated March 24, 2021

1) ILLNESS & EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT

• Illness: Does the person (client or staff) have ONE of the more common symptoms (fever of 100.4 degrees or higher; new cough or a cough that gets worse; difficulty/hard time breathing; new loss of taste or smell) or at least TWO of the less common symptoms (sore throat; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; chills; muscle pain; extreme fatigue/feeling very tired; new severe/very bad headache; new nasal congestion/stuffy or runny nose)?

2) EXCLUSION & RETURN POLICY for SYMPTOMS or EXPOSURE

Exclusion and Return Protocol: A staff or client with onset of symptoms (per guidelines in point 1 above), exposure to someone who tested positive, or a positive test themselves will be excluded from programming and will be allowed to return according to a combination of:

• MDH COVID-19 Decision Tree parameters
  • Found below or at www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/exguide.pdf

AND

• Returning parameters after exposure to positive case:
  • 14 Days: Quarantine must be 14 days if the exposed staff/client develops symptoms.
  • 10 Days: Quarantine can be 10 days if the exposed staff/client has had no symptoms AND did not take a test.
  • 7 Days: Quarantine can be 7 days if the exposed staff/client has had no symptoms AND if the staff/client has a negative test result. Note: Test must be taken on day 5 after exposure or later.
  • Staff and clients will only be able to return once St. David’s Center leadership has determined that the classroom or treatment room has sufficient staffing resources to reopen.
  • If the exposure to a positive case is within the household or living situation where the staff/client lives, then that staff/client must quarantine a full 14 days (even if the positive case can isolate). 

Staff can refer to the “COVID-19 Preparedness Plan – Companion Doc” for help in calculating return date. 

3. CLIENT GROUP SIZES IN BUILDINGS, HOMES & PARTNER SITES

Group sizes for classrooms, treatments sessions, group services and family units will be strictly defined, with services provided in consistent group cohorts to limit the number of people that clients and staff are exposed to during the COVID-19 outbreak.

4) CONTAINMENT OF CLIENTS & STAFF IN CONSISTENT COHORTS IN BUILDINGS
& HOMES

Center-based services will be offered within small group “pods” (i.e., sections of the building) as well as self-contained, consistent cohorts that will not intersect indoors throughout the day. In-home services will only be provided when no other visitors are present (other than approved clients and family members).

5) OUTDOOR SPACES

Outdoor play spaces will be used by individual classrooms on a rotating basis and with no more than three classroom groups overlapping. Public use of our outdoor spaces will be completely prohibited; playgrounds will be locked. In-home staff members are encouraged to work with clients outdoors, when possible.

6. CURBSIDE DROP OFF AND PICK UP

All clients will be met curbside by staff members at designated doors near classroom or clinic spaces. Parents, guardians, and the public are not be allowed in the building, unless approved for specific treatment sessions.

7. PARENTS ON-SITE OR IN TREATMENT SESSIONS

Community spaces inside our buildings are not open to parents for drop off, pick up or waiting. Parents may join or observe therapy sessions via telehealth or receive approval to join a specific session by the treating therapist and the program supervisor, but will be required to sign a form stating agreement to follow St. David’s Center’s protocol in advance.

8. 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 can be used as an alternative and is accessible in multiple locations or via portable bottles.

9. FACE COVERINGS

All clients and staff members are required to wear face coverings or masks upon entering St. David’s Center’s buildings, partner sites and client homes. Clients and staff shall continue to wear masks when in classrooms, day treatment rooms, treatment rooms used for multiple clients throughout the day, and in communal spaces (e.g. hallways, bathrooms, kitchens, work rooms, and shared office suites). 

The following are exceptions: 

• Child development and learning may be inhibited by masks at times, and staff may remove masks for the sake of learning and communication. Our expectation is that staff wear masks, following our Preparedness Plan, while recognizing there are moments where they will need to remove masks to be effective in their work. MDH recommendations and exemptions can be found at health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/masks.html.
• Children under the age of five are not required to wear a mask at any time and children under age two should  never wear a mask.   
• Clients with developmental, medical, or mental health conditions that make it unreasonable for the person to wear a mask shall not be required to do so.   
• Face shields will be available and may be used as an alternative for those with health conditions or situations where wearing a mask is problematic.   

10. CLEANING & DISINFECTING PROTOCOLS & SUPPLIES

We will follow a strict cleaning and disinfecting protocol throughout our buildings that includes cleaning and disinfecting with specified regular frequency throughout the day in all classrooms, treatment spaces, restrooms, kitchens, and other spaces. Staff providing services in family homes and at partner sites will follow strict disinfecting protocols at each location.

11. SOCIAL DISTANCING

Staff, parents, and all other adults will practice disciplined social distancing (at least six feet apart) throughout St. David’s Center buildings, at partner sites and in client homes. In classrooms, treatment rooms or when providing services in homes, social distancing may not be possible with children or vulnerable adults, given the nature of our services and client populations.

12) 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.