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 October 5, 2021

1) ILLNESS & EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT

Clients and staff members will be required to answer two health questions related to symptoms and exposure when receiving or providing in-person services or working in one of St. David’s Center’s buildings or partner sites. Staff members will be required to assess for symptoms at home before leaving to provide services in a client home or partner site.

• 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)?
• Exposure: In the last 14 days, has the person (client or staff) been directly exposed to a person (within 6 feet 15 minutes or more over the previous 24 hours) who has tested positive for COVID-19?
  * Not required for fully vaccinated staff
  
  If the client or staff member answers “yes” to either of these questions they will be immediately excluded from in-person services or entering St. David’s Center’s buildings or partner sites.

2) EXCLUSION & RETURN POLICY for SYMPTOMS or EXPOSURE

If a client or staff reports symptoms or an exposure to someone who tested positive with COVID-19, they will be excluded that day and will follow guidelines for returning. If a client or staff member develops symptoms during programming, they will be isolated until plans can be made to return home.

Reporting 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 must immediately inform their supervisor (or if a client, your staff contact) and will be excluded from programming (see below). The supervisor will complete the online COVID-19 Symptom, Exposure and Test Reporting Form. If reporting a positive case, the supervisor will immediately inform St. David’s Center leadership.

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 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). 

Vaccinated Staff Exception: Fully vaccinated staff and adults do not need to report or exclude due to exposure.

MN Department of Health (MDH) Reporting: Upon learning of a positive lab-confirmed test result for COVID-19 of a staff or client in any of our programs, St. David’s Center will immediately:

• Contact MDH and follow directions for contact tracing, closure of classrooms or services, and quarantining.
• Inform staff and families impacted by the exposure; and
• Develop and implement a deep cleaning and disinfecting plan according to CDC guidelines.

3) CONTAINMENT OF CLIENTS IN CONSISTENT COHORTS IN BUILDINGS & HOMES

Center-based services will be offered within self-contained, consistent cohorts that will not intersect indoors throughout the day.

4) OUTDOOR SPACES

Outdoor play spaces will be used by individual cohorts on a rotating basis, without cohorts 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.

5) DROP OFF AND PICK UP

Client drop off and pick up will either be done curbside or inside the building, depending on the program and location. Parents/guardians and the public will not be allowed in the building, unless approved for specific treatment sessions or approved for pick up and drop off.

6) PARENTS & VOLUNTEERS 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. Parents will be required to sign a form stating agreement to follow St. David’s Center’s protocol in advance of both center-based and in-home services. Vaccinated volunteers are allowed in-center under specific circumstances.

 7) 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.

8) FACE COVERINGS

All staff, parents, and clients ages six and older are required to wear face coverings upon entering St. David’s Center’s buildings, partner sites, and client homes, and shall wear masks when in classrooms, day treatment rooms, treatment rooms, and in communal spaces like hallways, bathrooms, kitchens, and workrooms. Any unvaccinated staff members and all parents/guardians should remain masked at all times indoors.

Masks are not required in meeting spaces, offices, office suites, or homes when all participants are known to be vaccinated. Masks are not required in any outdoor spaces.

This guidance is superseded by mandates of local governments or businesses where St. David’s Center provides services.

The following are exceptions:

• Child development and learning may be inhibited by masks at times, and staff may temporarily 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.
• 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.

9) CLEANING & DISINFECTING PROTOCOLS & SUPPLIES

A strict cleaning and disinfecting protocol will be followed throughout our buildings, in family homes, and at partner sites with specified, regular frequency in all classrooms, treatment spaces, and other spaces as needed.

10) SOCIAL DISTANCING

When necessary, staff, parents, and all other adults will practice social distancing 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.

11) 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.