COVID-19 PROTECTIVE MEASURES

MAY 2020

TOPICS

• COVID-19 BACKGROUND

• SYMPTOMS

• LAYERED DEFENSE APPROACH

• HANDWASHING

• HYGIENE PRACTICES

• SITE EMPLOYEE SCREENING

• SURFACE CLEANING AND DISINFECTION

• PHYSICAL DISTANCING

• FACE COVERINGS & OTHER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE

EQUIPMENT

COVID-19• COVID-19 IS CAUSED BY ONE OF A FAMILY MEMBER OF CORONAVIRUSES, A

FAMILY THAT ALSO INCLUDES SEVERAL CAUSES FOR THE COMMON COLD.

• MOST PEOPLE WILL BE INFECTED WITH AT LEAST ONE CORONAVIRUS FAMILY

MEMBER DURING THEIR LIVES.

• REST, DIET, AND EXERCISE CAN HELP YOUR BODY RESIST GETTING SICK

• MOST WITH COVID-19 JUST GET COLD-LIKE SYMPTOMS, BUT THE ELDERLY, OR

THOSE WITH WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEMS OR OTHER PRE-EXISTING HEALTH

CONDITIONS CAN HAVE WORSE RESULTS.

COVID-19• SYMPTOMS TYPICALLY APPEAR 2-14 DAYS AFTER INFECTION.

• INHALED VIRUS OR VIRUS ABSORBED THROUGH MUCOUS MEMBRANES.

• SURFACE TRANSMISSION IS BELIEVED POSSIBLE (CARRIED “HAND-TO-

MOUTH”).

• NOT ALL COVID-19 PATIENTS EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS.

• UNKNOWN WHAT AMOUNT OF VIRUS ONE NEEDS TO BE EXPOSED TO IN

ORDER TO BECOME SICK, KNOWN AS THE “MINIMAL INFECTIOUS DOSE”.

POTENTIAL SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19: CDC LIST

• COUGH

• SHORTNESS OF BREATH OR DIFFICULTY BREATHING

• FEVER

• NEW LOSS OF TASTE OR SMELL

• CHILLS

• MUSCLE PAIN

• SORE THROAT

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

Other less common symptoms have been reported, including gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

(an infected person may not experience all symptoms)

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES FOR COVID-19: THE LAYERED DEFENSE APPROACH

• HANDWASHING

• HYGIENE PRACTICES

• SITE EMPLOYEE/VISITOR

SCREENING

• SURFACE CLEANING AND

DISINFECTION

• PHYSICAL DISTANCING

• FACE COVERINGS

These measures are part of the Y’s

overall COVID Return to Work

plan.

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES FOR COVID-19:HANDWASHING

• FREQUENT HANDWASHING USING

SOAP AND WATER CAN EFFECTIVELY

PREVENT VIRUS TRANSMISSION.

• IF NO HANDWASHING AVAILABLE, 2ND

CHOICE IS TO USE AN ALCOHOL-BASED

DISINFECTANT (CONTAINING AT LEAST

60% ALCOHOL)Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song

from beginning to end twice.

The Process

to Follow…

Scrub 20

seconds with

soap.

1- 2-

4- 5- 6-

3-

https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html

https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-handwashing.html

HANDWASHING “DO’S”…DO…

• MAKE SURE TO WASH OR DISINFECT ALL HAND SURFACES (BETWEEN FINGERS, FINGERTIPS, UNDER NAILS, BACK OF HANDS, ETC.)

• USE ENOUGH SOAP – ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER.

• MAKE SURE TO SCRUB WITH SOAP FOR AT LEAST 20 SECONDS, NOT JUST BRIEFLY. SOAP UP AND THEN RINSE FOR 20 SECONDS

• MAKE SURE TO DRY YOUR HANDS THOROUGHLY – WET HANDS ARE BETTER FOR TRANSFERRING VIRUSES

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-dos-and-donts-of-handwashing-11583952006

https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-handwashing.html

Step 1: Scrub palms together Step 2: Scrub backs of hands

Step 3: Scrub inside of fingers and nail beds Step 4: Scrub between fingers

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES FOR COVID-19:HYGIENE PRACTICES

• STAY HOME WHEN YOU ARE FEELING SICK. MAKE SURE TO NOTIFY

YOUR MANAGER.

• AVOID COUGHING OR SNEEZING INTO OPEN AIR – USE YOUR

ELBOW (NOT YOUR HAND) OR A TISSUE AND DISPOSE OF TISSUE

SAFELY IN TRASH IMMEDIATELY.

• AVOID SURFACE CONTACT IF POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY COMMON

SURFACES.

• AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE OR RUBBING YOUR EYES.

• WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY AND AFTER TOUCHING “COMMON

TOUCH” SURFACES.

SITE EMPLOYEE SCREENING

• SOME SCREENING MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT INTO PLACE OR ARE PLANNED AT THE Y INCLUDE:

• SITE ENTRY SCREENING FOR EMPLOYEES, MEMBERS AND CONTRACTORS/VISITORS – LOOK TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL COVID-19 FLAGS PRIOR TO ENTERING THE SITE. YOU WILL BE ASKED A SHORT SERIES OF QUESTIONS WHEN YOU ENTER A SITE OR PROGRAM AREA.

• TEMPERATURE MONITORING CURRENTLY IN PLACE AT SITE ENTRY FOR ALL PEOPLE ENTERING.

ADDITIONAL SCREENING PROTOCOLS, OR CHANGES TO EXISTING METHODS MAY BE IMPLEMENTED BASED ON CDC OR GOVERNMENT RECOMMENDATIONS.

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES FOR COVID-19:

Facility Surface Cleaning Guidelines

Common touch surfaces in facility are disinfected throughout the day.

Keep your own (or shared) space clean and reduce desktop clutter.

Sanitize your own space periodically throughout the day – supplies will be available.

DISINFECTANT USE

• USE APPROVED DISINFECTANTS ONLY.

• WEAR GLOVES WHEN USING DISINFECTANT, IF POSSIBLE, TO PROTECT YOUR HANDS.

• ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS ON THE DISINFECTANT OR CLEANER BOTTLE.

• USUALLY THE DISINFECTANT MUST BE ALLOWED TO AIR DRY ON THE SURFACE RATHER THAN BE MANUALLY DRIED USING A TOWEL.

• CLEAN DIRTY SURFACES BEFORE APPLYING DISINFECTANT TO SANITIZE. DISINFECTANTS DO NOT WORK ON DIRTY SURFACES.

Disinfectant

Mixing

Hazards

Don’t mix chemical disinfectants

– some, like bleach mixed with

alcohols, can generate toxic

gas!

EXAMPLES OF “COMMON TOUCH” SURFACES

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES FOR COVID-19:PHYSICAL DISTANCING STRATEGIES

• ACTIVELY STAY AT LEAST 6 FEET APART FROM

OTHER INDIVIDUALS.

• AVOID SHARING “BREATHING ZONES” WITH

OTHERS AS POSSIBLE. (SEE ELEVATOR PHOTO

AS EXAMPLE)

• AVOID CROWDING INTO CONFINED SPACES

(ELEVATORS, CONFERENCE ROOMS, ETC.)

• AVOID LARGE GATHERINGS – USE VIRTUAL

MEETINGS IF POSSIBLE.

• INSTALL PHYSICAL SCREENS OR BARRIERS

BETWEEN WORKSTATIONS IF FEASIBLE.

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES FOR

COVID-19:FACE COVERINGS

• FACE COVERINGS CAN HELP BLOCK OR FILTER OUT TINY DROPLETS THAT CAN CARRY VIRUSES.

• CDC RECOMMENDS WEARING A FACE COVERING OVER MOUTH AND NOSE WHEN OUT OF THE HOUSE.

• SOME STATES AND CITIES REQUIRE FACE COVERINGS TO BE WORN IN THE OFFICE OR IN PUBLIC.

• THE Y PROVIDES FACE MASKS TO EMPLOYEES WHO WILL BE WORKING ON SITE, ALTHOUGH YOU ARE ALLOWED TO USE YOUR OWN IF DESIRED & IF APPROVED BY SUPERVISOR

• IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO WEAR A FACE MASK FOR MEDICAL REASONS, PLEASE LET YOUR SUPERVISOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES KNOW.

FACE COVERINGS –KEY FACTS TO KNOW

• WASH OR DISINFECT YOUR

HANDS BEFORE AND AFTER

HANDLING YOUR MASK.

• STORE YOUR MASK BETWEEN

USES IN A COOL (OR ROOM

TEMP), DRY LOCATION.

• STORAGE IN A PAPER OR

CLOTH BAG IS BEST. AVOID

SEALING INSIDE A PLASTIC

BAG.

• WASH CLOTH MASKS AT LEAST

WEEKLY OR MORE OFTEN IF

VISIBLY SOILED.

Face Coverings – Key

Facts to Know

Always consider the mask fabric to be

potentially contaminated.

Do not touch your mask unnecessarily.

Examine your mask for visible soiling or

damage each time before wearing.

Replace worn, damaged or dirty masks

immediately.

Replace your mask immediately if you have trouble

breathing through it!

(Courtesy Sanford Health)

FACE MASK AND FACE COVERING “DO’S”…

DO…

• MAKE SURE TO COVER BOTH NOSE AND MOUTH COMPLETELY.

• AVOID TOUCHING MASK SURFACE WITH HANDS. AVOID FIDGETING WITH YOUR MASK.

• REMOVE GAPS BETWEEN MASK AND FACE. KEEP IT TIGHT TO YOUR FACE.

• AVOID LEAVING CHIN EXPOSED.

• REMOVE MASK BY HANDLING THE STRAPS.

• WASH OR DISINFECT HANDS AFTER HANDLING MASK.

• REMEMBER THAT MASKS CAN HELP PROTECT FROM DROPLET SPREAD, BUT ARE NOT FULLY PROTECTIVE – MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING!

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/well/live/

coronavirus-face-mask-mistakes.html

WHEN TO WEAR GLOVES (IN NON-

HEALTHCARE SETTINGS)

• GLOVES ARE RECOMMENDED BY THE

CDC WHEN CARING FOR SOMEONE

WHO IS SICK, OR FOR CLEANING AND

DISINFECTION.

• GLOVES CAN PROTECT YOU FROM

POTENTIAL CHEMICAL EXPOSURE DURING

USE OF CHEMICAL DISINFECTANTS FOR

SURFACE CLEANING AND SANITIZING.

BUT…

DRAWBACKS WITH GLOVES

• REMEMBER THAT COVID IS NOT CONSIDERED TRANSMITTED THROUGH NON-MUCOUS-MEMBRANE SKIN EXPOSURE.

• GLOVES WILL NOT PREVENT SPREAD OF VIRUSES FROM CONTAMINATED SURFACES.

• GLOVES CAN GIVE YOU A FALSE SENSE OF SAFETY –

• IF YOU TOUCH YOUR FACE WITH CONTAMINATED GLOVES, VIRUSES CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO MOUTH, EYES, OR NOSE.

• OFTEN WEARING GLOVES PREVENTS FREQUENT HANDWASHING – GLOVES DO NOT REPLACE HANDWASHING AS A PROTECTIVE MEASURE.

• REMOVING CONTAMINATED GLOVES INCORRECTLY CAN CAUSE SPREAD OF VIRUS PARTICLES, EVEN AEROSOLIZING THEM!

REMOVING GLOVES SAFELY1. Grasp outside portion of glove near wrist

2. Peel away from hand, turning glove inside-out

3. Hold removed glove in opposite gloved hand

4. Slide ungloved finger under the wrist of the

remaining glove

5. Peel glove off from inside, creating a bag for both

gloves

6. Discard appropriately in trash

Do not snap your gloves off like

you see on TV or movies!

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES FOR COVID-19: THE LAYERED DEFENSE APPROACH

√HANDWASHING

√HYGIENE PRACTICES

√SITE EMPLOYEE/VISITOR

SCREENING

√SURFACE CLEANING AND

DISINFECTION

√PHYSICAL DISTANCING

√FACE COVERINGS & OTHER

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENTUsing the combination of these

measures provides the best overall

protection

If you have any questions, please contact HR for help

Thank You