COVID-19 - Loveland Center

COVID-19 Advisory Update
April 1, 2020
3:15 PM

Loveland Center in Venice, North Port, Port Charlotte and Bradenton
WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL AT LEAST APRIL 30th.

Good Afternoon Loveland Center Participants, Families, and Caregivers.

This afternoon, Governor DeSantis issued a statewide stay-at-home order for Florida effective tomorrow, April 2nd, at midnight. Therefore, Loveland Center will remain closed until April 30th.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and follow the guidance of the CDC, federal, state, and local government. Please know that the health and safety of our participants, staff, and families remains our top priority.

However, while our ADT programs in all locations remain closed, Loveland will continue to provide certain essential services of supported employment, personal supports, and companion services. For questions or concerns on these services, please contact Julie Kostelec at jkostelec@lovelandcenter.org.

We will weather this storm together and be prepared to open our doors when it is deemed safe to do so. On behalf of the leadership team and our board of directors, we thank you for your loyal support and trust in Loveland Center.

Thank you,

Loveland Center Administration and Board

Before We Reopen
Purchase Thermometers
Purchase Personal Protective Equipment for Staff
Purchase Masks for Participants
Train Staff on COVID and have them sign off
Train staff on how to properly use PPE, sign off
Hang COVID Posters in all High Traffic Areas
Hang Handwashing Posters in ALL bathrooms
Hang Social distancing and sneeze/cough etiquette Posters in all high traffic areas
Daily Cleaning/Sanitizing
Hand sanitizer stations in each building
Cross Train Staff
Create screening form for staff and participants
COVID-19 Specific Safety Training

COVID and Post COVID World:

Limit the number of Participants on Campus’s at one time:
Venice ADT – 80 maximum
Venice HKA – 16 maximum
Port Charlotte – 32 maximum
North Port – 32 maximum
Bradenton – 56 maximum

PHASE 1:
When Participants come back
While COVID is still spreading

Upon Arrival
Staff Precautions:
1. Program Managers or Team Leaders will take thermometer readings of staff BEFORE ENTERING any buildings.
2. Any Staff with an elevated reading, and/or who is suspected to have coronavirus (screening form to be developed), be sent home immediately, and self-quarantine for a period of 14 days. Staff would be required to return to work with a letter from a healthcare professional noting they are symptom free.
3. Loveland Center will require that all employees who have been in contact with that employee also self-quarantine for a 14-day period or receive 2 consecutive negative COVID-19 tests.
4. Documentation of Checks to be completed daily and kept on file.

Participant Precautions:
Staff will report to their assigned areas.

1. DSPs will wait outside of buildings, under cover, at drop off locations for participants to take their temperatures.
2. Any participant(s) with an elevated reading, and/or who is suspected to have coronavirus (screening form), will be sent home immediately.
a. If the participant was in a vehicle with other riders, those riders will be sent home as well.
b. Staff who took the temperature should also be sent home.
c. All parties who were sent home, will remain home to self-quarantine for 14 days or receive 2 consecutive negative COVID-19 tests.
i. If transportation already left, anyone who should have been sent home will wait in an isolated room until they can be picked up. Individuals who are isolated will maintain at least 6-10 feet of distance between one another.
ii. Give any person who is sick a facemask and separate them from others until they can go home.
iii. If an isolation room is needed, the room will be deep cleaned after all individuals leave. No one other than a cleaning crew, should enter the room until it is cleaned and sanitized.
3. Participants who do not have an elevated temperature and are not suspected to have coronavirus, will report to their assigned program room.

Day to Day Program:

Assembly and Attendance
1. DSPs will track attendance of the participants assigned to their room. DSPs will send attendance to Program Manager
2. Program Manager will track individuals’ attendance and contact ANY/ALL participants who have missed 3 consecutive scheduled days to check-in.
3. Participants will maintain at least 6 ft of distance between each other.
4. Staff will make any relevant announcements, including a breakdown of programming and activities for the day.

Program Time
1. Participants will remain with the same DSP for the entire day.
2. There should be no more than 3 DSPs in any building on any given day
3. Exceptions may be made for Building E and the Clubhouse.
4. Admin and managers are not to be counted.
5. At the start of each time block, and in between breaks, DSPs will remind participants of proper handwashing and cough/sneeze etiquette.
6. DSPs will rotate material so that participants are engaged using multiple learning techniques while focusing on various life skills.
7. Whenever a participant need to excuse themselves, upon reentering the room, they will be instructed to wash their hands or use sanitizer.
8. DSPs will reinforce everyday preventive actions.
9. DSPs will do their best to limit physical contact with participants.
a. Special protocols will be in place for participants who need physical assistance.
10. Managers/Team Leaders should go around campus and share any COVID related updates at least once per day, with staff and participants.

Breaks
1. Managers/Team Leaders will schedule staggered breaks so that no more than 2 DSPs have their participants on break at the same time.
2. Staff and participants will be encouraged to maintain social distancing while on break.

Dismissal
1. Participants will remain in the assigned rooms until their transportation arrives.
2. Participants who live in the Nancy Detert Residences will be dismissed at 2:30 and should be directed to leave campus at that time.
3. Managers/Team Leaders will assign staff to wait at pick-up locations.

a. Assigned staff will radio for participants once their transportation has arrived.
i. Assigned staff will make sure that participants maintain their social distancing as they board their transportation.
ii. If a participant need to be accompanied to their pick-up, a staff member will be assigned to assist him/her.
4. Parents/caregivers should REMAIN in their vehicles, unless the participant needs assistance getting into the vehicle.

Parents/caregivers will NOT be allowed to enter ANY buildings; this includes use of any restrooms.

5. Transportation Providers should REMAIN WITH their vehicles.

Transportation Providers will NOT be allowed to enter ANY buildings; this includes use of any restrooms.

6. If transportation is late, the participant may move to the front lobby and wait there.
7. Once participants are off campus, DSPs will clean and sanitize their assigned room(s).

At All Times
1. Ensure continuity of regular care and essential services.
2. Require that participants and sick employees STAY HOME.
a. Encourage staff who are sick to work from home (if available)
b. Anyone who may have been exposed to the virus must self-quarantine for a period of 14 days or receive 2 consecutive negative COVID-19 tests.
c. Notify local health authorities if there is a COVID-19 case at Loveland.
3. Limit, if not restrict, access of non-essential visitors to our sites.
4. Provide Personal Protective Equipment to staff.
5. Encourage participants to social distance.
6. Promote everyday preventive actions.
7. Encourage staff and community members to protect their personal health.
a. Ask staff and participants to actively monitor for COVID-19 symptoms.
8. Clean surfaces that are frequently touched – things such as shared desks, countertops, kitchen areas, electronics, and doorknobs.
9. Cancel or postpone events and meetings with outside agencies.
a. For any meetings that CANNOT be cancelled, maintain social distancing, and utilize PPE.
10. Establish a “buddy” system- have staff call and check-in on participants.
11. Stay up to date on developments in our community.
a. Communicate with staff, volunteers, and members regularly.
b. Admin will Connect and Coordinate with local public health officials.
12. If we positively identify a case, inform people who might have been exposed.
13. Teach and reinforce everyday preventive actions.
14. Plan and monitor staff absenteeism.
a. Prepare for minimum staffing levels.
b. Cross-train staff when possible.
15. Require employees to inform Admin/Mgrs if they are traveling for personal reasons.
a. Employees currently on personal travel or planning personal travel, should be required to notify their supervisors as to the date they are scheduled to return from travel and be prepared to self-quarantine for a 14-day period before returning to work.
16. Respond to Staff and Participant fears
a. Many employees may be scared to come to work during this time for fear of infection.
i. It is important that we respond to these fears with empathy but also understand our right to require that employees continue to come to work.
ii. Employees are only entitled to refuse to come to work if they believe that they are in imminent danger.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), imminent danger includes “any conditions or practices in any place of employment which are such that a danger exists which can reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical harm immediately or before the imminence of such danger can be eliminated through the enforcement procedures otherwise provided by this Act."

Covid-19 Loveland Reopen Phase 1

Loveland Center Transportation Protocol
As programs start to reopen, Loveland Center has identified the need to increase our transportation routes. This is based on the numbers of participants who have notified Loveland of not wanting to risk Public Transportation during the COVID-19 epidemic. In an effort to ease worries, and provide a safe and clean vehicle, Loveland Center has adopted these new protocols for our fleet.

Occupants of these vehicles will avoid or limit close contact (within 6 feet) with others. Loveland Center will utilize our larger vehicles when feasible to allow greater social (physical) distance between vehicle occupants. Additionally, drivers will practice regular hand hygiene, avoid touching their nose, mouth, or eyes, and limiting the number of passengers who would be riding together on the same route. Loveland Center will provide masks for any riders who wish to use them.

The following are general guidelines Loveland Center will adopt for cleaning and disinfecting our vehicles.
At a minimum, Loveland Center will clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces in the vehicle at the beginning and end of each run.

We will ensure that cleaning and disinfection procedures are followed consistently and correctly, including the provision of adequate ventilation when chemicals are in use.

Doors and windows should remain open when cleaning the vehicle.

When cleaning and disinfecting, individuals should wear disposable gloves compatible with the products being used as well as any other PPE required according to the product manufacturer’s instructions.

For hard non-porous surfaces within the interior of the vehicle such as hard seats, arm rests, door handles, seat belt buckles, light and air controls, doors and windows, and grab handles, detergent or soap and water will be used if the surfaces are visibly dirty, prior to disinfectant application.

For disinfection of hard, non-porous surfaces, appropriate disinfectants, staff will follow the manufacturer’s instructions for concentration, application method, and contact time for all cleaning and disinfection products. Diluted household bleach solutions and alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol prepared according to the manufacturer’s label for disinfection, may be used, if appropriate for the surface.

For soft or porous surfaces such as fabric seats, staff will clean with appropriate cleaners indicated for use on these surfaces.

For frequently touched electronic surfaces, such as tablets or touch screens used in the vehicle, staff will use alcohol-based wipes or sprays containing at least 70% alcohol to disinfect.

Gloves and any other disposable PPE used for cleaning and disinfecting the vehicle will be removed and disposed of after cleaning; staff will wash their hands immediately after removal of gloves and PPE with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

For transit operators, potential sources of exposure include close contact with a passenger with COVID-19 or contacting surfaces touched or handled by a person with COVID-19. According to the CDC, workers should protect themselves by: limiting close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least six feet, when possible; avoiding touching surfaces often touched by transit passengers; practicing routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, including those in the operator area commonly touched by the operator, following the directions on the cleaning product’s label; and using gloves if required to touch surfaces contaminated by body fluids.

It is important to remember that proper hand hygiene is an important infection- control measure. Regularly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Passengers (and operators) with known or suspected COVID-19 should not ride in ANY Loveland Center vehicles.

Loveland Center will continually educate staff and riders on how to manage and mitigate risks associated with COVID-19.

Additionally, we will communicate and reinforce new policies and procedures as they are developed and updated.
Loveland Center employees will be instructed to stay home if they were directly exposed to the virus and/or have symptoms (fever, difficulty breathing, dry cough).

Upon Transportation Arrival
A. Rider, or caregiver, will fill out COVID-10 Screening Tool.
a. If Screening tool is clear, Rider will then wait to have thermometer reading.
b. If screening comes back negative, rider will be instructed to return home.
i. Driver will wait until rider is safely back in their home.
ii. Driver will notify Program Manager and rider will self-quarantine for a period of up to 14 days, or until they receive 2 negative COVID tests.

B. Driver will take a thermometer reading of rider.
a. If there is an elevated reading, Rider will be instructed to return home.
i. Driver will wait until rider is safely back in their home before leaving.
ii. Driver will notify Program Manager and rider will self-quarantine for a period up to 14 days, or until they receive 2 negative COVID tests.
b. If thermometer reading is clear, rider will enter the vehicle.

C. Loading/Embarking.
a. Driver will instruct riders to social distance within the vehicle, staggering rows and seats to keep riders apart.

D. While in Transit
a. AC should be on if it is using fresh air, at the highest setting possible, and filters should be changed regularly.
b. Riders will be reminded to practice proper social distancing.