Covid-19 Information

ABOUT COVID-19

• Viruses can make anyone sick regardless of their race or ethnicity
• Some people are at increased risk of getting COVID-19
• Someone who has completed a quarantine period or has been released from isolation does not pose a risk of infection to other people
• You can help stop COVID-19 by knowing the signs and symptoms
• There are simple things you can do to help keep yourself and others healthy

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that is spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.

The virus that causes COVID-19 probably emerged from an animal source but now it seems to be spreading from person to person.

CORONAVIRUS VIDEO

SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19

• FEVER above 101F
• COUGH: dry, non-productive
• SORE THROAT
• SHORTNESS OF BREATH
• ABILITY TO TASTE OR SMELL

WHAT DO I DO IF I’M SICK?

• Do not go to work, STAY HOME, isolate yourself from the general public and family
• Call your CDHC Agency office to report illness
• Monitor symptoms and treat accordingly – rest, fluids, and fever-reducing medication
• If symptoms get worse, contact a medical professional
• Wear a mask when going to the doctors, sit away from other patients in the waiting room, avoid interaction
• Avoid leaving your home except to go to doctors
• See your doctor before returning to work for clearance
• Upon entering the home, WASH your hands
• Ask your client if they have any symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as a fever, cough, sore throat, or shortness of breath
• In the last 14 days, have they had contact with someone with or under investigation for COVID19 or are ill with a respiratory illness?
• Ask about international travel to countries with sustained community transmission
• If they answer yes, notify the RN supervisor immediately for instructions
• Assist clients with hand hygiene as needed

TRAVEL

If you have recently traveled outside of the United States, please notify the office immediately.

If you have been in close contact with anyone traveling from other countries (international travel) who has a respiratory illness, please notify the office immediately.

KEEP YOURSELF HEALTHY

• Wash your hands: Soap and water for at least 20 seconds- especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom and before eating or preparing food
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Stay HOME if you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash hands
• Avoid crowds and sick persons
• Stop handshaking
• Avoid sharing personal household items: Do not share drinking glasses, utensils, or dishes. After use, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water
• Clean your hands often: Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available
• Clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day: cell phones, TV remotes, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, tablets, keyboards
• Increase ventilation by opening windows

PPE SUPPLIES

CDHC Agency has PPE supplies available for our staff: gloves, soap towels, aprons, and face masks

To prevent contamination, only take the supplies you will need into your home

HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD

• Staff and clients with close contact, as well as caregivers, should all practice good hand hygiene (handwashing)!
• Maintain community distancing when possible unless delivering care, try to maintain 6 feet between yourself and others
• Avoid public areas and transportation
• Call ahead before visiting a doctor
• Always wear a face mask in public
• Cover your coughs and sneezes
• Clean your hands often
• Avoid sharing personal household items, such as cups, eating utensils, etc.
• Clean and disinfect all “high touch “ surfaces daily – cell phones, remotes
• Wash laundry thoroughly
• Maintain universal precautions

HANDWASHING VIDEO

MASK ETIQUETTE

• Wash your hands before putting on a mask.
• Masks should not be reused. It should be for single-use only.
• If they become soiled or wet, it should be changed.
• Masks are to be worn in public.
• Masks can be worn by every person and should maintain a 6 feet distance.

STAY UPDATED

The information on the COVID-19 virus is updated daily. Stay up-to-date through:

• Local and national media
• CDC website

  cdc.gov/COVID-19D-19

• WHO website
• DOH/NYS – 1-866-692-3641

  NY-DOH call for an immediate consultation on the public health issue

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

STAY CALM, DO NOT PANIC

• Stay informed and follow the guidelines given to you. We can do our part.
• These guidelines will help decrease the risk of exposure and transmission of the Coronavirus.
• Following the guidelines set forth for our clients, family, friends, neighbors, and community is what we do best and what we are good at!
• Call the office or Supervisor.

WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER