A message to employees sent on 3/12/2020 -- Michael Clontz, Chief Operating Officer

Dear Guild Employees,

We continue to experience changing news on a daily basis regarding the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19). Guild leadership is continuously assessing and reviewing the latest information to support the individuals in our care and provide information regarding safety and prevention for our employees. All of us are challenged daily to balance concerns about our own health, health of loved ones and the health of the Individuals we serve. Woven in our recent and long history are examples of care, support and compassion as we all partner together to make our Guild community.

While there are many questions about the progression and path of COVID-19, our demonstrated commitment to the Guild mission is demonstrated with clarity daily. The Guild continues to provide services 24 hours a day for 365 days a year and together we will work to meet the challenges ahead.

Over the next few days Guild leaders and supervisors will be working directly with direct care teams to review the most up to date information around prevention, cleaning, disinfecting and self-monitoring for health concerns. Below you will find information and instructions that have been cited from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Center of Disease Control and Prevention. You will also find updates in our planning for visitation and community engagement activities.

Prevention
We are continuing to support the practice of universal precautions as previously documented:  

  • Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, using a tissue or the inside of your elbow.
  • Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and warm water frequently and use hand sanitizer.
  • If you have a fever or feel sick, stay home and call your healthcare provider.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
  • Get the flu vaccine, it’s not too late!

In addition to universal precautions, The Guild has scheduled extra deep-cleans of main building weekly until the virus abates. (The building is already cleaned daily under usual circumstances.) All houses and classrooms are being supplied with additional cleaning and sanitation products, which are being used regularly throughout the day. Activities of daily living (ADLs) are being given extra staff support as well, particularly in the areas of personal hygiene education and routines

General Tips for Cleaning for Guild employees:
Guild employees should start doing these things now, even if COVID-19 has not arrived in the communities where they operate. They can already reduce working days lost due to illness and stop or slow the spread of COVID-19 if it arrives at a Guild site. The Guild Facilities’ Department and our contracted cleaning service, Jan’s Janitorial, will maintain cleaning supplies for each Guild site. Should you need cleaning supplies or run out of a supply, immediately notify your supervisor.

  • Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, using a tissue or the inside of your elbow.
  • Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and warm water frequently and use hand sanitizer.
  • If you have a fever or feel sick, stay home and call your healthcare provider.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
  • Get the flu vaccine, it’s not too late!

This guidance from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention provides recommendations on the cleaning and disinfection of households where persons are suspected of or those with confirmed COVID-19 reside or may be in self-isolation. It is aimed at limiting the survival of the virus in the environments. These recommendations will be updated if additional information becomes available.

These guidelines are focused on household settings and are meant for the general public.
Cleaning refers to the removal of germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. Cleaning does not kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.

  • Disinfecting refers to using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.

General Recommendations for Routine Cleaning and Disinfection of Households
Community members can practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (for example: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks) with household cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants that are appropriate for the surface, following label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.

General Recommendations for Cleaning and Disinfection of Households with individuals. Household members should educate themselves about COVID-19 symptoms and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in homes.

  • Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily in household common areas (e.g. tables, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, handles, desks, toilets, sinks)
    • In indoor spaces dedicated for an ill person: consider reducing cleaning frequency to as-needed (e.g., soiled items and surfaces) to avoid unnecessary contact with the ill person.
      • As much as possible, an ill person should stay in a specific room and away from other people in their home
      • The caregiver can provide personal cleaning supplies for an ill person’s room and bathroom, unless the room is occupied by child or another person for whom such supplies would not be appropriate. These supplies include tissues, paper towels, cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants
      • If a separate bathroom is not available, the bathroom should be cleaned and disinfected after each use by an ill person. If this is not possible, the caregiver should wait as long as practical after use by an ill person to clean and disinfect the high-touch surfaces.

How to clean and disinfect: Surfaces

  • Wear disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. Gloves should be discarded after each cleaning. If reusable gloves are used, those gloves should be dedicated for cleaning and disinfection of surfaces for COVID-19 and should not be used for other purposes. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and disinfection products used. Clean hands immediately after gloves are removed.
  • If surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned using a detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
  • For disinfection, diluted household bleach solutions, alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and most common EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective. These will be provided by The Guild and or Jan’s Janitorial. If you are in need of more supplies, immediately notify your supervisor. DO NOT mix your own cleaning supplies.
  • For soft (porous) surfaces such as carpeted floor, rugs, and drapes, remove visible contamination if present and clean with appropriate cleaners indicated for use on these surfaces. After cleaning:
    • Launder items as appropriate in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If possible, launder items using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry items completely, or
      Use products with the EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims that are suitable for porous surfaces.

 Clothing, towels, linens and other items that go in the laundry

  • Wear disposable gloves when handling dirty laundry from an ill person and then discard after each use. If using reusable gloves, those gloves should be dedicated for cleaning and disinfection of surfaces for COVID-19 and should not be used for other household purposes. Clean hands immediately after gloves are removed.
    • If no gloves are used when handling dirty laundry, be sure to wash hands afterwards.
    • If possible, do not shake dirty laundry. This will minimize the possibility of dispersing virus through the air.
    • Launder items as appropriate in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If possible, launder items using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry items completely. Dirty laundry from an ill person can be washed with other people’s items.
    • Clean and disinfect clothes hampers according to guidance above for surfaces. If possible, consider placing a bag liner that is either disposable (can be thrown away) or can be laundered.

Hand hygiene and other preventive measures

  • Household members should clean hands often, including immediately after removing gloves and after contact with an ill person, by washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol may be used. However, if hands are visibly dirty, always wash hands with soap and water.
  • Household members should follow normal preventive actions while at work and home including recommended hand hygiene and avoiding touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
    • Additional key times to clean hands include:
      • After blowing one’s nose, coughing, or sneezing
      • After using the restroom
      • Before eating or preparing food
      • After contact with animals or pets
      • Before and after providing routine care for another person who needs assistance (e.g. a child)

Tips for Employees with Health concerns:
Each of us has a responsibility to monitor our own health. If you have any health concern, you should contact your health care provider.

Watch for symptoms
Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to significant illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.*

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath

Call your doctor if you…
Develop symptoms, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19

OR

Have recently traveled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19.

What to Do if You Get Sick

  • Stay home and call your doctor
  • Call your healthcare provider and let them know about your symptoms. Tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help them take care of you and keep other people from getting infected or exposed.
  • Keep your supervisor informed of how you are doing and feel free to communicate with The Guild Human Resources Team

In the event of identified infection:
If in the event that an Individual served by the Guild is diagnosed with COVID-19, The Guild Health services department and program leaders will work closely with the Massachusetts’s Department of Public Health, local Board of Health and that individual’s health care provider to ensure that  the proper medical treatment is provided.

If it has been determined by medical personnel that isolation is appropriate then any staff or student with an infectious disease will be restricted from school until s/he is no longer contagious. The Department of Public Health (DPH) will be contacted. DPH guidelines will be followed. Unless otherwise advised by DPH, the following measures will be instituted by The Guild:

  • Infectious diseases will be reported by the nurse to the local health department as required by Massachusetts General Law, Chapter III, Section 6.
  • Isolation procedures will be established by The Guild’s Health Services Department and physician consultant in accordance with the DPH Standards as needed for individual situations.
  • The Guild’s Health Services Department or designee will notify all parents, guardians, and referring organizations of the reported communicable disease within the organization.
  • Residential students with an infectious disease will be sent home when possible. They may return to school when the infection period is over, with written confirmation from a licensed medical practitioner.
  • For residential adults or If a residential student cannot be sent home, appropriate isolation procedures will be instituted for the duration of the infectious period.
  • The individual will not be allowed to attend classes or work. S/he must have as little contact with the others as possible.
  • Meals should be placed on paper plates and disposable utensils used. Use of a private bathroom will be provided as needed depending on the type and nature of the illness in conjunction with the recommendations of DPH.
  • Staff will wear protective equipment as indicated and should wash hands very carefully after attending to this individual.

We will continue to keep you all updated as new information becomes available. As always, use supervision to review any questions and concerns.

Michael J. Clontz,
Chief Operating Officer