Covid-19 Infection control policy

CareMate Home Health Care, Inc. 2236 Marshall Avenue Saint Paul, MN 55104 CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19 – SARS-CoV-2) Infection Control Policy Policy CareMate Home Health Care, Inc. (CHHCI) will monitor all clients and employees for signs and symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID -19) to enable prompt detection, isolation, treatment, and education to prevent exposures to others. CHHCI employees must adhere to all infection control standards per Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines. All CHHCI employees must comply with infection control techniques used in the home and implement infection control standards including proper hand washing techniques, use of protective gloves, gowns and masks, appropriate disposal of contaminated material such as dressing and tissues, disinfecting reusable equipment and disinfecting environmental surfaces and immediately reporting of signs and symptoms of COVID-19. COVID-19 is the name of the disease caused by the new coronavirus that is called SARS-CoV-2, or sometimes just “novel coronavirus”.

Procedure 1. HCWs who present to work or screen positive with cold or flu symptoms should leave work immediately and be tested for COVID-19 using RT-PCR. If positive, follow the COVID-19 work exclusion and isolation guidance outlined above. If negative and the HCW is still experiencing symptoms, the HCW should consult their health care provider.

A. If the health care provider provides an alternate diagnosis, criteria for return to work should be based on that diagnosis.

B. If the health care provider does NOT provide an alternate diagnosis, the HCW should remain isolated and not return to work until at least 24 hours have passed since recovery, defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath).

2. Every employee must complete a baseline screening for Coronavirus (COVID-19).

A. The signs and symptoms include: (1) Fever or chills, (2) Cough, (3) Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, (4) Fatigue, (5) Muscle or body aches, (6) Headache, (7) New loss of taste or smell, (8) Sore throat, (9) Congestion or runny nose, (10) Nausea or vomiting, and (11) Diarrhea. These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

B. If you develop any signs of COVID-19 you should seek medical advice immediately and notify CHHCI. 3.61

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C. If you have any of these emergency warning signs* for COVID-19 you must get medical attention immediately. Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility. Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19: I.

Trouble breathing

II.

Persistent pain or pressure in the chest

III.

New confusion

IV.

Inability to wake or stay awake

V.

Bluish lips or face

3. CHHCI should inform all clients who are with undiagnosed fever and /or acute respiratory symptoms (cough, sore throat, and / or shortness of breath), even those not able to be tested, that they should self-quarantine for at least 10 days after illness onset, or 24 hours after resolution of fever (without taking fever-reducing medications), whichever is longer, and improvement of respiratory symptoms. Inform clients to call ahead for appointment.

A. Clients should isolate themselves from household and intimate contacts as much as possible. Household and intimate contacts of these individuals should limit their activities in public for 14 days after incorporating precautions in the home, and monitor for signs and symptoms.

4. Employees are instructed to wear masks, protective eyewear, and / or gown during procedures which are likely to generate infectious secretions which may include sputum, serum, blood, and respiratory droplets. All personal protective equipment that you may need are available anytime in the office.

5. All employees must keep a social distance between themselves and their client. This social distance is 6 feet from each other to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets.

6. All employees must wash their hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, going to the bathroom, and before eating or preparing food. If alcohol-based hand sanitizers are used, employee must scrub for 20 seconds.

7. All employees must avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

8. All employees must clean and disinfect all common environmental surfaces immediately and thoroughly if contaminated or having direct contact with infectious secretions from a client with COVID-19.

9. All employees must cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze.

Throw used tissues in a trash can immediately to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets.

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10. All employees are advised to stay home if you have the signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

Call ahead for a medical appointment and notify them you may have COVID-19. Contact your supervisor and update with advice given by your medical provider.

11. If any client or employee have any signs or symptoms of COVID-19, they must immediately report them to the CHHCI office.

12. A CHHCI employee is a Critical Infrastructure Worker according to the CDC guidelines. An employee may be permitted to continue work following potential exposure to COVID-19, provided they remain asymptomatic and additional precautions to protect them and the community. These guidelines are: A. Employee will complete the on-line Coronavirus screening located on the CHHCI website daily and for 14 days after potential exposure.

B. After potential exposure, employee will monitor daily temperature for 14 days and will report to CHHCI office. Temperature must be under 100-degree Fahrenheit.

C. A facemask for source control must be worn at all times while providing direct care to a client for at least 14 days after potential exposure. A cloth facemask is approved by CHHCI since facemask supplies are limited due to low supply and a high need in health care facilities.

D. The employee must maintain 6 feet and practice social distancing as work duties permit in the workplace.

E. Employee must practice strict hand hygiene including hand washing with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.

F. All common environmental surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected at least daily.

13. If an employee has a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19, CHHCI will immediately remove employee for at least 10 days since the symptoms first appeared from all clients.

14. If the employee has mild or moderate illness who are not severely immunocompromised, they may return to work if: A. At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared, AND B. At least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use if fever-reducing medications, AND C. Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved D. Upon return to work, employee will monitor daily temperature for 14 days and will report to CHHCI office. Temperature must be under 100-degree Fahrenheit.

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E. Employee will complete the on-line Coronavirus screening located on the CHHCI website daily for 14 days upon returning to work.

F. A facemask for source control must be worn at all times while providing direct care to a client for at least 14 days since returning to work. A cloth facemask is approved by CHHCI since facemask supplies are limited due to low supply and a high need in health care facilities. The client should also be asked to wear a facemask while services are being provided.

G. The employee must maintain 6 feet and practice social distancing as work duties permit in the workplace.

H. Employee must practice strict hand hygiene including hand washing with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.

I. All common environmental surfaces must be cleaned and disinfected at least daily.

15. If the employee is severely immunocompromised, they may return to work if: A. At least 20 days have passed since symptoms first appeared, AND B. At least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use if fever-reducing medications, AND C. Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved D. Due to critical staffing shortages, the employee may return to work after 10 to 15 days, instead of 20 days.

E. Upon return to work, employee will monitor daily temperature for 14 days and will report to CHHCI office. Temperature must be under 100-degree Fahrenheit.

F. Employee will complete the on-line Coronavirus screening located on the CHHCI website daily for 14 days upon returning to work.

G. A facemask for source control must be worn at all times while providing direct care to a client for at least 14 days since returning to work. A cloth facemask is approved by CHHCI since facemask supplies are limited due to low supply and a high need in health care facilities. The client should also be asked to wear a facemask while services are being provided.

H. The employee must maintain 6 feet and practice social distancing as work duties permit in the workplace.

I. Employee must practice strict hand hygiene including hand washing with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.

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J. All common environmental surfaces must be cleaned and disinfected at least daily.

16. If an employee has signs and symptoms of COVID-19 but not a confirmed laboratory case, CHHCI will immediately remove employee from all clients.

A. The employee may return to work if at least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use if fever-reducing medications, AND B. Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved.

C. Upon return to work, employee will monitor daily temperature for 14 days and will report to CHHCI office. Temperature must be under 100-degree Fahrenheit.

D. Employee will complete the on-line Coronavirus screening located on the CHHCI website daily for 14 days upon returning to work.

J. A facemask for source control must be worn at all times while providing direct care to a client for at least 14 days since returning to work. A cloth facemask is approved by CHHCI since facemask supplies are limited due to low supply and a high need in health care facilities. The client should also be asked to wear a facemask while services are being provided.

E. The employee must maintain 6 feet and practice social distancing as work duties permit in the workplace.

F. Employee must practice strict hand hygiene including hand washing with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.

G. All common environmental surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected at least daily.

17. If a client has a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19, CHHCI will immediately remove all employees for a minimum of 10 days since the symptoms first appeared from this client.

A. CHHCI will conduct a Coronavirus screening by phone immediately and after 7 days. Client may resume services if at least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use if fever-reducing medications, AND B. Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved.

18. If a client has a signs and symptoms of COVID-19, CHHCI will immediately remove all employees from this client for a minimum of 24 hours.

A. If client develops any signs of COVID-19 you should seek medical advice immediately and notify CHHCI. 3.61

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B. CHHCI will conduct a Coronavirus screening by phone immediately. Client may resume services if at least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use if fever-reducing medications, AND C. Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved.

D. At least 24 hours have passed since their symptoms have appeared. Client will complete the on-line Coronavirus screening either by computer or by phone screening located on the CHHCI website for 14 days.

19. All clients and employees will be instructed to activate emergency medical services if their symptoms worsen or if you have any of these emergency warning signs* for COVID-19 you must get medical attention immediately and call 911: A. Trouble breathing B. Persistent pain or pressure in the chest C. New confusion or inability to arouse D. Bluish lips or face 20. Except for rare situations, a test-based strategy is no longer recommended to determine when to allow an employee to return to work.

21. In addition to this policy, all employees must adhere to CHHCI’s standard home care infection control procedure.

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