Like many other organizations and facilities, the YWCA shelter is enacting a no visitors’ policy.
“Overall, we are limiting visitors into the YWCA per the CDC recommendations and have implemented the following policy as part of the new response plan — Visitors and/or guests to the YWCA are strictly prohibited at this time. Only participants, YWCA Bradford Staff & Board, first responders, and individuals necessary for the provision of services will be allowed entry,” said Angela Erway, Development & Marketing Director for the YWCA.
The YWCA sent out a press release Monday, letting people know the efforts underway to protect program participants and staff in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“At this time, no one knows how severe this outbreak will be, but obviously we are all concerned. The YWCA is taking proactive steps to address a number of our concerns.
First and foremost, we want to maintain a safe workplace and encourage and/or adopt practices protecting the health of employees, participants, visitors, etc,” the release stated “We also want to ensure the continuity of service operations in the event of a pandemic. In furtherance of these efforts, the YWCA Bradford has instituted numerous provisions, effective immediately. Additional steps may be taken as necessary if/when the situation worsens.”
Both staff and program participants are asked to assess themselves and those around them regularly, using a specified set of questions that cover the symptoms one would experience if suffering from Coronavirus (Fever, Sore Throat, Cough, Shortness of breath not related to another condition), overseas travel and the possibility of contact with someone infected with the virus; staff are to check for temperatures above 100.4 in anyone entering the shelter and efforts are to be made to further protect those who are already immunocompromised.
Cleaning protocols for the facility and enhanced efforts to keep participants practicing safe hygiene are two branches of the prevention efforts in play.
“A regular, deep cleaning of our facility is being completed, using bleach solutions to disinfect the high-traffic surfaces. We are also encouraging increased hygiene and cleaning practices, along with issuing hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies (Clorox wipes, disinfectant spray, etc.) to each department,” officials from the YWCA report.
All common surfaces are being wiped down regularly, participants are urged to wash hands regularly and often while scrubbing for at least 20 seconds each time and everyone is encouraged not to touch their face.
For those who begin to feel sick or exhibit symptoms, it is important to tell a supervisor as soon as possible; self-quarantine until seen by medical professional, then follow medical advice and/or CDC recommendations (self-quarantine of 2 weeks). This may not be a feasible idea at the shelter, however.
“Unfortunately, we are limited on space and utilize every square foot to its capacity in our shelter. The amount of ‘social distancing’ our shelter space allows for is not much different than the average person would experience at home,” Erway said. “Our Shelter staff are working diligently to keep the facility clean and inform our participants about COVID-19.”
The release notes the plan already in place in the event someone is suspected of having Coronavirus, “If someone within our shelter facility has mild respiratory symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection, they will be confined to individual rooms, when possible, and asked to avoid common areas. *If possible, designate a separate bathroom for sick clients with COVID-19 symptoms. *In areas where clients with respiratory illnesses are staying, beds will be kept at least 6 feet apart, when possible, and use of temporary barriers between beds, such as curtains, and request that all clients sleep head-to-toe. (We will designate one of our shelter spaces, either upstairs of our main building, or the Brown House next door, as the “quarantine shelter” IF someone within our shelter facility has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection. The location will most likely be determined by the infected participant’s bed location.)”
In the meantime, staff are working hard to keep program participants informed and help prevent disease spread as much as possible; signs have been posted at the entrances to share instruction on hygiene and proper etiquette when coughing and all staff who are showing symptoms will be encouraged to stay home or go home early if they begin exhibiting symptoms while at work.
