COVID-19

Important Resources

CDC Guidance for Risk Assessment & Public Health Management & Healthcare Personnel CDC Guidance for EMS Systems and 911 Public Safety Answering Points Public Health Management Decision Making  Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers  Coronavirus and Workers' Compensation     COVID-19 Webinar PowerPoint 3-17-20   Respiratory Protection Program - Fire   Respiratory Protection Program - Police   Respiratory Protection Program - Public Works   Alternate Respiratory Protection for Healthcare and First Responders-Filtering Facepiece and Elastomeric Respirators   Decontamination of Qualitative Fit Testing   Decontamination of Quantitative Fit Testing  Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce  COVID-19 Concerned & Testing  COVID-19 Confirmed or Suspected  COVID-19 Potentially Exposed  FEMA Letter  COVID Bulletin   Public Assistance Program Fact Sheet  Eligible Emergency Protective Measures - Fact Sheet

Steps you can take now to minimize risk of transmission at work:

• Encourage employees to utilize sick time benefits and remain home if they or family members are sick

• Exercise flexibility with the employer sick leave policy

• Empower your supervisors to send employees home who exhibit symptoms

• Consider offering leave to those that the CDC has identified as having the highest risk of contraction if potential for exposure is likely

• Educate your employees about COVID-19, its symptoms, and the potential health concerns associated with any travel at this time

• Request supervisors stay in greater contact with employees that have travelled or will be travelling to a high-risk area for COVID-19

• Talk with companies that provide your business with contract services about the importance of sick employees staying home

• Have a single point of contact for employees and community members to reach for all concerns that arise relating to their health and safety

If an employee notifies you that they are infected, have been exposed, or are exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19:

• Once notified of an exposure, employers should send the employee home right away until they can be medically cleared

• Notify other employees that there may be risk of exposure and to monitor and report any signs of symptoms consistent with COVID-19

Hygiene practices you can follow to minimize risk of transmission at work:

• Post signs in every washroom, break room, and common area directing frequent hand washing should occur with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

• Provide extra alcohol-based hand sanitizers and cleaners for more frequent disinfecting throughout the day

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands

• Teleconference in lieu of meeting in person with large groups in close quarters, if possible

• Cancel business and social events; especially those involving shared food or individuals congregating in close proximity

First Responders and Public Works:

• Wear personal protective equipment, such as gloves and goggles, if touching or working where risk of exposure could occur

• Any respiratory protective equipment should be issued in accordance with the employer’s respiratory protection program

• Empower your first responders to take precautions when they are aware of potential exposures

• Follow updates from the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding additional precautions for healthcare workers

• Create contingency plans for the instance of excessive staff shortages by securing contracted services or mutual aid agreements for activities such as snow and ice control and emergency response

• Instruct dispatchers to make inquiries necessary to assess potential exposure so first responders can adequately prepare

Prepare for Media:

• The public has an interest in monitoring this situation, but infection of a public employee is of particular concern because of the public contact we have. Be sure to be ready to proactively inform the public and the media if an employee is quarantined or infected.