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Identifying Potential Cases of COVID-19
Identifying Potential Cases of COVID-19
There are a broad selection of symptoms that are associated with COVID-19. Many of those symptoms are commonly experienced in our Program environment. We must prioritise the safety of the community and our entire team through our actions. To balance these factors, the following process has been determined.
Possible and Likely Cases
Possible and Likely Cases
Possible case:
Any person who reports less than three (3) symptoms which the CDC associate with COVID-19 and are symptoms which are not uncommon for the individual or within our environment and are not on the list of “main symptoms” defined by the NHS, is less likely to have COVID-19.
In this situation, we will place the possible case into supported isolation, but will advise close contacts to practice “heightened awareness”.
Likely case:
Any person who experiences any of the “main symptoms”, as defined by the NHS, or who have more than three (3) of any symptoms listed by the CDC, or who have a positive COVID-19 test, or are contacted by external contact tracing to instruct them to isolate will be considered a “confirmed case”.
In this situation, we will place the likely case into supported isolation, and place close contacts into quarantine.
Isolation and Quarantine Process
Isolation and Quarantine Process
Requirements for Communicating a Suspected or Confirmed Case of COVID-19
Requirements for Communicating a Suspected or Confirmed Case of COVID-19
What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws:
The ADA requires that an employer keep all medical information about employees confidential, even if that information is not about a disability. Clearly, the information that an employee has symptoms of, or a diagnosis of, COVID-19, is medical information. But the fact that this is medical information does not prevent the manager from reporting to appropriate employer officials so that they can take actions consistent with guidance from the CDC and other public health authorities.
Within the context above, volunteers can be considered “employees” and these guidelines apply for all programs domestically and internationally.
Who in the organization needs to know the identity of the employee or volunteer?
Limit number of persons in organization to know the name of employee/volunteer affected.
Staff on duty or person information reported to in the organization
Organization representative to perform contact tracing and assisting in organizational covid protocol response.
Local health department if applicable
The ADA does not interfere with organization representative gathering information for contact tracing purposes and informing contacts of possible contact without revealing identification of employee/volunteer.
In smaller settings, co-workers/volunteers may be able to figure out identity but an employer cannot confirm or reveal identification of employee/volunteer affected.
Those in the organization designated as “need to know” must maintain confidentiality in all communications.
Communication external to “need to know” representatives shall maintain confidentiality when discussing cases using generic or nondescript language.
For example of a suspected case:
Person A (non-identifying characteristics and no names) was isolated utilizing our Covid-19 response protocol.
Other individuals in the bubble and identified close contacts have been notified. Those on program have been quarantined within bubble structure or moved to quarantine accommodations off base.
All individuals on program will be supported throughout isolation and quarantine by providing food, communication devices, support services, etc.
Testing was completed/scheduled for Person A.
This nondescript language provides action steps without compromising confidentiality of isolated and quarantined individuals, even though that information may be able to be deciphered, the organization is not confirming identity or revealing confidential information to those outside the “need to know” structure.
The need to know structure should be utilized when communicating in different forms of communication to include but not limited to email, text, and phone.
Covid-19 reports generated in Intelex will have restricted access.
Heightened Awareness, Supported Isolation & Quarantine
Heightened Awareness, Supported Isolation & Quarantine
Isolation should be completed safely, swiftly and effectively. Once in isolation, we should offer a high level of support (whilst protecting ourselves) and take all available actions to end any isolation as soon as it is safe to do so (this assumes an available level of testing).
If isolation is the result of an individual reporting symptoms or as the result of an external isolation order due to contract tracing, the named individual should be isolated individually in appropriate accommodation. In addition, the relevant bubble and internal close-contacts, may be asked to practice "heightened awareness", or be quarantined.
“Heightened awareness”
Heightened awareness entails:
Use of masks wherever possible
Increase awareness and reduction of building close contacts
Actions to limit exposure to the community
Prioritise work which carried out on AHAH premises
Only critical access to the community (restricted to base)
Supported Isolation
Any individual who reports symptoms, or is a close-contact of a confirmed case should be isolated offsite. It will be assumed the likely or confirmed case has the virus and great care will be taken to prioritise the safety of our entire team.
We will offer the confirmed or likely case supported isolation - whereby All Hands and Hearts will provide food, accommodation, communication devices and access to mental health support services, for the duration of any required isolation.
We will ask the individual to complete a COVID-19 test as soon as it is safe to do so. The duration of isolation will be in line with the latest guidance from the CDC.
Supported Quarantine
Any individuals who share their bubble with the confirmed case, and any known close-contacts will be assumed these people may have been exposed to the virus.
If any person in quarantine reports symptoms, they should be swiftly and safely moved to supported isolation.
Using the tools from our Contract Tracing control measures, we will establish a list of those who had had close contact with the person who has the virus, within the previous 14 days. We will contact each of these people, notify them of the potential exposure and advise them to act in accordance with their local regulations, which will commonly require a 14 day quarantine period.
If the secondary contacts remain in our program, we will follow the Isolation and Quarantine process and place individuals into supported quarantine as required. All Hands and Hearts will provide food, accommodation, communication devices and access to mental health support services, for the duration of any required quarantine. The duration of quarantine will be in line with the latest guidance from the CDC.
Authority with Regard to Isolation & Quarantine
Authority with Regard to Isolation & Quarantine
The Program Director holds the authority for deciding the immediate actions when a possible or likely case is reported.
The COVID Coordinator (Stacie Scott) & Director of Health Safety & Security (Rich Evans) have the authority to guide and support the Program Director and the relevant Operations Management team through the process.
The Crisis Management Team hold authority once there is a confirmed case of COVID-19.
Isolation & Quarantine Periods
Isolation & Quarantine Periods
The below chart is based on advice from the CDC. This chart should mirror any changes in the CDC advice.
The CDC Option to Reduce Quarantine will be utilized where local authorities allow.
Per Program Response Plan
Per Program Response Plan
Each program will produce a customised response plan. A template can be found here.
Each plan will follow the same basic process, as described in the Practical Guide:
Alert, pause and assess
Isolate
Quarantine
Test
Outcomes
That plan must account for the following factors:
The Program Response Plan must ensure that any reports of symptoms of COVID, or notifications from external contract tracing, are escalated to a member of staff with the utmost urgency.
The staff member that receives this notification is responsible for the matter being immediately addressed.
Any “suspected case” will be placed into supported isolation, but will advise close contacts to practice “heightened awareness”.
Any “confirmed case” will be placed into supported isolation and close contacts will be quarantined.
All Program operations should be paused until the Director of Health, Safety and Security is consulted and the situation investigated. This could be up to 48 hours.
Program operations can only resume on the advice of the CMT when dealing with a confirmed case.
The Director of Health, Safety and Security will escalate to the Crisis Management Team (CMT) in the event of a confirmed case.
The CMT will meet within 12 hours of notification, the relevant members of the Operations Management Team and the local Program Director will be included in the CMT calls.
Relevant Operations Director, Managers and Program Directors will be temporarily added to the CMT.
Feedback should be sought from as many sources as possible - staff, volunteers, community leaders, local authorities & beneficiaries and included to the CMT calls.
Isolation Self-release Form
Isolation Self-release Form
If someone demands to leave isolation, or quarantine, we will have them complete this form: Example form. Notify the CMT in this situation.
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