Embedded Files
CONTENTS
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 prioritize the safety of the community and our entire team through our actions. To balance these factors, the following process has been determined, using guidance from the UK and US health authorities.
Vaccinated and Un-vaccinated Individuals
Vaccinated and Un-vaccinated Individuals
The response to COVID-19 cases may differ depending on the vaccination status of the individuals involved.
Vaccinated Individual:
A fully vaccinated individual has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines including any booster dose(s) when eligible, and at least two weeks have elapsed since the final dose.
Un-vaccinated Individual:
An un-vaccinated individual is anyone that the above classification does not apply to.
Symptoms and Close Contacts
Symptoms and Close Contacts
Symptoms
People with COVID-19 can report a wide range of symptoms, and the severity can range from mild to severe. The CDC have identified a list of more common symptoms, and the NHS have highlighted the 3 main symptoms. Symptoms may also include those commonly associated with a cold. A detailed list is below:
High Temperature
New Continuous Cough
Loss of Sense of Taste / Smell
Chills / Night Sweats
Shortness of Breath or Difficulty Breathing
Sore or Scratchy Throat
Nausea / Vomiting
Diarrhea
Unexplained Muscle Aches
Congestion, Runny Nose and / or Sneezing
Unusually Easily Fatigued
Unexplained Headaches
These lists are not exhaustive, so if an individual is experiencing symptoms, they should be isolated and PCR tested. A PCR test remains the 'gold standard' for confirmation of COVID-19. A negative rapid test should not be taken as final confirmation that someone with symptoms is negative for COVID-19.
Close Contacts
All close contacts of a positive case will be informed as soon as possible. Vaccinated individuals (which should be all program staff and volunteers) will be asked to closely monitor their symptoms, as well as potentially undergoing increased rapid testing.
Any un-vaccinated close contacts (e.g. local vendors / contractors) will also be provided with access to testing, and asked to closely monitor their symptoms as they could be at heightened risk. In some circumstances, they may be required to quarantine, and will be fully supported through that process.
If any close contact subsequently develops symptoms or tests positive, they will be immediately isolated separately and PCR-tested.
Supported Isolation & Quarantine
Supported Isolation & Quarantine
Supported Isolation:
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).
All Hands and Hearts will provide food, accommodation, communication devices and access to mental health support services, for the duration of any required isolation.
The duration of isolation is 6 days, as long as the individual is symptom-free and has tested negative (using rapid tests, NOT PCR) on Day 5 & Day 6. This is in line with current research on the length of infection, and takes into account the unique environments in which we work. If local restrictions are more strict, they will take precedence.
Did you know? 'Day 0' is the day the individual first experienced symptoms and was isolated, OR the day of a positive test for someone who is asymptomatic.
Supported Quarantine:
Any un-vaccinated individuals who have been identified as close contacts of a positive case could be placed into supported quarantine if circumstances require it.
For the duration of any required quarantine, All Hands and Hearts will provide food, accommodation, communication devices and access to mental health support services. The duration of quarantine will be in accordance with medical guidance and local restrictions.
If any person in quarantine reports symptoms and/or subsequently returns a positive COVID-19 test, they will be immediately moved to supported isolation, and will start that section of the response protocol. If they return a positive test, the quarantine timeline may need to restart for the remaining close contacts due to the exposure to a positive case.
Isolation and Quarantine Process Flowchart
Isolation and Quarantine Process Flowchart
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.
Identified close contacts have been notified. Unvaccinated close contacts have been placed into supported quarantine, and all contacts have been asked to closely monitor their symptoms.
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.
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 Director of Health Safety & Security (Rich Evans) has 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.
Per Program Response Plan
Per Program Response Plan
Each program will produce a customised response plan. A template can be found here.
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 likely and/or confirmed cases will be placed into supported isolation. Close contacts can be placed into quarantine if the situation requires it.
The Ops Director & Director of Health, Safety and Security should be consulted at the earliest opportunity, and the situation investigated to determine if there is any additional risk.
The Director of Health, Safety and Security will escalate to the Crisis Management Team (CMT) in the event of a confirmed case.
In the event of a more serious incident (e.g. multiple cases that overwhelm resources), CMT may pause program operations. This is likely to be communicated through the Director of Health, Safety & Security. Operations can only resume on the advice of the CMT.
Feedback should be sought from as many sources as possible - staff, volunteers, community leaders, local authorities & beneficiaries, to strengthen our protocols in the future.
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.
Ensure CMT have been notified.
Page updated
Report abuse