Full Notification

Date: March 23, 2020  5pm
To: All Businesses and Employees in Grant County
From: Grant County Health District
Subject: Health Officer Recommendations to Slow the Spread of COVID-19
 
COVID-19 is in Grant County and is not limited to specific communities, work sites, or people with positive test results.  Companies need to take steps to limit the spread of infection, both within their business and in the communities they work.
 
If employees have been given quarantine or isolation order, they must be followed.  Cooperation and compliance with a Health Officer directive is required in accordance with WAC 246-101-425 (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=246-101-425).  Non-compliance with the Health Officer's directive may constitute a violation of state law RCW 70.05.120 and WAC 246-110-020 (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=246-110-020).
 
The Grant County Health Officer is advising the following measures be implemented at all places of employment:
 

1. All employees should be screened for coronavirus symptoms each day and excluded if symptomatic.
   • Have a plan to screen employees or volunteers every day. CDC guidelines identify the key symptoms to watch for as fever, cough and shortness of breath.We have a symptom monitoring form that can be used on our website in both English and Spanish: http://granthealth.org/2019-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/
2. Social distancing recommendations must be met (i.e., limit contact of people within 6 feet from each other for 10 minutes or longer).
   • Establishments should ask themselves: how close will people be and for how long? Ensure that your business is organized in such way to avoid close contact between people as much as possible, including at areas used for breaks or where employees may gather. Washington Department of Health advises that “being within 6 feet of a sick person with COVID-19 for about 10 minutes” constitutes close contact which could result in exposure.
   • Consider: If your store’s traffic meets the DOH criteria above, what can you do to mitigate that? Possibilities may include setting limits on the number of people you allow in your business, marking out 6 –foot intervals with tape on the ground for lines, or moving to an app (such as waitlist.me, skiplino or others) that allows customers to queue in their cars.
3. It is recommended that all employees wear nose and mouth coverings such as a bandana or sewn mask at all times within the workplace.
4. CDC guidelines identify the key symptoms to watch for as fever, cough and shortness of breath.Signage should discourage attendance for any person who has these systems.There is a sign available on our website that can be put on doors in both English and Spanish: http://granthealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Regional_DoorPoster_3.20.pdf
5. Proper hand hygiene and sanitation must be readily available to all employees, volunteers, and visitors.
   • CDC recommends that people wash their hands often, and if soap and water is not readily available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, and to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.If handwashing is not available, provide easy access to hand sanitizer and hand sanitizer stations and request employees and customers to abide by personal hygiene recommendations.
6. Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces frequently and at least daily.
   • Ensure a clean and sanitary environment. Have employees disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, tables, desks, and handrails. Cleaning and sanitizing guidance can be found on our website: http://granthealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID-19-Janatorial-Guidance.pdf
7. Older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions that are at increased risk of serious COVID-19 are encouraged not to attend, including employees.
   • Employees in high risk groups could be separated from other employees when possible or given tasks that minimize their exposure to the general public.For groceries, banks, and other essential establishments, consider implementing dedicated times exclusively available for highly vulnerable populations to come to your business.

 
Grant County Health District thanks and commends all the businesses who have already implemented measures to slow the spread of COVID-19.    We know these measures are disruptive and inconvenient, but we are confident if we continue to carry out public health interventions together we will slow the spread of COVID-19 and help protect members of our community during this unprecedented time We are all in this together!
 
(some language adapted from Public Health Seattle-King County)
 
 

Instructions:

Continue to wash your hands and practice social distancing.