The main symptoms are fever, cough and shortness of breath but some people present with body aches, runny nose and diarrhea as well

• Maintain social distancing as much as possible (particularly from other family members of visitors)

• Wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds. Do it as often as possible

• Disinfect any surfaces such as countertops, door knobs, light switches and other commonly used areas of the house

• Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE such as gloves and a mask) in the situations described below

Following the Governor’s announcement on April 3rd that face coverings should be worn by the general public, we now require that our staff wear a face mask (surgical or cloth) on shift whenever possible. Masks will be provided by the office but you can also wear your own mask.

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As always, we cannot determine if you are well enough to come to work. Please call your doctor or HealthiestYou to make that determination in conjunction with your doctor.

​​​​​​If you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, you have several options: your doctor (PCP or HealthiestYou or urgent care) can refer you for testing or you can go to cvs.com and sign up for a free 15minute test at their site in the parking lot of Twin River Casino.

Additional information from the CDC: https://health.ri.gov/covid/testing/?mc_cid=fe3a38f8c8&mc_eid=fca68df9f8#positive

Please call the office to discuss options if you suspect you have been exposed.

Here are the general guidelines from the Department of Health:

• If you have been in close contact with someone who has symptoms of the disease but you are not sick, you can continue to work using PPE such as gloves and a mask.

• If you been in close contact with someone who has been confirmed to have COVID-19 but you are not sick, you are allowed to continue to work using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE such as gloves and a mask). However, your clients may not be comfortable with you providing care in this situation. You will likely be contacted by the Department of Health and a COVID test may be scheduled for you.

  • Once you are sick, you need to call the office immediately to discuss next steps.

Your doctor’s note will indicate your return to work date. If you are suspected to have COVID-19, your doctor’s return date will generally be at least 7 days after symptoms appeared but no less than 3 days after you show no symptoms.

Yes, our services are considered essential services and we are allowed to come into the home to provide care. The recommendation is to wear PPE (gloves and a mask).

• Try to put the PPE (gloves and mask) as soon as you enter the home or even before you enter the home, if possible

• Discard the PPE at the end of your shift ideally in the trash container outside the home

• If you need to take the PPE with you, place the PPE in a double bag and put it in the trunk of your car

Effective in early April, ClearCare is adding 4 questions to the clock in process both on telephony and the ClearCare Go app. Here is the guidance from ClearCare about this new process:

1. Have you or a member of your household been experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough, or shortness of breath?

2. Have you or a member of your household been out of the country within the last 14-18 days?

3. Have you or a member of your household been in close contact with anyone who has been tested, diagnosed or told by a medical professional they may have COVID-19?

4. Have you or a member of your household been in close contact with anyone who has traveled overseas or to a high-risk area within the last 14-18 days?

If the caregiver answers No to ALL 4 questions, they may start the shift as normal. If a caregiver answers Yes to ANY of the questions, they will be directed to contact your office for further guidance. A caregiver will receive this questionnaire once within a 24-hour period.

We are delivering new features to you as quickly as possible. The following functionality will be available soon:

• Link to questionnaire within the existing shift reminder email

• Questionnaire for telephony

These questions are intended to screen for any signs of sickness or other potential exposure and they are similar to the questions anyone would be asked when attempting to visit an Assisted Living facility, for example.

Our guidance to you is to think ahead and call us in the office as soon as possible if you believe you would need to answer Yes to any of those questions. If you do not call us ahead and you go to shift and then say Yes, we may have to pull you from the shift which would be very disruptive for the client and everyone involved.

We are encouraging clients and staff to limit car rides to an absolute minimum. However, a car ride may be required for an essential doctor’s visit. We would recommend wearing a mask (both for yourself and the client) for the duration of the car ride. We would also recommend that the car used should be disinfected before and after the car ride. Here are best practices for disinfecting the car:

• USE THE RIGHT TOOLS TO CLEAN YOUR VEHICLE

• The right disinfectants can kill the coronavirus so that it doesn't live on surfaces such as rubber, plastic, aluminum and leather. Most common household cleaners will work. We recommend keeping a tube of disinfectant wipes in your vehicle for regular use.

• Check to ensure that the cleaners you're using are safe for the surfaces in your car. Some disinfectants can dry out leather. A safer option would be to use a mild soap and water, then apply a leather conditioner to protect those surfaces. This option will not kill germs as well as harsher disinfectants, but it will greatly reduce them and help prevent spread.

• FOCUS ON AREAS THAT ARE FREQUENTLY TOUCHED

• The main areas that need to be cleaned are obvious. Anything inside the car that your fingers touch should be cleaned: the steering wheel, gear shifter, lane change and windshield wiper stalks, door handles, radio knobs, infotainment controllers, storage bins and seat belts. The CDC recommends cleaning touched surfaces daily.

• One other area might not be so immediately evident: The top of the dashboard is a prime spot for harboring such microorganisms, according to Charles P. Gerba, a professor of microbiology and public health at the University of Arizona. Recirculating air swirls up against the windshield and sticks to the dash, where it can be distributed throughout the cabin, Gerba said. Cleaning that spot reduces risk.

For up to date information, please visit the Rhode Island Department of Health’s website at https://health.ri.gov/diseases/ncov2019/