PROTOCOL FOR THE OFFERING OF COMMUNITY OUTINGS FOR INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN CENTER CERTIFIED RESIDENCES

EFFECTIVE JULY 24, 2020

The Center acknowledges its responsibility to provide and maintain all appropriate protections for the individuals we serve during the current Covid emergency, while also recognizing the need to insure that all capable individuals experience their community in safe and appropriate ways.

In order to most effectively address these issues, the following protocol will be followed, effective 7/24/2020:

  1. Individuals shall not participate in community outings if any individual or staff member working in the home is suspected or confirmed positive for COVID-19;
  2. Any person who had close or proximate contact to a confirmed positive individual within the last 14 days, or any person experiencing symptom(s) consistent with COVID-19, must not participate in a community outing;
  3. The number of individuals permitted in a community outing shall be within the discretion of the facility, based on the ability to maintain safety, but should be as small as possible.
  4. Groups shall include no more than 10 people, inclusive of staff members, and should only include individuals with which they have regular contact (e.g. roommates or housemates);
  5. Low risk, outdoor activities are encouraged whenever possible;
  6. Community outings to stores, outdoor restaurants, salons, etc., should be extremely limited in frequency and duration and must abide by the capacity limitations of such locations;
  7. Planned recreational community outings should be limited to one location per day for any individual participating;
  8. Hands should be washed/sanitized immediately prior to leaving the home and immediately upon return to the home;
  9. Staff must bring hand sanitizer and ensure all individuals are washing and/or sanitizing hands throughout the community outing, whenever surfaces such as door handles, counters, public benches, and store shelves are touched;
  10. Social distancing principles must be adhered to, to the greatest extent possible;
  11. Face coverings shall be brought on public outings and individuals must be encouraged to wear the covering at all times. Everyone who is medically able to tolerate a mask must wear one when unable to maintain social distancing;
  12. There should be no unnecessary interaction with other members of the public while on a community outing; and;
  13. When planning outings, staff should be aware of the current lack of public restroom facilities;
  14. Individuals who participate in community outings without staff present must be provided with hand sanitizer and a face covering and should understand the risks and obligations of public exposure, as well as the expectations regarding reporting as outlined below.
  15. Community outings that require agency transportation to and from a location shall adhere to all agency vehicle-related infection control measures.
  16. Only individuals and staff from the same facility should be transported together;
  17. Capacity on buses, vans, and other vehicles should be reduced to 50% of total capacity;
  18. To the greatest extent possible, individuals and staff should restrict close contact by not sitting near each other or the driver.
  19. To the extent individuals can medically tolerate a face covering, individuals, staff, and the driver must wear face coverings at all times in the vehicle. Staff who cannot medically tolerate the use of a face covering should not be assigned to transport individuals;
  20. After each trip is completed, the interior of the vehicle should be thoroughly sanitized and disinfected before additional individuals are transported.
  21. Where appropriate and safe, windows should be rolled down to permit air flow.
  22. A community outing log must be completed regarding every community outing taken from the home.
  23. Community outing logs must contain the following information:

    The names of all individuals and staff members who participate in each community outing throughout the day;

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    Confirmation that each person passed the daily health screen and temperature check prior to the outing;

     

    The location, including address, where the community outing occurred;

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    The times the outing started and ended;

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    The transportation that was used for each outing, where applicable;

     

    and any additional notes that are relevant or may inform increased precaution on future outings.  

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