Coronavirus

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Guidance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is responding to an outbreak of a respiratory disease caused by a new Coronavirus that was first detected in China and has spread internationally, including within the United States. The virus has been named SARS-CoV-2 and it causes the disease known as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic as the number of infected countries continues to grow.

The virus is thought to spread mainly from person to person, between people who are in close contact with one another (about 6 feet), and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Current symptoms reported for patients with COVID-19 have included mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Symptoms will typically appear 2-14 days after exposure.

Older adults and people with underlying medical conditions such as heart or lung disease may be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19. It is important to note that a person may contract COVID-19 and not display any symptoms (asymptomatic). However, they are still capable of spreading the disease to others.

Monitor your local and state public health sources to understand COVID-19 activity in your community. If there is a transmission of COVID-19 in the community, consult with public health authorities for guidance.

The CDC has a dedicated website for COVID-19 available here.

Guidance and Resources for Housing Organizations

To prevent stigma and discrimination in the workplace, use only the guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to determine the risk of COVID-19. Do not make determinations of risk based on the race or country of origin. If an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19, employers should inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

There are simple steps your organization should take to help prevent the spread of the novel Coronavirus within your workplace.

• Manage the spread of germs in the workplace. Implement simple measures such as frequent washing of hands and proper cough etiquette. Place posters or flyers throughout your buildings and offices to promote hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. Consider communicating this information during business meetings and posting on company intranets to spread awareness.
• Perform routine cleaning. Surfaces (i.e., desks and tables) and objects (i.e., doorknobs and telephones) must be cleaned with disinfectant regularly. Provide hand sanitizers and disinfectants (i.e., Lysol) throughout buildings and offices, community areas, in company vehicles, etc. to help with preventing the spread of germs.
• Actively encourage employees to stay home if they have symptoms of acute respiratory illness. Sick employees should remain at home until they are free of fever (100.4° F or higher), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever or symptom-reducing medications.
• Prepare for possible increased employee absenteeism due to illness. Cross-train staff to ensure the continuation of critical business functions. Test out telecommunicating plans to ensure they work as anticipated. Consider absences with services providers such as utilities, transportation, and trash removal; secure alternative vendors if necessary.
• Advise employees to consult national travel advice before going on business trips. Based on the latest information provided by the WHO and CDC, your organization should assess the benefits and risks related to upcoming travel plans.

Preparing your Business in the Event COVID-19 Arrives in Your Community

• Develop a plan of what to do if someone becomes ill with suspected COVID-19 in your workplace.
  • The plan should cover putting the ill individual in a room or area where they are isolated from others in the workplace, limiting the number of people who have contact with them, and contacting the local health authorities.
  • Identify others who may be at risk. This may include persons who have recently traveled to an area with confirmed cases or other personnel with underlying conditions that put them at higher risk of serious illness (i.e., older age, heart, and lung disease, diabetes).
  • Notify your local public health authority and seek their input.
• Promote telecommuting across your organization. If there is an outbreak of COVID-19 in your community, the health authorities may advise people to avoid public transport and crowded places. Telecommuting will help keep your business operating while ensuring the safety of employees.
• Develop and/or review business continuity plans.
  • The plan should address how to keep your business running in the event a significant number of employees, contractors, and service providers are not able to report to your business- either due to local travel restrictions or because they are ill.
  • Communicate the plan to employees and key stakeholders to ensure they are aware of their expectations and duties.
  • Develop partnerships with local health and social service providers- these organizations may be able to assist and provide guidance and support in developing and executing your plan.
• Understand the potential legal liability associated with employee and/or residential exposure to individuals with confirmed COVID-19.

If you have a resident(s) with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 (including those under investigation), their healthcare provider and public health staff will evaluate whether they can be cared for at home. If it is determined that they do not need to be hospitalized and can be isolated at home, they will be monitored by local state or health department staff. CDC has developed interim guidance for preventing the spread of COVID-19 in homes and residential communities. The most updated information is available here.

CDC advises individuals to notify their healthcare providers that they have or may have COVID-19. This will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed. In the event of a medical emergency and the need to call 911, individuals should notify the dispatch personnel that they have, or are being evaluated for COVID-19. If possible, they should wear a facemask before emergency medical services arrive.

Organizations should be following the same cleaning procedures for suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 as they would for any other airborne infectious disease. Consider hiring a professional biohazard cleanup company specializing in communicable disease disinfection services to ensure adequate elimination of the virus.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Guidance for Employers

Despite the low risk of exposure in most job sectors, some workers in the United States may have exposure to infectious people, including travelers who contracted COVID-19 abroad. OSHA standards, including those for personal protective equipment (PPE, 29 CFR 1910.132) and respiratory protection (29 CFR 1910.134), requires employers to assess the hazards to which their workers may be exposed. Read more on OSHA guidance for recognizing and controlling exposures among workers with risk, or download OSHA’s Guidance on preparing Workplaces for COVID-19.

We've compiled a list of external resources from reputable agencies that are beneficial for the housing industry. Please refer to the below web links for additional information and guidance:

• CDC Daily Life and Coping During a COVID-19 Outbreak
• CDC Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to COVID-19
• CDC Guidance for Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Homes and Residential Communities 
• CDC Recommendation Regarding the Use of Cloth Face Coverings
• CDC Resources for Homeless Shelters
• CDC Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators: Crisis/Alternate Strategies
• CDC Testing Guidance for COVID-19 and Virtual Self-Checker
• EEOC Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the ADA
• Federal COVID-19 Guidance
• International Association of Fire Fighters COVID-19 Symptom Monitoring Tracker
• OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 
• OSHA Guidance on In-Home Repair Services
• OSHA Guidance on Protecting Cleaning Staff
• Seattle & King County Public Health Guidance for Organizations Housing Older Adults in the Community
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Guide for Emergency Loans
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) COVID-19 Guidance
• WHO Guidance for Getting your Workplace Ready for COVID-19