Prepare your facility or community

• Centers should review their infection prevention and control policies and procedures for droplet precautions among residents and staff. 
• Assemble your Emergency Preparedness and Operations teams and prepare strategically for a potential spread of the virus.
• Messaging to the people we serve is best received when the tone is calm, reassuring, and direct. It is important to emphasize both how the entire community is preparing, as well as how individuals can prepare at home.
• Create a communication plan for all stakeholders. 
  • The World Health Organization has a great Communications Package that you can download and use. 
  • AHCA/NCAL has a resource on communication plans here. 
  • Communication with resident families is especially important during this time. Download our sample letter that you can use to contact families with an update on your center or community by mail, email or posting on social media. 
  • Staff communication is also important. Our sample letter to employees can help you draft an email or letter for your own organization. 

What You Can Do Now

Follow everyday preventive actions such as:

• Washing your hands
• Using alcohol-based hand sanitizers
• Covering your cough
• Staying home when you are sick 

The CDC does not currently recommend the general public to use face masks. 

Centers should educate families and visitors on signs and symptoms of respiratory illness and encourage them to visit with loved ones through alternative means when they are ill, such as telephone, Skype, or wearing a mask during visits.

Prepare Staff

• It’s important that any staff who are sick stay home. CDC has detailed guidance on this here.
• Acknowledge the current situation and share only verified facts. 
• Refresh staff with reminder trainings on hand hygiene, proper use of personal protective equipment, and their responsibility to stay home when sick.
• Reassure staff that it is a similar approach to closures due to weather emergencies – something they are more familiar and comfortable with.

CDC Resources

• COVID-10 Information for Long Term Care Providers
• Healthcare Infection Control Guidelines
• Strategies for Optimizing Supply of N95 Respirators
• Clinical Care Guidance
• Evaluating and Reporting Persons Under Investigation (PUI)
• Healthcare Personnel with Potential COVID-19 Exposure
• Implementing Home Care of People Not Requiring Hospitalization
• Disposition of Non-Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19
• Interim Guidance for Collection and Submission of Postmortem Specimens from Deceased Persons Under Investigation (PUI) for COVID-19, February 2020