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OE's COVID-19 Response Information

Update as of 7/1/2023

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VACCINATIONS

The CMS (Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services) Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Final Rule is no longer in effect.  All employees and regular volunteers do not need to have the COVID-19 vaccination. We will still educate employees on the vaccine upon hire.

How to care for someone with COVID:

 

Current evidence suggests that the main way COVID-19 spreads is by respiratory droplets among people who are in close contact with each other, such as coughing, sneezing, talking, or breathing.  The virus spreads when these respiratory droplets get into the mouth, nose or eyes of people who are in direct or close contact with an infected person. The virus can also spread after infected people sneeze, cough on, or touch surfaces, or objects, such as tables, doorknobs and handrails. Other people may become infected by touching these contaminated surfaces, then touching their eyes, noses or mouths without having cleaned their hands first.

 

Tips for taking care of someone with COVID-19:

  1. Manage symptoms:

    1. Fever- Give Tylenol- cool washcloths to the forehead

    2. Cough- Cough Syrup- Propping their head up can help

    3. Shortness of breath- Give nebs as ordered, monitor oxygen closely

    4. Body aches- Tylenol

    5. Diarrhea- Antidiarrheal medication

    6. Upset stomach- bland foods

    7. Headache- Tylenol/Ibuprofen

    8. Fatigue- let them rest

    9. Sore throat- Tylenol/Ibuprofen

  2. Remember that Tylenol/Ibuprofen can only be given as frequently as ordered. 

  3. Push fluids, we don’t want them to get dehydrated. **Do not give more fluids than ordered if they are on a fluid restriction**

  4. Let them rest as much as possible. 

  5. Monitor vitals closely and notify nursing if vitals are outside of range. 

 

Monitor clients for any of the following emergency warning signs.  If someone is showing any of these signs, the client is requiring emergency medical care immediately:

*Trouble breathing

*Persistent pain or pressure in the chest

*New confusion

*Inability to wake client

*Bluish lips or face

 

Tips for the COVID-19 caregiver:

  1. Wash hands frequently

  2. Wear gloves at all times when providing client care or when touching anything that may have respiratory droplets on it.

  3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth

  4. Staff should eat in a room that is considered clean (Med room, or somewhere where the client has not been). Wash your hands before you eat.

  5. Clean and disinfect “high-touch” surfaces often: This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks, and electronics.

  6. Do not shake dirty laundry- clothes/linens, towels, etc.                 

  7. Make sure the room has good air flow.  Open the window to increase air circulation if weather permits.  Improving ventilation helps remove respiratory droplets from the air.

  8. Monitor yourself for symptoms

 

The PPE recommended when caring for a patient with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 includes the following:

  1. N95 face mask

  2. Eye protection (goggles or face shield)

  3. Gloves

  4. Gowns

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE CDC INFO SHEET FOR DSPs.

Common signs of COVID-19 infection can include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.  In order to keep everyone safe, if a client of OE is experiencing any of those symptoms please keep them home and do not send them to a Day or Respite programs.  Please inform their Program Specialist or QIDP of these symptoms so we can also monitor those they have come in contact with. 

 

Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include:

  • Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

  • Avoid touching face

  • Cough, sneeze into shoulder or arm

  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

  • Limit close contact with others as much as possible (e.g., shaking hands)

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UPDATE AS OF 5/11/2023

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VACCINATIONS

All employees and regular volunteers are required to have the COVID-19 vaccination. Exemptions can be made for religious or medical reasons. Those who are exempt from the vaccination will continue to self-administer a COVID-19 test once a week. This requirement will remain active until the CMS (Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services) Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Final Rule is no longer in effect.

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UPDATE AS OF 8/12/22: 

 

MASKS

Masks are recommended to be worn for 10 days after you have had a close encounter with someone who has COVID-19. 

 

COVID-19 Questionnaire

Employees, clients, contractors and visitors must complete a COVID-19 Questionnaire each day before entering an OE facility or reporting for work if they are experiencing symptoms similar to those that occur with COVID-19.  

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VACCINATIONS

Opportunity Enterprises requires vaccinations for all employees, contractors, interns and regular volunteers in response to the CMS Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Interim Final Rule. Exemptions for medical or religious beliefs can be requested. Employees who are exempt from vaccination will undergo weekly COVID-19 testing.

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UPDATE AS OF 4/20/22: 

 

MASKS

Masks are optional when in OE facilities. 

 

COVID-19 Questionnaire

Employees, clients, contractors and visitors must complete a COVID-19 Questionnaire each day before entering an OE facility or reporting for work if they are experiencing symptoms similar to those that occur with COVID-19.  

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VACCINATIONS

Opportunity Enterprises requires vaccinations for all employees, contractors, interns and regular volunteers in response to the CMS Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Interim Final Rule. Exemptions for medical or religious beliefs can be requested. Employees who are exempt from vaccination will undergo weekly COVID-19 testing.

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CONTACT TRACING

Opportunity Enterprises will complete contact tracing when a positive case of COVID-19 is reported. Anyone believed to have been in close contact will be contacted. 

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UPDATE AS OF 8/13/21: 

 

MASKS

Masks are required when within 6 ft of another individual, walking through a program, or in a hallway.

 

Vaccinated Individuals: If you are in a small group setting and everyone in that space is vaccinated, you may choose to remove your masks and not physically distance. If unvaccinated individuals are in the group, everyone should maintain a physical distance of at least 6ft from each other.

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COVID-19 Questionnaire

Employees, clients and visitors must complete a COVID-19 Questionnaire each day before entering an OE facility or reporting for work.  

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UPDATE AS OF 6/7/21: 

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MASKS

Masks are required when in large group settings while clients are present. 

 

Day Programs – Masks required for staff and strongly encouraged by clients who are able to wear them.

 

Simply Amazing Market - Masks required for staff and strongly encouraged by clients who are able to wear them.

 

Simply Amazing Market, Meijer - OE employees are to follow the protocol of the Meijer employees.

 

SecureShred –

While at Evans Ave in SecureShred location – masks for the purpose of COVID-19 prevention is optional for all employees.

 

While on a truck – Since physical distancing is not possible, if one person in the truck is not vaccinated, then every employee must wear a mask. If employees on a truck are vaccinated, masks are not required.

 

At a customer site – OE employees are to follow the protocol of the business/building that you are in.

 

OutSource Solutions – Masks required for staff and strongly encouraged by clients who are able to wear them.

 

JobSource – Masks required for staff when meeting one-on-one with a client and strongly encouraged by clients who are able to wear them.  When on the site of another business, OE employees are to follow the protocol of the business/building that they are in.

 

Clean Team – Masks required for staff when they are in a room where clients are present.  When on the site of another business, OE employees are to follow the protocol of the business/building that they are in.

 

Employee Offices, Cubicles and Meetings – If you are in a space where no clients are present and everyone in that meeting is vaccinated, you may choose to remove your masks and not physical distance. If unvaccinated individuals are in the group, everyone should maintain a physical distance of at least 6ft from each other.

 

DAY PROGRAMS

Directors may choose if they wish to continue using one way signs on the floors.

 

MASKS

If you are in a space where no clients are present and everyone in that meeting is vaccinated, you may choose to remove your masks and not physically distance. If unvaccinated individuals are in the group, everyone should maintain a physical distance of at least 6ft from each other.

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UPDATE AS OF 4/17/21: 

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All visitors to an OE program or facility will be required to complete a COVID-19 questionnaire prior to entry, and will be required to wear a mask when within 6-ft of another individual. 

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UPDATE AS OF 3/16/21: 

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Due to the recent increase in cases and large number of people quarantined, we have decided to temporarily close all day programs.

 

Enriching Possibilities, Daily Living Skills, Renewed Horizons

March 17th – March 29th all day programs offered at the Lakeside facility will be closed

Tuesday, March 30th all day programs at the Lakeside facility will reopen

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QUEST 

March 15th - March 26th QUEST will be closed 

March 29th QUEST will reopen

 

TREND

March 15th, TREND will only serve non-residential clients

March 16 - March 26th TREND will be closed

Monday 29th TREND will reopen   

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UPDATE AS OF 3/15/21: 

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Due to the recent increase in cases and large number of people quarantined, we have decided to temporarily close QUEST and TREND.  

 

QUEST 

March 15th - March 26th QUEST will be closed 

March 29th QUEST will reopen

 

TREND

March 15th, TREND will only serve non-residential clients

March 16 - March 26th TREND will be closed

Monday 29th TREND will reopen   

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UPDATE AS OF 3/12/21: 

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QUEST Day Program will be open only for OE Residential clients

  • Program will re-open to serve all clients on Monday, March 22nd. 

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UPDATE AS OF 1/13/21: 

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Day Programs 

  • Re-opening on Monday January 18th, 2021. 

Enrichment Programs

  • Limited offerings will be available on a case-by-case basis. 

Respite

  • Re-opening on Monday January 18th, 2021. 

OutSource Solutions, SecureShred, and the Simply Amazing Market

  • Re-opening on Monday January 18th, 2021.

Vocational Training Program: E-recycling

  • Re-opening on Monday January 18th, 2021.

 

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UPDATE AS OF 11/23/2020:

 

Day Programs (including Enrichment)

  • Remain closed through January 15th, 2021

Respite

  • Remain closed through January 15th, 2021

OutSource Solutions, SecureShred, and the Simply Amazing Market 

  • Not employing clients December 24th - January 15th, 2021  

Vocational Training Program: E-recycling

  • Will begin as scheduled on November 30th (with heightened safety protocols)

JobSource, Pre-ETS, and Clean Team

  • Operating as scheduled.  Will continue to assess on a case-by-case basis. 

Transportation

  • Continue to provide Demand Response services to serve our community. 

 

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UPDATE AS OF 11/18/2020:

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Opportunity Enterprises will temporarily suspend respite services. Respite will not be serving clients:

  •  beginning Friday November 20th at 4:00 through Sunday, November 29.

 

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UPDATE AS OF 11/8/2020

 

  • Beginning Monday, 11/9/20 

    • QUEST, Trend, Daily Living Skills and Enriching Possibilities will only be available for NON-OE Residential Clients 

    • Renewed Horizons is closed

   

  • Beginning Wednesday, 11/11/20

    • All Day Programs are closed for all clients

 

 

  • Beginning Monday, 11/30/20

    • Planned reopen date for all day programs. Please check back for more information as it becomes available.  

 

 

As of now, all other programs, departments, and services will operate as scheduled.  

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UPDATE AS OF 10/23/20

  • Programs will re-open as planned on Monday October 26th: 

    • All OE residential clients will return to Day Programs

    • Trend and OutSource Solutions will re-open

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UPDATE AS OF 10/9/2020:

  • Out of an abundance of caution, OE is proactively closing the TREND and Outsource programs until October 26, 2020. This is due in part to the number of staff and clients who have been asked to quarantine due to possible exposure to COVID-19 and the uptick in COVID-like symptons exhibited by some clients and staff.

 

  • Additionally, in order to keep the numbers of people in and out low, clients in our residential care will not be attending any day program service for the same period. We will continue to provide ongoing care in the homes.

 

  • Finally, we will be implementing a check-in questionnaire system for Respite and our on-site programs to evaluate each person's current condition prior to entry.

 

Thank you for your diligence in keeping our family of clients and staff healthy during this challenge.

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