The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE), Denver’s local public health department, continues to coordinate with local, State, and Federal agencies as well as other local partners to provide accurate information to the public and service providers like you about COVID-19. We are augmenting City response plans for COVID-19 and taking measures to reduce local transmission, share resources, and provide accurate communication. The health risks appear to be very similar to flu, which impacts many people each year.
Considerations specific to the settings where you provide services that can be implemented today and maintained in your programs include the following:
- Encourage staff, residents, and guests to wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after going to the bathroom, blowing their nose, coughing or sneezing into hands, and especially before eating. Post the attached handwashing signage at the entrance of your facility and in visible locations in restrooms, eating areas, and other common areas.
- Screen and exclude any staff or visitor experiencing the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Chills, body aches, sore throat, headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, runny nose
- Screen and exclude any visitor with recent travel to a country or region where community spread of COVID-19 is occurring (refer to CDC for this list Recent travel to a country or region where community spread of COVID-19 is occurring (refer to CDC for this list)
- Limit the number of visitors for residents to 2 per day.
- Residents experiencing the symptoms listed above shall be isolated per facility’s infectious disease protocol.
- Ensure visitors and staff are excluded from work while ill with respiratory symptoms.
- If possible, dispense surgical masks for those experiencing severe respiratory symptoms and request that they wear them in your facility. Masks should NOT be used by people not experiencing symptoms.
- Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, handrails, sink handles, light switches, toilets, restroom sink surfaces, countertops, etc. using a cleaning spray or wipe effective against COVID-19 (see list attached).
For more information, please reference the following:
Attachments:
- COVID-19 Disinfectants provide an overview of effective cleaning products;
- DDPHE Order Letter– Official orders
- LTCF Entrance Sign– A sign for the front door or reception area for visitor awareness.
- DDPHE Handwashing provides signage reminding people to wash their hands; post this upon entry to your facility, in restrooms, eating areas, and other common areas;
- 2019-ncov-factsheet is a one pager that can be handed out to clients and staff to provide basic information.
- Stop-the-spread-of-germs is a sign specific to COVID-19 that can be posted throughout your facility.
Links:
-CDC Guidance- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/healthcare-facilities/prevent-spread-in-long-term-care-facilities.html
-General CDC COVID-19 Info: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
-Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html
-Additional resources specific to our Colorado response can be found at: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/2019-novel-coronavirus
If your program would like a representative from DDPHE to present or provide technical assistance relating to COVID-19 to your staff, please contact Matthew Wilmes directly at matthew.wilmes@denvergov.org, 720-865-6880
Those experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness should use the same discretion as usual in determining when to seek medical attention. To report a suspected case or for additional local guidance, please call Denver Public Health at 303-602-3614 or the CDPHE Disease Reporting Line: 303-692-2700 or 303-370-9395 (after hours)
