Because of the rapidly evolving situation, the screening process developed jointly with public health, is reproduced below. Screening should also be considered for other critical infrastructure facilities (e.g., utilities, government, etc.).
There have been changes regarding return to work (“Criteria for Discontinuation of Isolation Precautions,” see below), and we recommend that those changes be implemented as quickly as feasible for EMS, fire, law enforcement, and dispatch. Also, since we now have public safety personnel in our region who are ill and at home awaiting testing results, also attached are the guidelines for self-isolation. Please share with personnel when needed.
Understand that this guidance will change again as we learn more about how the disease spreads.
Screening
As personnel report for work, there will be screening station(s) set up at designated entrance(s).
Screen all employees, students, vendors, and visitors for current illness before or immediately upon arrival to the facility.
· Does the person have fever, a new cough or a change in a chronic cough, or difficulty breathing/shortness of breath.
If yes to any of the above, deny entry, and recommend that the person call their supervisor to advise they are going home with an illness, and then contact their family physician as needed.
Screening stations should have supplies for cough etiquette and hygiene including 60%-95% alcohol-based hand sanitizer (ABHS), tissues, and no-touch receptacles for disposal. The same process applies to persons who call-in. Employees who have signs and symptoms of a respiratory infection must not report to work. They should be told to contact their personal physician as needed.
Any staff that develop signs and symptoms of a respiratory infection while on-the-job should immediately stop work, put on a facemask, inform their supervisor, and go home to self-isolate.
Criteria for Discontinuation of Isolation Precautions (from ODH)
CDC has released non-test-based criteria for discontinuation of home isolation and criteria for return to work for healthcare personnel with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. The non-test-based strategies include:
- At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); AND,
- At least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
For hospitalized patients with COVID-19, test-based criteria for discontinuation of transmission-based precautions is available on the CDC website here. Guidance is also available for “Discontinuation of In-Home Isolation for Immunocompromised Persons with COVID-19”.
David N. Gerstner
MMRS/RMRS/EP Coordinator
Department of Fire I City of Dayton
300 N. Main St. I Dayton, Ohio 45402
Office 937.333.4551 I Fax 937.333.4561 I www.daytonohio.gov
24/7 Pager: 937-227-8705 or E-mail 9372278705@archwireless.net
Cell 937.776.4410
david.gerstner@daytonohio.gov I http://DaytonMMRS.org