COVID-19 Policies and Protocols

June 1, 2020

COVID-19 has now been declared a pandemic or global outbreak of the disease. Different parts of the US are seeing different levels of COVID-19 activity.  We are working diligently to prepare our community and reduce the risk of transmission of this potentially serious virus.  Canterbury Court will be following the guidance of local and state agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and the Georgia Department of Community Health.

This document reflects our current policies and protocols to keep our community safe and will be adjusted as needed based on new recommendations and best practices of other communities.

Visitation Policies:

  • No visitors are currently allowed in the building for all levels of care.  Exceptions will be made for end of life situations.
  • Vendors will be allowed into the building after successfully passing our screening protocols.   
  • Visitors for Independent Living residents are allowed in the gardens only.  Visitors must get screened at the front desk and then proceed outside of the building to the North or South entrance gates to be let into the gardens by the resident. 

Screening Protocols:

  • All employees, residents, and vendors will be screened when entering the building.  The screening will be a verbal questionnaire related to symptoms.  A log will be maintained that includes:
    • The individual’s name
    • Whether they are an employee, resident, or vendor
    • The date
    • Checklist of symptoms screened
    • Temperature
    • Initials of individual completing the screen
    • Any additional comments
  • To ensure that all entrants are screened, access into the building will be limited to the front entrance as well as the rear entrance from the North Tower parking lot.  Residents will continue to be able to exit through all doors but will only be able to enter through these two entrances.  Residents who are unable to come to the North Tower entrances may utilize the video intercom at the South or West Tower ground floors and someone will meet them at those doors to do the screening.
  • If any employee or vendor answers “yes” to any question on the screening,  they will not have passed the screening and will not be allowed in the building. If any employee or vendor answers “no” to all of the questions, they will have their temperature taken by a member of the Canterbury Team using an infrared forehead thermometer.  Any employee or vendor with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher will be instructed that they have not passed the screening and may not enter the building.
  • If a resident answers “yes” to any question on the screening OR has a temperature of 100 degrees or higher, they will be instructed to remain in their apartment until it has been a minimum of 7 days since the onset of symptoms or they have been fever-free for 72 hours without the use of fever reducing medications.
  • The questionnaires and logs should be retained in a secure, locked cabinet, in labeled files by day in the HR offices as they contain personal health information (PHI).

Employee Policies

  • Any employee with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher while on a shift or who is exhibiting symptoms of illness to include coughing or shortness of breath will be asked to leave the community.
  • Employees who are not able to work due to any illness (whether or not a diagnosis is received) may use their PAL time, emergency bank time, and may be eligible for FMLA.

Infection Control Protocols

  • All community organized activities including outside trips, social gatherings and events, worship services, use of the wellness center and pool, the movie theater, and 4C’s store are temporarily closed, however plans are in place to reopen some of these amenities with additional protocols.
  • All IL dining venues are temporarily closed, and all meal service will be limited to meal delivery.  Delivery charges are being waived temporarily.
  • Any resident who is exhibiting undiagnosed symptoms of respiratory illness, to include fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath, must self-quarantine in their apartments until they are fever free for 72 hours without the use of fever reducing medications and it has been a minimum of 7 days since the onset of symptoms.
  • Any employee who is exhibiting undiagnosed symptoms of respiratory illness, to include fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath, must leave the community and may not return until they are fever free for 72 hours without the use of fever reducing medications and it has been a minimum of 7 days since the onset of symptoms.
  • An employee who has been exposed to an individual with undiagnosed symptoms will be allowed to work but will be monitored by  Human Resources for 14 days and a daily log will be maintained.
  • A resident who has been exposed to an individual with undiagnosed symptoms will not be required to be self-quarantined but will be monitored by the Director of Health Services  for 14 days and a daily log will be maintained.
  • Residents who need to leave the building for a medical appointment should notify the health clinic in advance of their scheduled appointment.  They will be issued a KN95 mask to wear to, from, and during their appointment and for 14 days following their appointment when they are out of their apartment. Resident must provide their own transportation or use Canterbury transportation for medical appointments.  No ride share services may be used. 
  • Any resident that has had direct contact with an individual that has received a COVID-19 diagnosis while they were exhibiting symptoms will be quarantined to their apartments for 14 days and will be monitored during that time by the Director of Health Services and a daily log will be maintained.
  • Any employee that has had direct contact with an individual that has received a COVID-19 diagnosis while they were exhibiting symptoms should self-quarantine in their home for 14 days and cannot return to work during that time.
  • If a resident or employee is diagnosed with COVID-19, they will need to remain quarantined until they have received 2 negative tests 24 hours apart.  Employees will not be allowed to return to work without receiving the 2 negative tests.  Canterbury will attempt to identify all employees and residents that had direct contact with a diagnosed individual while they had symptoms and the protocols for exposure to someone with a COVID-19 diagnosis will be put in place.
  • All monitoring will be done via phone check ins. No one will enter the resident’s apartment to monitor unless the resident is experiencing symptoms and additional assessments are needed to determine if it is necessary to send the resident to the hospital.  Appropriate PPE will be worn when coming into contact with someone who has a positive diagnosis or is presumed positive.
  • Daily logs will be maintained for all healthcare residents as regarding temperature and other symptoms.
  • Housekeeping, non-essential maintenance, and IT services will be discontinued while a resident is self-quarantined.
  • Residents, employee, and vendors must wear masks while in the building and/or interacting with others.

Communication

  • Canterbury COVID-19 protocols will be maintained on our Coronavirus link on the top of the home page of Canterbury Website, www.canterburycourt.org.
  • As policies and protocols change, IL residents will receive a memo update in their mailbox.  Healthcare residents and/or their designated family members will receive these updates as well. Additional communication methods including robocalls, texts, and email will also be used.
  • All media inquiries should be referred to the Debi McNeil, President and CEO, 470.381.6790 or debimcneil@nullcanterburyccrc.org.  No other member of the Canterbury employee is authorized to speak to Media on behalf of Canterbury Court.