COVID-19 Policies and Protocols

August 17, 2020

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:

  • Independent Living visitors are allowed outside in the gardens or inside a resident’s apartment only.  Visitors inside the building are limited to 2 adults 18 years and older.  Visitors under the age of 18 or more than 2 visitors at a time are allowed in the gardens.
  • Per the Governor’s Shelter in Place Orders, no visitors are allowed on the personal care or skilled nursing floors. Scheduled visitation may be allowed in the gardens as appropriate.
  • All visitors must successfully pass our screening protocols, wear a mask, and practice social distancing.
  • Vendors will be allowed into the building after successfully passing our screening protocols.   

Screening Protocols:

  • All employees, residents, and vendors will be screened when entering the building.  The screening will include a temperature check and symptom questions.
  • Any individual with a temperature above 100.4 and/or indicating or exhibiting signs of illness will not be allowed inside the building.
  • All visitors to the building, including contractors, must come to the main entrance to be screened.
  • Residents who leave the building are encouraged to get screened when returning.
  • 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).

Infection Control Protocols

  • All staff, residents, visitors, and contractors must wear masks when in the community and outdoors within 6 feet of other individuals.
  • Masks with exhalation valves or neck gaiters are not acceptable masks.
  • Individuals should practice social distancing maintaining distances of 6 feet whenever possible.
  • All IL dining venues are temporarily closed, and all meal service will be limited to meal delivery.  Delivery charges are being waived temporarily.
  • The wellness center and pool are open with usage restrictions to promote social distancing. 
  • Community activities are limited to virtual activities or activities that can be accommodated safely through social distancing.
  • 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 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications and it has been a minimum of 10 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 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications and it has been a minimum of 10 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 for symptoms for 14 days.
  • A resident who has been exposed to an individual with undiagnosed symptoms will not be required to be self-quarantine but will be monitored by the Director of Health Services  for 14 days.
  • Any individual who has direct contact with an individual who was diagnosed with COVID-19 while they were exhibiting symptoms or up to 48 hours prior will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days from the time of direct contact.  Direct contact is defined as more than 15 minutes less than 6 feet apart regardless of whether masks were worn. Per CDC guidelines, healthcare professionals that are exposed while wearing PPE may continue to work and monitor for symptoms.
  • If an individual who is required to self-quarantine receives a negative COVID-19 test taken no fewer than 3 days after the date of their direct contact exposure, they may come off their quarantine.
  • If a resident or employee is diagnosed with COVID-19, they will need to remain quarantined until a minimum of 10 days after the date of the COVID test if they are asymptomatic, or the individual has been 24 hours fever free without the use of fever reducing medications and respiratory symptoms have improved and it has been a minimum of 10 days since symptoms first appeared. If testing is available, the individual may be asked to receive 2 negative tests in a row 24 hours apart. Individuals with severe symptoms or underlying health conditions may be required to quarantine for 20 days after the date symptoms first appeared.
  • Additional quarantining and/or testing measures may be taken for Healthcare residents as determined by the Nursing Home Administrator.
  • 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.
  • Housekeeping, non-essential maintenance, and IT services will be discontinued while a resident is self-quarantined.

Testing

  • All staff will be required to participate in regular COVID-19 testing as arranged by the community.  Testing will be done at no charge to employees.  Employees who do not participate in the testing provided by Canterbury will be removed from the schedule until they receive a test.  Canterbury will not be responsible for employee testing costs done outside of Canterbury.
  • Testing will be made available to residents, outside caregivers, and family members when possible.  Depending on the provider of the testing, those individuals may be responsible for fees associated with the testing.  Testing will not be mandatory for residents except as necessary for healthcare licensure.
  • All test results from Canterbury provided testing will be reported to Canterbury as well as to the individuals being tested.

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.
  • Weekly communications regarding changes to policies and protocols and/or positive cases identified will be done through email and the resident weekly newsletter. 
  • All media inquiries should be referred to the Debi McNeil, President and CEO, 470.381.6790 or debimcneil@nullcanterburyccrc.org.  No other Canterbury employee is authorized to speak to Media on behalf of Canterbury Court.