In response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Escher is implementing strong preventative measures to combat infection. We are only as strong as our weakest link; '''we depend on every member following the procedures in this document'''. Escher has multiple members who are at '''high risk of serious complications''', so even if you may not be at risk, '''you are still a transmission vector to those who are'''.
= Sanitary Hand Washing Procedure =
* New guidance for hand washing will be posted in all kitchens and bathrooms
* You should treat your hands like you do during cook / clean shift all the time
* Assume that any common surface or object you touch is infected
* Door handles, light switches, tables, guff food containers, etc.
= Social Gatherings =
* At this time, we encourage members to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people
* If you are are in a high-risk group, we recommend minimizing personal contact with other members
* High-risk groups include: older adults; people with heart disease, lung disease or diabetes; people with compromised immune systems; people with severe chronic medical conditions
= Dinner / Guff Food Procedures =
* New procedures for guff food handling will be posted in the dining rooms
* All members should wash or sanitize hands '''both before touching handles and after putting away guff containers''', on top of using gloves or food handlers to touch food
* New procedures for serving dinner will be posted in the dining rooms
* All members are expected to wash or sanitize hands both before and after touching any common serving utensils
* We encourage '''all members take food back to their rooms or suite kitchens''' after serving in order to avoid a large gathering in the dining rooms
= Quarantine Procedure =
* If you feel that you are sick or may have come in contact with someone who is sick, '''please quarantine yourself and do not risk transmission to others'''
* You should isolate yourself in your room for 14 days from your last exposure
* Suppressants such as cough medicine or decongestants do not reduce transmission of viruses, regardless of if you feel better
* If you must leave your room, try to avoid common areas such as dining rooms, suite kitchens, and suite lounges
* Sign up to have meals delivered to your room using [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1skqFLtt2_pZqSlA_0YSUYG_Cu0fstAcx1Jbcf6L_51s this spreadsheet]
* Contact your healthcare provider, explain your symptoms, and follow their instructions
* They may recommend you to seek additional medical care or testing
* If you notice any of the following severe symptoms, immediately seek medical care:
** Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
** Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
** New confusion or inability to arouse
** Bluish lips or face
=Encourage Awareness=
* We must all be vigilant. A pandemic of this scale is unprecedented in the last 100 years, so we must take unprecedented measures to combat it
* Encourage a culture of hand washing
* Kindly remind others to follow the hand washing procedure
* Do not take offense if someone asks if you’ve washed your hands
* Encourage anyone who feels sick, or may have come in contact with someone sick, follows the self-quarantine procedure
* Continue to treat others with respect and kindness
** Respect means not treating anyone less for being sick
** Respect means taking sickness seriously and avoiding transmission to others
=Suite Sanitation Chore=
* Suite managers have been asked to create a suite chore for sanitizing common surfaces
* The chore should be done on Wednesdays to complement weekend bathroom sanitation
* Checklists will be posted in each suite kitchen near the bulletin board / whiteboard
* This chore will count for a suite member’s weekly chore
* VP of suites will check with suite managers to make sure this chore is implemented
=External Links=
* [https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov Center for Disease Control COVID-19 Information]
* [https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/ World Heath Organization COVID-19 Information]