COVID Procedures

The YMCA of the Roses takes the safety of all our members, program participants, staff and volunteers as a priority during facility usage. We are committed to ensuring that our facilities meet the highest standards of hygiene and safety.

Why Is This Important?

Although the risk of severe illness may be different for everyone, everyone has a role to play in slowing the spread and protecting themselves, their family, and their community.

Know the Symptoms

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness.

Know how It Spreads

COVID-19 is spread in three main ways:

• Breathing in air when close to an infected person who is exhaling small droplets and particles that contain the virus
• Having these small droplets and particles that contain virus land on the eyes, nose, or mouth, especially through splashes and sprays like a cough or sneeze
• Touching eyes, nose, or mouth with hands that have the virus on them

Best Practices to Protect Yourself and Others

• Get a COVID-19 vaccination
• Avoid close contact and stay 6 feet apart when feasible
• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces
• Wash your hands often and keep your hands away from your face
• Clean and disinfect your work space regularly
• Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth

How the Y will Protect You

• We will clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks
• We will make hand sanitizer available in areas where hand washing is not feasible
• We will encourage social distancing in group settings and will mitigate the need for people to interact closely with others (virtual meetings, glass barriers, distanced equipment)
• We will provide PPE to our employees as needed
• We will provide individual cleaning solution bottles in the Wellness Center and will ask members to clean equipment after each use
• We will enforce local, state, and federal mandates related to COVID-19 when applicable
• We reserve the right to enforce additional measures in programs, events, and areas of our buildings as deemed necessary

Steps to be Completed if Someone has Symptoms

Step 1: ASSESS SYMPTOMS

• Wear proper PPE and conduct a temperature check (higher than 4)
• Note symptoms of illness (cough, fever, chills, loss of taste, fatigue, )
• Notify the Branch Executive Director (BE) if they have a temperature and/or symptoms of COVID-19

Step 2: ISOLATE PARTICIPANT

• Provide individual with a mask if they are not wearing one
• Assist participant to the designated isolation area (if minor) or ask adult to isolate outside or in their car
• Supervisor or Program Director will wear proper PPE and gather their belongings and place them in a bag to send home
• If they have no items to gather, ask member/employee to leave the facility

Step 3: NOTIFY EMERGENCY CONTACT (IF MINOR OR ADULT IS UNABLE TO GET HOME SAFELY)

• Contact the minor’s emergency contact and request that they be picked up within one If the EC is unable to pick-up within the hour, ask for another contact to pick them up
• If an adult and they are unable to get home safely, contact their emergency contact
• If this becomes a medical emergency, call 911 Step 4: SUSPENSION FROM PROGRAM/FACILITY
• Individuals who have symptoms or a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 will be suspended from the program/facility and asked to quarantine based on CDC guidelines or guidance from a medical provider

Step 5: INFORMING THOSE IN CLOSE CONTACT

• The supervisor will ask the individual who they have been in close contact with during the time they had symptoms and 48 prior to symptoms
• “Close contact” is defined as an individual that has been within six feet of the infected individual for a cumulative 15 minutes or more, regardless of mask wearing
• Supervisor or Branch Executive will alert the people who have been in close contact with the individual as soon as possible, without revealing that individual’s identity and inform them to follow the CDC guidelines for exposure and instruct them to contact their medical provider for further guidance

Step 6: CLEANING AND DISINFECTING

• Secure and decontaminate the affected areas by:
  • Closing off areas visited by the person who is a probable or confirmed case of COVID-19
  • Opening outside doors and windows and using ventilation fans to circulate air in the area
• Waiting at least 24 hours, or as long as practical, before cleaning and disinfecting the affected area
• Cleaning and disinfecting all shared areas such as offices, bathrooms, break rooms, shared electronic equipment used by the sick person

Additional Notes

• We expect that all of our employees, members, and guests treat each other with respect and We understand that some people may continue to include safe practices in their daily lives that are no longer mandated. We understand that our employees, members, and guests have varying opinions, but we ask that you allow others have their own opinions without argument.
• If you have any questions or concerns about our facilities, employees, or procedures, please reach out to your Branch Executive Director by clicking here