COVID-19 Information

Last updated: May 22, 2020

COVID19 Supervisor:  Mark Wilson

Introduction

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It has spread from China to many other countries around the world, including the United States. Depending on the severity of COVID-19’s international impacts, outbreak conditions—including those rising to the level of a pandemic—can affect all aspects of daily life, including travel, trade, tourism, food supplies, and financial markets. 

To reduce the impact of COVID-19 outbreak conditions on businesses, workers, customers, and the public, it is important for all employers to plan now for COVID-19. For employers who have already planned for influenza pandemics, planning for COVID-19 may involve updating plans to address the specific exposure risks, sources of exposure, routes of transmission, and other unique characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 (i.e., compared to pandemic influenza viruses). Employers who have not prepared for pandemic events should prepare themselves and their workers as far in advance as possible of potentially worsening outbreak conditions. Lack of continuity planning can result in a cascade of failures as employers attempt to address challenges of COVID-19 with insufficient resources and workers who might not be adequately trained for jobs they may have to perform under pandemic conditions.

Symptoms of COVID-19

Infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can cause illness ranging from mild to severe and, in some cases, can be fatal. Symptoms typically include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Some people infected with the virus have reported experiencing other non-respiratory symptoms. Other people, referred to as asymptomatic cases, have experienced no symptoms at all. According to the CDC, symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure.

How COVID-19 Spreads Although the first human cases of COVID-19 likely resulted from exposure to infected animals, infected people can spread SARS-CoV-2 to other people. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person, including: 

■ Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). 

■ Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. 

It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has SARS-CoV-2 on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the primary way the virus spreads. People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (i.e., experiencing fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath). Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this type of asymptomatic transmission with this new coronavirus, but this is also not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. Although the United States has implemented public health measures to limit the spread of the virus, it is likely that some person-to-person transmission will continue to occur.

Disease Preparedness & Response Plan

Risk Factors at Arbor Hills Animal Clinic

  • Exposure (prolonged) to coworkers
  • Exposure to the General Public
  • Exposure to sick individuals
  • Exposure to domestic and international travelers
  • Employee’s own risk factors (age, medical conditions, etc.)

Basic Infection Prevention Measures

  • Frequent Hand Washing.  The use of Hand Sanitizer should be used when it is not possible to use soap and water.  Hand Sanitizer should not be used as a replacement for frequent hand washing.
  • Employees are directed to stay home if you are sick.
  • Employees and the General Public are to wear a face mask while in the clinic.
  • Whenever possible, employees must maintain 6 foot social distancing between him/herself and coworkers and/or the general public.
  • Whenever possible, employees are discouraged from using other workers’ phones, desktop surfaces and equipment.  For all shared equipment, disinfect the equipment after each use.
  • Whenever possible, utilize curbside medical services to reduce exposure of both staff and the general public by not having the general public enter the facility.
  • For in-person visits, limit the number of humans to 1 regardless of the number of animals they are bringing in for the veterinary visit.  Euthanasia is the singular exception to this policy.
  • Close the waiting area to the general public.  For curbside visits, clients will wait in their vehicle throughout the visit.  For in-person visits, the client will wait in their vehicle until the examination room is ready for their visit.  At the conclusion of the visit, they will need to leave without delay.
  • Vulnerable clients, those of a particular age or with pre-existing medical conditions, will be encouraged to utilize curbside services.  However, if the client insists on an in-person visit, they will be offered the next available 9am appointment (8am on Saturday), first appointment of the day, and no other clients will be permitted in the clinic at that time.
  • In-Person appointments will be limited to 1 appointment every 90 minutes to allow appropriate time for disinfection and cleaning.
  • Pet-Owners will not be permitted to hold or restrain their pet during an examination.  Doing so violates the norms of social distancing.
  • Employees and the General Public will be temperature checked before entering the facility.  Anyone with a temperature of 99° fahrenheit or higher will be denied access.  Employees must record their health information, daily, before entering the practice at: https://forms.gle/8N9ASjtzZPCSBG2V9
  • Hand sanitizer and disposable face masks will be available inside the entry door to the facility.
  • Patient history will continue to be done, by phone, even in situations when the client is requesting to be present for the physical examination.  

Employee Procedures

  • Employees are to continue using the Google Form self monitoring tool to report their health status each day they work.
  • If you are sick, you are to notify Mark Wilson immediately at 248-763-2936.  As we will be participating in social tracing, Mark will need to identify all of the people you interacted with over the past few days.

Employee Provided PPE

The following PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) is provided by your employer:

  • Cloth face masks
  • Disposable surgical face mask
  • N95 mask (one per employee)
  • Gloves
  • Over clothes poncho
  • Protective eyewear

Please inform Mark or Kristin Wilson if there is a piece of protective equipment that you need and do not have access to.

Engineering Controls

Arbor Hills Animal Clinic is taking the following steps to minimize risk to employees and the general public:

  • Installation of a clear plastic barrier within the reception area to separate reception staff from the general public.
  • Having a drop off/pick-up area located outside of the clinic to accommodate a contact free experience for clients.

Administrative Controls

  • Sick workers are encouraged to stay home
  • Virtual meetings, when possible, will replace full staff meetings
  • Provide employees with needed PPE