We understand there is growing concern about the rise in COVID cases as Omicron sweeps through our community. We want to remind you of CDC guidelines to protect yourself from this virus. First Community and Heart to Heart have been erring on the side of extreme caution and we ask you to do the same, even though the CDC recommendations have become more lenient. For example,
- If you have any symptoms of any illness, please stay home. As symptoms are varied and numerous, this is the best way to prevent the spread. We would rather work with a skeleton crew than risk anyone contracting the virus. In addition to the COVID virus, this is also best practice for transmission of other viruses, like the flu and common cold.
- If you feel it would be unsafe in any way for you to volunteer, please stay home.
- In order to determine if it’s appropriate for you to volunteer, please use the following guidelines:
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- If you live with someone or have had 15 minutes or more of direct contract with someone in a 24-hour period who has tested positive, please quarantine at home for 5 days. Test yourself or get a PCR test on day 5 and only volunteer if you have a negative test.
- If you test positive and have symptoms of the illness, please isolate for 10 days. At the end of this period, if you still have symptoms and/or continue to test positive, please stay home until these resolve.
When you are volunteering at Heart to Heart,
- Please come to Heart to Heart in the appropriate PPE gear to protect yourself from exposure. If you do not have access to the items you need, please let us know and we will do our best to provide them to you.
- Please wear a mask at all times; including when you are volunteering outside with others. Cloth masks are less effective against this strain than previous strains, so a medical-grade or N95 mask is recommended.
- It is also recommended you wear rubber gloves and protect your eyes with glasses or a face shield. Avoid touching your face with gloved hands.
- Use hand sanitizer upon arrival and departure, and frequently if not wearing gloves.
- Maintain a social distance of six feet from all other individuals, including clients. Only load groceries in clients’ automobile trunks to prevent exposure inside their cars.
- Please get vaccinated, and get your booster shot!
Please visit Columbus Public Health for more information about COVID online, including sites for vaccine clinics and testing.
We understand that these precautions are numerous and sometimes onerous. However, it is in our best interest to keep one another healthy! Please help us to do so by adhering to these recommendations. We pray for your health during this time of uncertainty.
“Jesus said to him… ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the prophets.’” (Matthew 22: 35-40).