Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) — Right at Home Haverhill

Due to recent virus activity in our region, Right at Home feels it is important to address the healthcare realities we face right now, here in Massachusetts. As of last week, 719 people have been subject to self-quarantine in Massachusetts because of COVID-19, according to officials. Of those, 470 people have completed monitoring and are no longer quarantined, while 249 are currently quarantined. Many of these individuals are connected to the Biogen meeting in Cambridge .

This time of year in our community it is very difficult to tell the difference between allergy reactions (cough, runny nose) and viruses like flu or coronavirus. If you experience any symptoms of cough, runny nose, fever, feeling run down, weakness or difficulty breathing, call your family physician and follow his or her recommendations.

Below is a list of often used, common sense practices to prevent spread of diseases like the common cold, the flu, and the coronavirus. Keep you and your loved ones healthy!

• Wash your hands frequently. If you are not close to a sink then use hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol based.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and throw that tissue away in the trash. Then, wash your hands!
• Don't touch your face, eyes, and mouth because that can transfer viruses to and from surfaces and you.
• Don't shake hands. Instead, use fist bumps or elbow bumps, or just wave.
• Clean surfaces, doorknobs, and appliances that people touch with their hands with disinfectant wipes.
• If you are sick, stay home and call your physician. Do not go to the emergency room unless you are truly having an emergency.
• If your children are sick or not feeling well, keep them home from school
• Have a plan in place in the event your child cannot go to school. Contact your child’s school for assignments that can be done online.
• If you are sick, stay away from other family members until you are feeling better. Always remember to wash your hands and use tissues and hand sanitizers.
• Health authorities advise that healthy individuals need not wear masks.
• If you have multiple medical conditions and your immune system is weak, stay away from crowded places and make sure you are washing your hands frequently.
• The best thing you can do to stop the spread of any virus is GOOD HAND HYGIENE!

In summary, take a deep breath, wash your hands, clean frequently touched surfaces with disinfectant wipes, don’t shake hands, cover your cough and runny nose with a tissue. If you are feeling sick, stay home. Seek medical advice over the phone before going to the emergency room. If there is someone sick in your home, here are great recommendations as to what to do so that all residents can stay well.

A NOTE TO RIGHT AT HOME CLIENTS — Depending on the severity of the spread of illness in our community or the response taken by national and state authorities (i.e. mandatory isolation, closure of schools, etc.), our staffing levels may be affected. As a result, we may be unable to cover all shifts.

We will make every effort possible to provide our clients with safe and appropriate care and seek to avoid canceling shifts, however, we cannot guarantee this will not occur given the uncertainties about this particular situation.

At all times, regardless of a viral outbreak or other situation, we strongly recommend that our clients have alternative arrangements in the event we are unable to provide services. We encourage you to begin considering and putting into place back-up plans now, as the severity of the spread of this illness and planned interventions is still uncertain.

Screening Tool for Right at Home Clients and Care Staff — In following the recommendations from CHI Franciscan Hospice, we recommend you contact your medical professional and Right at Home immediately if you answer 'YES' to any of the following questions:

• Is anyone in your home experiencing cough or difficulty breathing that is new or associated with fever?
• Has anyone in your household recently returned from China, Iran, Italy, Japan or South Korea?
• Has anyone in your household had close contact with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19?

Our staff and caregivers continue to focus on our clients' care and following CDC guidelines in hopes of keeping everyone safe.

Thank you from Right at Home Haverhill

Additional Information & Resources

Please review the following list of websites, phone numbers and directions from local and national health departments.

• Massachusetts Department of Public Health COVID-19 Information
• If you are in Massachusetts resident and believe you were exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19, or if you are a healthcare worker with questions about COVID-19, contact the Infectious Disease Emergencies number at the DPH (617) 983-6800
• US Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 Information
• The CDC posts that if you have questions about the Coronavirus, contact the Washington State Department of Health hotline at 1-800-525-0127 and press #.