COVID Policy

In all efforts to prevent a spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) at any Housing Authority of the City of Hot Springs property, the following protocol must be followed.

GOING TO WORK
Practice good hygiene: no handshaking, wash hands frequently and for at least 20 seconds at a time, avoid touching face, cover coughs and sneezes, disinfect surfaces like doorknobs, tables, desks, phones, cell phones, and handrails frequently.

At this time, all PHA staff are expected to attend work as normal, unless any of the following apply:

• You are sick, especially if you are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19+, which are very similar to the flu (cough, fever, shortness of breath).
  Employees are advised to stay home if they are ill and notify their supervisor if they develop symptoms of COVID-19. Staff should contact their doctor, or a health care provider as needed for medical assistance;
• Have visited mainland China, Iran, Europe, the Republic of Korea or other COVID-19 level 2 or higher risk areas of concern identified by the CDC in the last 14 days. For more information contact Human Resources or the Virus Response Team. For additional information regarding COVID-19 high-risk areas, please see the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov;
• Develop symptoms of COVID-19 within 14 days of being anywhere in a country or area of concern;
• Have been in close, personal, and unprotected contact with a presumptive or confirmed case of coronavirus in the last 14 days;
• Have been asked to self-quarantine as a result of any of the above circumstances.

The CDC has stated that persons with the conditions listed below are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness. If you believe you fall into such a category, you are encouraged to speak with Human Resources. The category includes:

• Older adults
• People who have serious chronic medical conditions like:
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Lung disease

HOW THE VIRUS SPREADS
The virus is most likely to spread from person to person through:

• Direct contact with a person while they are infectious
• Contact with droplets when a person with a confirmed infection coughs or sneezes
• Touching objects or surfaces that were contaminated by droplets (like those from a cough or sneeze) from a person with a confirmed infection and then touching your mouth, eyes, or face.

The length of time that a person is infectious (can spread the infection to others) is not yet known. However, there is evidence of people with little or no symptoms transmitting the infection to others. It is therefore likely that a person can spread the infection before they first develop symptoms - and that they can continue to do so up until 48 hours after symptoms stop.

IMPLEMENTED ACTIONS FOR HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER (TBV AND PBV) RESIDENTS
Effective Monday, May 24th, 2021, thru November 30, 2021, HACHS implemented the following precautions to protect its residents and staff:

• Closure of the lobby; clients should communicate through email, postal service, drop box or call the property office
• Landlord payments will continue to be processed
• Suspension of annual inspections; biennial inspections will be used instead

SITE
All common areas must be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized and shut down. All furniture must be removed and stored in another location that is not accessible. These areas must not be used for any activities, gathering, congregating, or any situation that would cause a group setting. Property Management staff must ensure that the residents and guests are following the protocol. The following areas are:

1. Lobby
2. Community Room
3. Community Kitchen
4. Office

CLEANING AND SANITIZING
All PHA Properties must be actively cleaned and sanitized. Each property should keep a supply of cleaning supplies and sanitizer. The following protocol should be followed regarding keeping all spaces cleaned:

1. After each encounter with a person or persons, clean and sanitize the space before allowing anyone else to enter the space.
2. Staff should wash their hands after any encounter with another person
3. All hard surfaces and used items should be wiped down and sanitized throughout the day, especially after being touched by a person(s). These surfaces include, but aren't limited to the following:
   • Desks
   • Chairs
   • Doorknobs
   • Pens
   • Office Phone
   • Printer/Copier
   • Sink Handles
   • Toilet Handles and seats
   • Computers
   • Keyboards
   • Mouse

To the extent possible, all work within resident units should be conducted wearing disposable gloves. Latex, nitrile, or vinyl type gloves are all acceptable for the cleaning tasks. However, it's important to note that some people suffer from latex allergies. If that's the case, remember to choose the nitrile or vinyl type surgical gloves rather than latex surgical gloves. Furthermore, nitrile gloves are strongly recommended for most maintenance tasks in a potentially infectious unit because nitrile has high levels of chemical and puncture resistance. If leather or nylon gloves are necessary for puncture or abrasion resistance, wear those gloves over surgical gloves and wash them (per the manufacturers recommendations) after each use. If they cannot be washed, then dispose of them in the nearest waste receptacle.

Appropriately dispose of gloves in the nearest waste receptacle after completing the work in unit.

Proper Removal of Disposable Gloves
Remove and properly dispose of gloves immediately following cleaning or disinfecting tasks.

To remove your gloves, pinch the glove cuff and peel the first glove away from your body, pulling it inside out. Without touching either glove with your bare hand, hold the glove That you just removed in your gloved hand. Peel off the second glove by putting your fingers inside the glove at the top of your wrist. Turn the second glove inside out while pulling it away from your body, leaving the first glove inside the second. Dispose of the gloves in the nearest waste receptacle.

OFFICE DUTIES
Normal office duties for Property Management staff will continue. If a time comes when changes need to be made, staff will be notified.

When conducting the normal business, please exercise the use of "social distancing" and sanitizing as that will help combat the spread if someone is infected. Social Distancing is keeping everyone six (6) feet away from one another. Keep this in mind when scheduling appointments or any group appointments.

STAY INFORMED
Public health officials are readily available and sharing information often.

Garland County Health Department
1425 Malvern Avenue
Hot Springs, AR 71901
501-624-3394