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1 OTSEGO COUNTY GOVERNMENT COVID-19 PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PLAN Date Implemented: April, 27 2020 Updated on: October 14, 2020 Updated on: March 3, 2021 ---PAGE BREAK--- TABLE OF CONTENTS Plan Introduction and Purpose 1 Planning Workplace Safe Work Engineering/Facilities and Administrative Personal Protective Protective Safety Measures Sick Leave 3 Remote Work 3 Employee Screening Before Entering the Workplace and Return to Work 4 Personal Protective Enhanced Social Distancing 4 Enhanced Hygiene 4 Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfecting 4 Tools and Public Entry into County Buildings Workplace Communication and Employees with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Suspected Cases 6 Confirmed Cases 6 Business Continuity Plan 7 Otsego County Government COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan ---PAGE BREAK--- Appendices A: Sample Employee Entry Screening Questionnaire, and Employee Return to Work Plan 8 B: Door Signs for County Buildings …11 C: Other Resources 12 D: Certification by Responsible Public Official 13 ---PAGE BREAK--- Introduction and Purpose In order to respond to the previous state of emergency and subsequent and MIOSHA rules related to the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) and to comply with relevant state and local orders related to COVID-19, Otsego County Administration has prepared the following COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan (“Plan”). This Plan may be updated as this situation evolves or as state or local orders related to COVID-19 are issued or amended. Planning Considerations The COVID-19 pandemic is a fluid, rapidly evolving public health event. Throughout the development of the plan the County has considered how best to decrease the spread of COVID-19 and lower the impact across County departments. This includes identifying and conducting mitigation activities to: • Prevent and reduce transmission among employees. • Maintain healthy operations to best serve our community, and • Maintain a healthy work environment. The County recognizes that the risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19 during an outbreak varies depending on employee classification. OSHA has developed the following Occupational Risk Pyramid for COVID-19: Otsego County Government COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan 1 ---PAGE BREAK--- Most County employees reflect the majority of workers in the United States and are classified in the two lowest risk categories. The risk classifications are considered when determining appropriate precautions, procedures, protocols and policies to implement workplace controls. All positions at Otsego County are listed as lower risk (caution) except Sheriff Deputies and Correction Officers which are classified as medium risk. Workplace Controls At this time, there are few treatments and no vaccine for COVID-19. Currently, the use of non- pharmaceutical interventions (ex. social distancing and PPE) are some of the best tools public health practitioners have to reduce the amount of morbidity and mortality. As businesses, recreational activities and social events resume activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s critical that our County Departments have guidance and recommendations on how to do so as safety as possible. COVID-19 mitigation measures can be used to control and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our work environments as follows: 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- These controls are further defined below as reference for county employees to work according to best known practices as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless of department specific considerations, there are general measures that will be taken to mitigate the risk of infection to protect individuals: • Use of face coverings (e.g. masks, face shields) • Incorporating engineering controls such as physical barriers where possible • Reconfiguring space to enable people to be located apart (at least 6 feet) • Promoting remote work when feasible • Supporting and requiring employees to follow current CDC guidelines and to remain at home if they are unwell or have been in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Workplace Controls and Protective Safety Measures Sick Leave Employees are permitted to take paid leave consistent with Otsego County’s applicable leave policies. Any onsite employee who appears to have a respiratory illness will be separated from other employees and sent home. See the employee screening section below. Remote Work Otsego County Government is committed to the safety and well-being of its staff and the community as a whole. We are also committed to providing continuity of governmental services. The county has implemented a comprehensive remote work plan: we have deployed and utilized online technology to the extent possible while working from home. As of June 1, 2020, County employees returned to on-site work. Teleworking is still an option when flexibility is needed as determined on a case-by-case basis. 3 ---PAGE BREAK--- Employee Screening Before Entering the Workplace and Return to Work Plan for Employees Who Experienced or Tested Positive for COVID-19 A screening questionnaire shall be completed by all employees before being permitted to enter the workplace and should comply with any required screening process required by the state or local jurisdiction in which the business is located. A sample Employee Entry Screening Questionnaire provided by the Health Department is also included in Appendix A. Any individual taking employee temperatures will be required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment. If an employee fails the screening process, he or she will be prevented from entering the premises until allowed to return to work under the relevant executive orders and public health orders, as explained in detail in the Return to Work Plan, attached in Appendix A. Personal Protective Equipment Otsego County shall provide and make available to all Critical Infrastructure Workers (CIW) and any worker performing in-person work, personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, goggles, face shields, and face masks as appropriate for the activity being performed by the CIW. Face coverings must be worn when employees cannot consistently maintain 6 feet separation from other individuals in the workplace. Face coverings must be worn in shared spaces, including in- person meetings when a 6 feet separation cannot be maintained and in restrooms and hallways. Enhanced Social Distancing Supervisors will direct employees to perform their work in such a way so as to reasonably avoid coming within six feet of other individuals. Where possible, employees may be relocated or provided additional resources in order to avoid shared use of offices, desks, telephones, and tools/equipment. The number of employees permitted in any break room or lunch room shall be limited to ensure social distancing restrictions can be followed. Employees should remain in their assigned work areas as much as possible. Employees whose job duties regularly require them to be within six feet of members of the public will be provided with appropriate personal protective equipment or physical barriers commensurate with their level of risk of exposure to COVID-19. Enhanced Hygiene Employees are instructed to wash their hands frequently, to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissue, and to avoid touching their faces. Employees will be provided with access to places to frequently wash hands or to access hand sanitizer. Employees will also be provided with access to tissues and places to properly dispose of them. Signs regarding proper hand washing methods will be posted in all restrooms. Hand shaking is also prohibited to ensure good hand hygiene. Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfecting Increased cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces, equipment, and other elements of the work environment will be performed several times each day using products containing EPA-approved disinfectants. To the extent possible and available, employees will be provided with access to disposable disinfectant wipes so that any commonly used surfaces can be wiped down before each use. In the event that an employee that has been in the workplace in the past 48 hours tests positive for COVID-19, the applicable area(s) will be disinfected. 4 ---PAGE BREAK--- Tools and Equipment Otsego County Government limits the sharing of tools and equipment among in-person employees. Should any sharing of tools be required, employees must disinfect and clean each tool or piece of equipment following their use of same and before any other employee uses the tool or piece of equipment. The county will provide employees with disinfectant wipes and other disinfecting products for this purpose. Public Entry into County Buildings/Workplace Adjustment Most county buildings opened to the public effective July 6, 2020. • In compliance with the Epidemic Order issued on October 9, 2020, the county requires that any member of the public able to medically tolerate a face covering must wear a covering over his or her nose and mouth such as a homemade mask while in any indoor public space. • Proper signage has been placed when necessary providing additional information such as drop box, contact information, scheduling if altered, etc. • Hand sanitizers have been placed in common employee and public areas • Magazines, books, newspapers, and unnecessary papers have been removed from public areas. • Spacing tools such as signs and tape on the floor have been placed to keep people adequately spaced. • Physical barriers, such as clear plastic safety shields have been installed as additional protection if needed between employees and the public. • Floor space has been reconfigured to increase physical space between people (i.e. the number of chairs have been reduced in conference rooms, etc. Workplace Communication and Training Each department is unique in how they operate and has unique policies and procedures in place for their area. Department managers will educate and train employees about the importance of taking health precautions to protect themselves and others from the spread of germs. Managers must provide training and resources covering the following: • Workplace infection-control practices • Proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) • Steps employees must take to notify the county of any or suspected or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. • How to report unsafe conditions. • Educate employees about the importance of not coming into work if they experiencing COVID-19 Additionally, the County deployed on-line COVID-19 training to employees through its LocalGovU Training System. 5 ---PAGE BREAK--- Employees with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Suspected Cases An employee will be considered to have a Suspected Case of COVID-19 if: • They are experiencing any of the following COVID-19 o Fever; Shortness of breath; and/or Continuous cough. OR • They are experiencing at least two of the following o Fever, Chills, Repeated shaking with chills, Muscle pain, Headache, Sore throat, and/or New loss of taste or smell. • They have been exposed to a COVID-19 positive person, meaning: o An immediate family member has tested positive for or exhibited of COVID-19; or o In the last 48 hours, the employee came in close contact for a prolonged period of time with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. If an employee believes that he or she qualifies as a Suspected Case (as described above), he or she must: • Stay home and separate self from others; • Immediately notify supervisor, Human Resources and public health; • Self-Quarantine for 10-14 days (case specific) If an employee qualifies as a Suspected Case, then Otsego County will: • Notify all employees who may have come into close contact (being within approximately six feet for a prolonged period of time without PPE) with the employee in the past 48 hours (while not disclosing the identity of the employee to ensure the individual’s privacy); and • Ensure that the employee’s work area is thoroughly cleaned. Confirmed Cases An employee will be considered a Confirmed Case of COVID-19 if that person tested positive for COVID-19. If an employee believes that he or she qualifies as a Confirmed Case (as described above), he or she must: • Immediately notify supervisor and/or Human Resources contact of his or her diagnosis; and • Remain out of the workplace until 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever reducing drugs and 10 days have passed since their started or the date of their positive test, which is earlier. If an employee qualifies as a Confirmed Case, then Otsego County Government will: • Notify all employees who may have come into close contact with the employee (being within approximately six feet for a prolonged period of time without PPE) in the past 48 hours (while not disclosing the identity of the employee to ensure the individual’s privacy); 6 ---PAGE BREAK--- • Ensure that the entire workplace, or affected parts thereof (depending on employee’s presence in the workplace), is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected; • If necessary, close the work area or workplace, until all necessary cleaning and disinfecting is completed; and • Communicate with employees about the presence of a confirmed case, the cleaning/disinfecting plans, and when the workplace will reopen. Business Continuity Plans The County Administrator shall function as the COVID-19 Workplace Coordinator and will work with the Otsego County Management Team and the Otsego County Emergency Manager when applicable to: cross-train employees to perform essential functions so the workplace can operate even if key employees are absent; identify alternate supply chains for critical goods and services in the event of disruption; and develop an emergency communication plan to communicate important messages to employees and constituents. 7 ---PAGE BREAK--- Items included in Appendix A: • Sample Employee Screening Document • Employee Return to Work Plan ~APPENDIX A~ PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY ORDER EMPLOYEE SCREENING DOCUMENTS AND MANDATORY GUIDELINES 8 ---PAGE BREAK--- COVID-19 Workplace Health Screening Fever or feverish? Cough? Shortness of breath? Sore throat? Vomiting/ Diarrhea? Company Name: Otsego Co. Employee Name Time in: In the past 24 hours, have you experienced: Current Temp: Have you had close contact in the last 14 days with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19? Have you engaged in any activity or travel within the last 14 days which fails to comply with or Local Health Department Guidelines ? Have you been directed or told by the local health department or your healthcare provider to self- isolate or self-quarantine? PASS or FAIL SCREENING Date ---PAGE BREAK--- EMPLOYEE RETURN TO WORK PLAN Per CDC Guidelines, employees who fail entrance screening will only be permitted to return to work under the following circumstances. Employees who test positive for COVID-19 or display one or more of the principal of COVID-19 (fever, atypical cough, or atypical shortness of breath) will not be permitted to return to work until either: • 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever reducing drugs and 10 days have passed since their first appeared Employees* who have been in “close contact” (being within approximately six feet for a prolonged period of time (15 minutes or more) with an individual who tests positive for COVID- 19 or who displays one or more of the principal of COVID-19 will not be permitted to return to work until: • 10-14 days (determined on a case by case basis) have passed since the last close contact with the sick or individual unless they have been vaccinated. Updated quarantine recommendations for vaccinated persons. Vaccinated persons with an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they meet all of the following criteria: • They are fully vaccinated (i.e. > 2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series or > 2 weeks following the receipt of one does of a single-dose vaccine). • Are within 3 months following receipt of the last dose in the series. • Have remained since the current COVID -19 exposure. *The “close contact” rule does not apply to the following classes of workers: health care professionals; workers at a health care facility (including hospitals, surgical centers, health maintenance organizations, nursing homes, hospice, and veteran’s facilities); first responders police officers, fire fighters, paramedics); child protective service employees; workers at child caring institutions, as defined in MCL 722.111; and workers at correctional facilities. ---PAGE BREAK--- Example Door Signs Used on County Buildings ~APPENDIX B~ DOOR SIGNS FOR COUNTY BUILDINGS 11 ---PAGE BREAK--- COVID-19 Gatherings and Mask Order March 5, 2021: COVID-19 MIOSHA Emergency Rules October 14, 2020: 0Emergency%20Rules%2010-14-20.pdf Helpful CDC Guidance: CDC Handwashing Fact Sheet: CDC Fact Sheet and Poster on Preventing the Spread of Germs: CDC Fact Sheet on What to Do if You Are Sick: CDC Poster for Entrance Reminding Employees Not to Enter When Sick: ~APPENDIX C~ ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 12 ---PAGE BREAK---