As we continue to monitor the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we realize the importance of communication as we work to ensure the health and safety of our staff and Club members. We will continue to update actions and decisions based on communications with Washington State and Skagit County Departments of Health, and our partner School Districts – Anacortes, Burlington-Edison, Concrete, Mount Vernon, and Sedro-Woolley. For up-to-date changes, please visit our Facebook page, as this is a rapidly evolving situation. The safety and well-being of Club members, staff and volunteers is always our top priority.
According to the Skagit County Department of Public Health: The risk that you might be exposed to COVID-19 in Skagit County and Washington State will increase with time. It is essential that we prepare now so that we can reduce the negative effects in Skagit County. Most people will experience only mild illness but we need to slow the spread of disease and prevent exposures to people at greater risk of serious illness.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends individuals and families following everyday preventive measures:
Voluntary Home Isolation: Stay home when you are sick with respiratory disease symptoms (coughing, sneezing).
Stay home when you have a fever over 100 degrees F. If you do not own a thermometer, you may purchase one very inexpensively at any grocery store.
Respiratory Etiquette: Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw it in the trash can. If you do not have a tissue, cough/sneeze into your elbow.
Hand Hygiene: Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60%-95% alcohol.
Hygiene for objects and surfaces: Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces and objects including cell phones.
Routine use of these measures by individuals and their families will increase community resilience and readiness for responding to an outbreak.
We take the safety of our youth, families, and staff seriously and want you to be aware that we are utilizing daily Club disinfecting procedures. We are also encouraging Club members and staff to practice frequent hand washing, especially before mealtimes and between programs. We have assigned staff and on-call staff to specific locations in order to reduce cross-contamination and provide adequate staffing.
We encourage parents to discuss the ongoing changes to routines with their children regularly, as these changes can cause increased anxiety and negative behaviors in youth. It is important to remain focused on positive self-management of healthy behaviors, especially that of hand-washing.
This article can help provide parents with guidance: https://www.seattletimes.com/…/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-t…/
The Washington Department of Health has established a call center to address questions from the public. If you have questions about what is happening in Washington, how the virus is spread, and what to do if you have symptoms, please call 1-800-525-0127 and press #.