Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

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 #. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Below are answers to some of our frequently asked questions:

Under what circumstances would your Club site Close because of COVID-19? Clubs are working to reopen for services as soon as possible, and with compliance of Public Health, the CDC, and OSHA guidelines. Capacity will be limited. Most youth are healthy and are not at risk for complications from COVID-19. Medically vulnerable and people older than 60 are most at risk from COVID-19.

We understand that each family situation is different and some may have vulnerable family members they want to protect from possible exposure. Your family is the ultimate decision-maker about what steps to take to keep your family safe.

Are Clubs imposing limiting field trips? Clubs are following the Skagit Health Department’s suggestions in mitigating the possible spread of coronavirus. Family Nights, Teen Nights, and events and trips with youth outside of the Club are suspended until further notice.

Are Clubs restricting facility use by outside groups? Clubs are limiting staff and on-call staff to only work at the Club they are assigned to. The same is true for current volunteers. Outside groups or individuals are restricted from entering the Club. No new volunteers will begin service before April 27th.

What protocols are in place for Club members or staff who travel internationally? Any Club or Staff member traveling to a high-risk country will be asked to self-impose a 14-day quarantine prior to returning to the Club. The CDC has additional information here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/after-travel-precautions.html. Two staff who traveled domestically for work-related reasons since the beginning of March have been in isolation for a week already and working remotely, out of an abundance of caution.

How will Clubs communicate updates? Families will continue to receive letters with information from their Clubs. We will also communicate via Facebook and here on our website.  The health and safety of our community is a shared responsibility and one that we take seriously. If you have children with asthma or other medical conditions that put them at higher risk for an infection, talk to your health care provider now about a plan to protect them.

How can families help?

  • If your student is sick (fever over 100 degrees F, vomiting, diarrhea, cough), please keep them home until they have been symptom-free for 72 hours. Call your doctor if you are concerned about your student’s symptoms.
  • If your child is considered high risk (heart/lung disease, diabetes, medically fragile, pregnant), please consult your physician for instructions. 
  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds 
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands 
  • Avoid contact with people who are sick 
  • Cover mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash hands

  • Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces and objects including cell phones.

What should I do if my child is medically vulnerable? Please consult your provider about your child’s specific medical concerns. As with any flu season, also keep a watch on community and school communications to monitor disease progression in the population. We will do our best to keep our Clubhouses clean, and encourage good infection prevention behaviors: frequent handwashing, refrain from touching the face, cover coughs and sneezes, and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.