January 3, 2022 Updated Policy

The CDC is shortening the recommended time for isolation for the public. People with COVID-19 should:

• Isolate for 5 days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours),

• follow that by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others to minimize the risk of infecting people they encounter.

At ABES, MASKS ARE WORN AT ALL TIMES BY STAFF.

Additionally, CDC is updating the recommended quarantine period for anyone in the general public who is exposed to COVID-19.

• For people who are unvaccinated OR

• Are more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) AND

• Not yet boosted

CDC now recommends quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days. At ABES, MASKS ARE WORN AT ALL TIMES BY STAFF.

Individuals who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure.

• For those exposed, best practice would also include a test for SARS-CoV-2 at day 5 after exposure. IF symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.

Isolation relates to behavior after a confirmed infection. Isolation for 5 days followed by wearing a well-fitting mask will minimize the risk of spreading the virus to others.

Quarantine refers to the time following exposure to the virus or close contact with someone known to have COVID-19.

Staff will wear a disposable mask with a cloth mask over it or KN95 MASK upon arrival at work and in public places when not at work. It is recommended that the disposable mask’s loops should be twisted prior to placing them over your ears to decrease any open gaps created by the disposable mask.

● Wash your hands for 20-30 seconds upon arrival at the clinic or a patient’s home. There is a timer in each bathroom, time yourself, make sure to use a napkin when turning it off.

● Check your temperature (must be under 99.0 degrees Fahrenheit). If it is over 99.0, you may not enter the clinic.

● Check the patient’s temperature and the family member dropping them off prior to the session starting (must be under 99.0 degrees Fahrenheit).

● Wash your patient’s hands for 20-30 seconds using the timer prior to them entering the clinic or starting their session and anytime they place their hands/fingers into their mouth or nose.

● Gloves must be worn when feeding children.

● Air purification units are in use at all clinic locations.

● NanoSeptic self-cleaning surfaces have been installed on certain high frequency

touchpoints throughout the clinics.

● Workstations are cleaned and sanitized after use.

● Clinic locations are routinely sprayed down with a treatment that kills viruses including

COVID-19 on hard surfaces

● ABES Inc has made access to vaccinations available to all employees in each

county.

● All employees must inform ABES if they are vaccinated and when the final vaccine

took place and if/when they received a booster. Please do not provide ABES with

reasons for vaccination.

FOR IN-HOME SERVICES:

● Ask the family to check their temperature upon your arrival and document it in your session notes.

● The family members are required to wear a mask when our staff are in your home.

● Keep your work area clean and sanitized.

● Keep your COVID kit bag provided by ABES filled and with you at all times.

● Follow the same mask wearing and hand washing procedures upon arrival at any home.

● Families and staff will be notified of a positive COVID-19 test result if a patient and/or employee of ABES, as soon as we are made aware. However, due to HIPAA regulations, we will not be able to specify who had the positive result as that would be a violation of their legally protected health information. ABES will also notify the health department and follow all protocols provided by the health department.

● ABES will notify individuals who were in close contact with the infected person and therefore at a higher risk of infection so they can monitor for onset of symptoms.

● Individuals who were in close contact with the positive individual should follow the protocol set forth in the previous paragraph.

● ABES will do their best to not close any centers with potential or formal exposure

as we want to ensure that we continue to provide medically necessary services to the families we serve, but will if they deem it necessary.

● Families and staff will be able to make decisions that they feel are in their best interest and can suspend services or take time off, if desired.

July 27, 2021

Updated Mask Policy

"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: [email protected]

Illinois Fully Aligns with New CDC Masking Recommendations

Delta variant spreading twice as easily from person to person as previous strains making vaccinations even more important

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced today it is fully adopting updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) masking recommendations to protect against COVID-19 and the Delta variant.

CDC recommends that everyone, including fully vaccinated individuals, wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas with substantial and high transmission. CDC is also recommending universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.

“While data continues to show the effectiveness of the three COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized in the U.S., including against the Delta variant, we are still seeing the virus rapidly spread among the unvaccinated,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “Cases and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 both continue to increase, overwhelmingly among the unvaccinated, but the risk is greater for everyone if we do not stop the ongoing spread of the virus and the Delta variant. We know masking can help prevent transmission of COVID-19 and its variants. Until more people are vaccinated, we join CDC in recommending everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask indoors in areas of substantial and high transmissions, and in K-12 schools.”

According to CDC, data show the Delta variant is much more contagious. Delta spreads more than twice as easily from one person to another compared to other strains. According to the CDC, the Delta variant is causing some vaccine breakthrough infections, but even so, most breakthrough infections are mild, and the vaccines are preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

Areas of substantial transmission are considered by CDC to be those with 50 to 99 cases per 100,000 people over a 7-day period. Areas of high transmission are considered to be those with more than 100 cases per 100,000 people over a 7-day period. The community level of

transmission can be found here https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view."

"IDPH will be updating school FAQs and other guidance posted online to reflect the latest CDC Health Recommendations for Full Vaccinated People."

April 9, 2021

The health and safety of the ABES community is our top priority and therefore we have implemented the revised policies (04/09/21) below based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health authorities.

ABES PROACTIVE COVID POLICY

• Wear a disposable mask with a cloth mask over it upon arrival at work and in public places when not at work. It is recommended that the disposable mask’s loops should be twisted prior to placing them over your ears to decrease any open gaps created by the disposable mask.
  
• Wash your hands for 20-30 seconds upon arrival at the clinic or a patient’s home. There is a timer in each bathroom, time yourself, make sure to use a napkin when turning it off.
  
• Check your temperature (must be under 99.0 degrees Fahrenheit). If it is over 99.0, you may not enter the clinic.
  
• Check the patient’s temperature and the family member dropping them off prior to the session starting (must be under 99.0 degrees Fahrenheit).
  
• Wash your patient’s hands for 20-30 seconds using the timer prior to them entering the clinic or starting their session and anytime they place their hands/fingers into their mouth or nose.
  
• Gloves must be worn when feeding children.
  
• Air purification units are in use at all clinic locations.
  
• NanoSeptic self-cleaning surfaces have been installed on certain high frequency touchpoints throughout the clinics.
  
• Workstations are cleaned and sanitized after use.
  
• Clinic locations are routinely sprayed down with a treatment that kills viruses including COVID-19 on hard surfaces
  

ABES Inc has made access to vaccinations available to all employees in each county. Though you are not required to get the vaccine, it is recommended by the health department.

All employees must inform ABES if they are vaccinated and when the final vaccine took place. Please do not provide ABES with reasons for vaccination.

For in-home families

Ask the family to check their temperature upon your arrival and document it in your session notes.

The family members are required to wear a mask when within 6 feet of our staff (arrival, departure, program generalization, etc.)

Keep your work area clean and sanitized.

Keep your COVID kit bag provided by ABES filled and with you at all times.

Follow the same mask wearing and hand washing procedures upon arrival at any home.

ABES REACTIVE COVID POLICY

• Kane, DeKalb and Cook County Health Departments have been consulted as this policy has been established. Please note that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) changes their criteria, definitions, and policies often, which means this policy will continue to be modified.
  

Definitions:

Close Contact

Any individual who is within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.

You provide care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19

You had direct physical contact with the person (touched, hugged, or kissed them)

You shared eating or drinking utensils with the person

Isolation:

Separates people who tested positive for COVID-19 from people who did not have COVID-19 for 10 days

Quarantine:

Separates and restricts people who were exposed to COVID-19 to see if they become sick for 14 days

Employees who are sick and have respiratory symptoms, such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath, should remain home unless of need of medical attention. These individuals can be around others after they have stayed at home for at least 3 days with no fever and symptoms improved and it has been 10 days since symptoms first appeared.

https://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z list/coronavirus/business-guidance

If you tested positive or were exposed to COVID-19 you must isolate and:

Inform CEO, CFO, and Clinical Director immediately via email and phone (not sent to the scheduling email)

Must isolate for 10 days after symptom onset

Families: please notify Veronica Glickman and Krista Gengo immediately

If you had close contact (less than 6 feet apart) with a person who has COVID-19 for at least 15 cumulative minutes you must quarantine:

Inform CEO, CFO and Clinical Director immediately via email and phone (not sent to the scheduling email)

Must quarantine for 14 days after you came in contact with the person to see if symptoms develop

If no symptoms, then you may return back to work

If symptoms develop → you must get tested and the follow your doctor’s and the department of health’s protocol as to when to return to work

Families: please notify Veronica Glickman and Krista Gengo immediately

COVID-19 Reactive Policy as it pertains to notification of positive COVID-19 test results in either staff or patients.

Families and staff will be notified of a positive COVID-19 test result if a patient and/or employee of ABES, as soon as we are made aware. However, due to HIPAA regulations we will not be able to specify who had the positive result as that would be a violation of their legally protected health information.

ABES will also notify the health department and follow all protocols provided by the health department.

ABES will notify individuals who were in close contact with the infected person and therefore at a higher risk of infection so they can monitor for onset of symptoms.

Individuals who were in close contact with the positive individual should follow the protocol set forth in the previous paragraph.

ABES will do their best to not close any centers with potential or formal exposure as we want to ensure that we continue to provide medically necessary services to the families we serve, but will if they deem it necessary.

Families and staff will be able to make decisions that they feel are in their best interest and can suspend services or take time off, if desired.

Travel Guidelines

The CDC came out with new travel guidelines on April 2, 2021. Please see the links below and if you plan on traveling and inform ABES of your travel plans. Thank you.

Domestic Travel https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/infographic/infographic-quick-reference.html

International Travel https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/infographic/infographic-international-quick-reference.html

December 12, 2020

The health and safety of the ABES community is our top priority and therefore we have implemented the policies below based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health authorities.

ABES PROACTIVE COVID POLICY

• Wear a mask upon arrival at work and in public places when not at work.

• Wash your hands for 20-30 seconds upon arrival at the clinic or a patient’s home

• Check your temperature (must be under 99.0 degrees Fahrenheit)

• Wash your patient’s hands prior to them entering the clinic or starting their session and anytime they place their hands/fingers into their mouth or nose.

• Check the patient’s temperature and the family member dropping them off prior to the session starting (must be under 99.0 degrees Fahrenheit).

• For in-home families – ask the family to check their temperature upon your arrival.

• Keep your work area clean and sanitized.

• Keep your COVID kit bag provided by ABES filled.

• Air purification units are in use at all clinic locations.

• NanoSeptic self-cleaning surfaces have been installed on certain high frequency touchpoints throughout the clinics.

• Workstations are cleaned and sanitized after use.

• Clinic locations are routinely sprayed down with a treatment that kills viruses including COVID-19 on hard surfaces

ABES REACTIVE COVID POLICY

Kane and DeKalb County Health Departments have been consulted as this policy has been established. Please note that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) changes their criteria, definitions, and policies often, which means this policy will continue to be modified.

Definitions:

Close Contact

• Any individual who is within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.

• You provide care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19

• You had direct physical contact with the person (touched, hugged, or kissed them)

• You shared eating or drinking utensils with the person

Isolation:

• Separates people who tested positive for COVID-19 from people who did not have COVID-19 for 10 days

Quarantine:

• Separates and restricts people who were exposed to COVID-19 to see if they become sick for 14 days

If you tested positive or were exposed to COVID-19 you must isolate:

• Inform CEO, CFO, and Clinical Director immediately

• Must isolate for a minimum 10 days after symptom onset →can be released if you are fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication and with improvement of COVID-19 symptoms.

• Or

• Tested negative (COVID-19 PCR tests) 2 times in a row, with testing done at least 24 hours apart

If you had close contact (less than 6 feet apart) with a person who has COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes you must quarantine:

• Inform CEO, CFO and Clinical Director immediately

• Must quarantine for 14 days after you came in contact with the person to see if symptoms develop

• If no symptoms, then you may return back to work

• If symptoms develop → can be released is, you are fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication and with improvement of COVID-19 symptoms

• Or

• Tested negative (COVID-19 PCR tests) 2 times in a row, with testing done at least 24 hours apart.

COVID-19 Reactive Policy as it pertains to notification of positive COVID-19 test results in either staff or patients.

Families and staff will be notified of a positive COVID-19 test result in a patient or employee of ABES, as soon as we are made aware. However, due to HIPAA regulations we will not be able to specify who had the positive result as that would be a violation of their legally protected health information.

We will notify individuals who were in close contact with the infected person and therefore at a higher risk of infection so they can monitor for onset of symptoms.

Individuals who were in close contact with the positive individual should follow the protocol set forth in the previous paragraph.

The center will not close entirely going forward with potential or formal exposure as we want to make sure that we continue to provide medically necessary services to the families we serve. Families and staff will be able to make decisions that they feel are in their best interest and can suspend services or take time off, if desired.

July 27, 2020

Due to the increase in Covid-19 cases, ABES will be implementing a new face mask policy effective immediately. All staff will be required to wear face masks when you are unable to maintain 6 foot distancing from other adults. Given the nature of our job, we are going to require face masks at all times, when you are in the clinic and during all in-home sessions.

As always, face masks are available for all staff. They are available at the front of the clinic as you enter. If you need additional masks, they are stored in the materials room. You may wear cloth or surgical masks. If you need a certain type of mask, please let us know.

April 1, 2020

These past several weeks have been challenging and I have learned a lot when it comes to a national crisis and how to handle these types of emergencies. I have figured out ways of treating our patients and keeping everyone as healthy as we can.

I am happy to report that we are still providing services and that we do not have any COVID-19 cases in our ABES community. I know some of you have chosen to keep your child at home during this shelter at home order and I completely understand where you are coming from. I hope you and your families are staying healthy.

As this order just got extended to April 30th and in all honesty I don't think the kids will actually end up going to school through the end of the school year. Even if they do, our kids do not benefit from e-learning. I am trying to find ways to keep services going so that your child does not regress. I am going to list a few options below and would love to hear any ideas you may have, as we are a community and we all are working towards the same goal.

We have the ability to rent additional space in the complex that we are in, which will allow us to serve more kids in the clinic, but at the same time keep appropriate separation between kids.

Clinic Sessions:

We have a very strict protocol in the clinic. Prior to your child's entrance into the actual clinic, we take their and your temperature. Anyone with over 99.0 is not allowed to enter, they are sent home. We urge parents to check their child's temperature and their own prior to leaving the house. Once the family enters they wash their hands and their child's hands with antibacterial soap for 20-30 seconds in the bathroom before they get their temperature taken. If the temperature is under 99.0, the child enters the clinic for their one to one sessions. We spread the children around so there isn't much contact. The staff assigned to the office do not go into the homes so that there is no cross contamination. Upon the completion of a session, the parent or whomever is picking up the child, has to wash their hands again for 20-30 seconds before their child is brought out to them.

Everything that I wrote above applies to all of our staff as well.

Also, keep in mind that:

• Your child's hands are washed frequently throughout the day.
• Everything gets wiped down before and after it is used.
• The ball pit is still open and those balls get cleaned at least twice per week - one ball at a time.
• I spend one day over the weekend in the clinic cleaning it thoroughly so that everything is extra clean and I can assure you that it has been done to my satisfaction.
• No one enters the clinic that doesn't belong.
• We conduct parent trainings and re-assessments via tele-health (video chat) which your insurance covers.

Home Sessions:

We have come up with even stringent protocols for in home therapy. We have assigned only 1 staff to work with 1 child in the home the entire week. They do not go to anyone else's house. They only come to you and then go home. They are not even allowed to come to the office. We have provided all of our home staff with the following items:

• Hand sanitizers
• Antibacterial soap
• Paper towels
• Mask (these are also available for clinic staff)
• Gloves (these are also available for clinic staff)
• Disinfecting wipes

We ask that the parents keep their house sanitized and they must sign off on a form stating that they will and also a waiver form. We also understand that these items are hard to find especially now, this is why we provide them to the staff as well. We also ask staff to bring a change of clothes if the choose to change into after their session. Supervision takes place via tele-health and so does parent training so that you don't have more than one person coming to your house, which is covered under your insurance.

This virus is serious and unfortunately isn't going anywhere and we, as healthcare providers we are doing everything in our power to provide treatment to your children that is medically necessary as we do not want them to regress.

For more information on tele-health services, please click the Tele-Health Tab on the Menu Bar.

March 23, 2020

A few insurance companies approved the use Tele-heath for ABA treatment. We will keep you informed as we find out more.

March 19, 2020

I wanted to thank our families and staff for following our protocols. Please continue to wash your hands upon arrival at our clinic and prior to ringing the doorbell. We will continue taking your and your child's temperature. Our staff follow the same protocol whether they are home based or clinic based. In your home, please make sure that antibacterial soap is available for them to wash their and your child's hands along with paper towels before and after the session.

I also wanted to remind you to please maintain the social distancing as recommended by the CDC. We need our ABES community to stay healthy so that we can continue providing these services. We do not have any confirmed COVID-19 cases within our community. Please communicate with me or your supervisors should there be any cases or exposure within your family.

I have reached out to the governor's office and the city of Geneva requesting the following supplies (listed below) and spoke to the Mayor directly who forwarded our request to the health department and thanked us for continuing to provide services during this difficult time.

• Hand Sanitizer
• Antibacterial Soap
• Antibacterial Wipes
• Gloves
• Masks

We were lucky enough to purchase a limited supply as this virus became more prevalent, but at this point, all of our vendors are out of these supplies. We still have sufficient amounts to last us through the coming weeks, but as we don't know the duration of this pandemic, we just want to be prepared. If you know of anywhere we can purchase any of these items, please contact me. To be clear, we are not asking you to give up your own items you need for your family.

March 13, 2020

As schools across the state have closed for the next few weeks, ABES Inc will remain open. We provide a medically necessary treatment and we are not following the school schedule. No one in the ABES community has been affected by the virus, but we will keep you informed if anything changes.

We will continue implementing the same strict measures that I emailed about yesterday (listed below).

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

As a reminder, here are some extra health and safety steps everyone can get involved with:

There are other symptoms, however these are the most common.

Citation: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2020-ncov/downloads/COVID19-symptoms.pdf

We are committed to maintaining our clinic to the highest standard we can. Please be considerate in this time and follow the guidelines. Thank you for helping us create and maintain a healthy environment.

March 12, 2020

Dear ABES Community:

Currently, there have been no confirmed COVID-19 cases at ABES Inc. Even so, with the number of cases across the state and region, ABES is taking more proactive measures to help reduce the spread of the illness throughout our community.

We are not closing the clinic or cancelling home sessions at this time, ABES is implementing stricter measures starting tomorrow:

• Anyone entering the clinic (staff, patient, parent) will have their temperature taken upon arrival.
• Any observations scheduled by outside providers are cancelled.
• All patients who are sick are asked to have their session cancelled.
• If anyone else in the home is sick, also please cancel your session.
• All staff members who are sick or potentially think they are sick are asked to stay home.
• All of our equipment (desks, chairs, ball pit, toys, lesson materials, swings, etc.) are wiped down with antiviral properties daily.
• The same is done to door handles, bathrooms and countertops daily.

As a reminder, here are some extra health and safety steps everyone can get involved with:

• Wash your hands with warm water and soap for a minimum of 30 seconds.
• Constant use of hand sanitizer (alcohol based).
• Avoid touching your mouth, eyes, nose to help prevent becoming infected.
• Avoid touching others to help reduce the spread of the virus.
• Error on the side of caution and keep your child at home if he/she is feeling ill.

Reported symptoms of the Coronavirus according to the CDC:

• Fever
• Dry or wheezing cough
• Shortness of breath

There are other symptoms, however these are the most common.

Citation: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2020-ncov/downloads/COVID19-symptoms.pdf

We are committed to maintaining our clinic to the highest standard we can. Please be considerate in this time and follow the guidelines. Thank you for helping us create and maintain a healthy environment.

March 9, 2020

Out of an abundance of caution, Autism Behavioral & Educational Services Inc. (ABES) is implementing an action plan to address evolving circumstances involving the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). We believe this action plan aligns with our commitment to ensure the health and safety of our staff, patients and their families. ABES administration will communicate any updates to this plan as well as concerns about the spread of the virus to staff and patients on an ongoing basis.

Preventative Actions

Our team is actively cleaning and sanitizing high touch places such as doorknobs, tables, faucets, and children’s toys frequently throughout the day. We will keep our slides and ball pits open for now and clean them daily. If there are increased incidents in our community, these spaces will be temporarily off-limits.

Hand Washing instructions are posted in all bathrooms. Patients will be encouraged to wash their hands upon arrival, before eating snacks, before leaving for the day and after sneezing or coughing in them. Patients who have sensory challenges with hand washing will have modified hand washing routines which are individualized to them. If you have concerns about specific products used for hand washing, please reach out to your child’s Case Supervisor/Director.

Each patient’s learning areas will be supplied with hand sanitizer. In addition, their tables and learning materials will be wiped down before and after each session with antibacterial wipes. If your child has an allergy or sensitivity to antibacterial gel or cleaning products, please let their Case Supervisor/Director know. For our little learners who like to mouth items, bins will be placed around the clinic for any item that has come in contact with their mouth, to ensure that it is sanitized before another child is able to access it.

Community spaces such as lunchroom, kitchen, conference room and break room will be cleaned and wiped down after each use. To ensure they are clean and disinfected, all kitchen and eating utensils will be washed in the hottest possible water.

As fundamental as this information is, it bears repeating that to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, staff and patients should remember to:

• Cover your cough or sneeze
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• See your doctor if you have a fever, cough, body aches and fatigue
• Stay home and limit contact with others if you are sick

Notification of Travel

We are asking that families and team members notify our main office if you have plans to travel overseas over spring break. In addition, patients or staff who have family members who reside with them who have traveled to or had stopovers in countries that are considered Level 3 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or higher, should self-quarantine for 14 days.

Information for travelers can be found on the CDC website:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

Closings

ABES will remain vigilant in staying up to date with all local and national recommendations regarding business closures. ABES intends to stay open, even if schools close, unless local officials advise otherwise. In the event that a patient or staff member contracts COVID-19, all parents and staff members will be contacted immediately, and the clinic will close for a minimum of 2 days to ensure that the space can be professionally cleaned and disinfected. Any patient or staff member who reports a diagnosis of COVID-19 will be suspended for a minimum of 14 days or until notice that there is no risk of contracting the virus is provided by a medical official.

We understand this is a stressful time for our families and want to ensure you that your child’s health is our first priority. We will continue to keep you informed of any updates.

March 6, 2020

What You Need to Know about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) from the CDC for more information.

What is Coronavirus? Coronavirus is the name for a family of viruses known to infect birds and mammals, including humans. These viruses are well known and common. Some members of this family even contribute to the common cold. Every now and then, animal coronaviruses will mutate and jump to humans.

What is Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)? COVID-19 is the name of the illness caused by this particular coronavirus and is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus (named SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19 (the disease) is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.

How widespread is it? COVID-19 has now been detected in almost 70 locations internationally, including the United States.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19? Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

What can you do? The best thing you can do is practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water is not available.

Should we wear masks? The CDC does not recommend that health people wear masks. Regular medical masks that you might find at the drugstore do not protect you from getting the coronavirus. Masks should be used by those who have the virus to help prevent the spread.

Steps ABES is taking? - We have replaced the foam soap dispensers in the bathrooms/kitchen with antimicrobial soap. As always, we have hand sanitizer throughout the office and they do contain more than the recommended 60% alcohol. We will be cleaning all surfaces on a daily basis. We have the office professionally cleaned weekly and this will continue.

There have been no known cases within the ABES community. We are monitoring the situation will keep you informed should anything change. Our process with our families has not changed. Families know when to cancel sessions due to illness. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me or one of your supervisors know.