Disaster Cycle Services COVID-19 Compendium Document

The entire document is linked for reading above.

Important changes to Compendium are listed below. 

Sheltering COVID-Positive Clients

To better promote the safety of clients and the workforce, follow these recommendations to prioritize the handling of known COVID-positive clients in congregate shelters for all COVID risk levels:

1. Clients (and their immediate family members) who present with probable COVID symptoms or known COVID-positive diagnoses must be housed in non-congregate shelter settings, to include hotel or house rentals, when available.

• Some states may establish separate sheltering options for COVID-positive clients.  The Red Cross should pursue this option when available/needed.

2. If non-congregate sheltering options are unavailable, open a separate congregate shelter location for isolation of COVID-positive clients

3. If non-congregate sheltering options or a separate shelter location are not options, only then should an isolation area within an existing congregate shelter with a standard client population be considered.

• This isolation area must be able to have separate bathroom and bathing areas from the general population of the shelter.
• Shelter locations with a separate room for the dormitory space of isolated clients should be prioritized.

Additional considerations for supporting COVID-positive clients:

• Discussions with Emergency Management should clarify the Red Cross preference for shelter locations that have a separate room for the dormitory space for isolated clients.
• When Red Cross assumes management of an independent shelter, COVID protocols must be in place before Red Cross staff is assigned in person for that shelter.
• When Red Cross supports a partner shelter, COVID protocols must be placed before Red Cross staff is assigned in person.
• Notification of non-congregate sheltering at hotels where clients are COVID positive is approved by the Office of General Counsel (OGC) due to the national Public Health Emergency and is NOT a HIPAA violation.
• Government Operations Liaisons in EOCs should prioritize discussions with ESF-8 to provide COVID testing at shelter sites for clients and staff.

Non-Congregate Sheltering (NCS Administrator)

The Red Cross may be asked to lead non-congregate sheltering for Declared Disasters (State orFederal). At the direction of the Vice President, Disaster Operations & Logistics, we may enter into an agreement with a governmental partner so Red Cross may seek reimbursement for non-congregate sheltering services (lodging and wrap-around services). When the Red Cross enters into an agreement, the VP, Disaster Operations & Logistics and the RCCO appoint an NCS Administrator to coordinate activities between Red Cross lines of business, including DCS, Finance, Office of GeneralCounsel, Grants COE, Travel Management, Risk Management, the government, and the DRO.

This NCS Administrator reports to the Deputy DRO Director and their duties include:

Non-congregate Sheltering Administration Structure

• The HQ NCS Administration Manager identifies an NCS Client Lodging Coordinator responsible for maintaining client rooming lists by working with the clients, hotels, and utilizing the NonCongregate Reservation Manager Tool.
• The HQ NCS Administration Manager collaborates with the HQ Shelter Manager and the virtual Lodging Team to secure and release client rooms as appropriate.
• In the event a state contract for reimbursement of NCS lodging expenses is secured, the VicePresident, Disaster Operations & Logistics assigns an NCS Administrator to oversee NCSadministration tasks.
• When assigned, the NCS Administrator reports to the Deputy DRO Director and collaborates daily with the AD of Operations to ensure all Mass Care activities are fully informed of mutual tasks, goals, and objectives
• Virtual Lodging Team (VLT) is assigned when hotels are being used for non-congregate shelters. The VLT serves all active DROs and tracks and facilitates hotel reservations and contracts with CLC.

Sheltering COVID-Positive Clients

To better promote the safety of clients and the workforce, follow these recommendations to prioritize the handling of known COVID-positive clients in congregate shelters for all COVID risk levels:

4. Clients (and their immediate family members) who present with probable COVIDsymptoms or known COVID-positive diagnoses must be housed in non-congregate shelter settings, to include hotel or house rentals, when available.

• Some states may establish separate sheltering options for COVID-positive clients. The Red Cross should pursue this option when available/needed.

5. If non-congregate sheltering options are unavailable, open a separate congregate shelter location for isolation of COVID-positive clients.

6. If non-congregate sheltering options or a separate shelter location are not options, only then should an isolation area within an existing congregate shelter with a standard client population be considered.

• This isolation area must be able to have separate bathroom and bathing areas from the general population of the shelter.
• Shelter locations with a separate room for the dormitory space of isolated clients should be prioritized.

Additional considerations:

• Discussions with Emergency Management should clarify the Red Cross preference for shelter locations that have a separate room for the dormitory space for isolated clients.
• When Red Cross assumes management of an independent shelter, COVID protocols must be in place before Red Cross staff is assigned in person for that shelter.
• When Red Cross supports a partner shelter, COVID protocols must be in place before Red Cross staff is assigned in person.
• Notification of non-congregate sheltering at hotels where clients are COVID positive is approved by the Office of General Counsel (OGC) due to the national Public Health Emergency and is NOT a HIPAA violation.
• Government Operations Liaisons in EOCs should prioritize discussions with ESF-8 to provide COVID testing at shelter sites for clients and staff.

Exposure Prevention

Red Cross Actions to protect Workers Assigned to a DRO

○  The region sends the following personal protective equipment (PPE)               items with all in-person deployed workers:

• A minimum of 3 masks
• 3 pairs of gloves
• 1 small hand sanitizer
• A forehead thermometer

○  Health screen all in-person workers, including a Pre-Assignment Health Questionnaire, Wellness Agreement, and pre-deployment COVID    exposure screening; require self temperature and self-symptom screening of all in-person workers before reporting for daily shifts Disaster Cycle Services strongly encourages that returning workers get COVID tested prior to leaving an assignment and again upon returning home. Workers can get tested prior to leaving the DRO, but the average incubation period for COVID is 2-5 days or up to 14 days. The CDC recommends that unvaccinated travelers be tested 3-5 days after returning home. Additionally, unvaccinated workers should self-quarantine for 7 days or until test results are received. All workers should monitor for any symptoms of illness for 14 days after returning home.