COVID-19 Infectious Disease Control Policy - Effective Date: 07/26/2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness with symptoms that include fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and/or diarrhea. The purpose of this policy is to ensure the health and safety of our clients, visitors, staff, and vendors during the current public health emergency.

Health/Safety:
In light of the current situation, especially with the rise in cases lately, Restoring Hope Counseling has adopted the following practices to minimize potential exposure to COVID-19 in our workplace. Clients and/or staff are strongly encouraged to:

  • Practice social distancing, staying at least 6 feet away from others, even if wearing a mask.

  • Allow for virtual meetings instead of in-person meetings if client wishes to do so.

  • Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

  • Avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth.

  • Keep workspaces clean using provided cleaning supplies.

  • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of the elbow.

  • Report potential exposure immediately (as outlined below).

  • Where possible, avoid public transportation and recreational activities where you might come into contact with contagious individuals.

  • Facemask use will be up to the discretion of the individual. Any client may ask for Restoring Hope Counseling staff members to wear a mask during their session. We are happy to do so!

Fully vaccinated individuals are still encouraged to participate in all practices listed above.

If You Are Sick, Stay At Home!

Clients/staff/others should not come in to the office if any symptom related to COVID-19, including fever, cough and/or acute respiratory symptoms and those with symptoms should stay home. Anyone with COVID-19 must stay home until they meet the sets of CDC criteria for ending home isolation, which include:

    • At least 10 days have passed since symptoms onset AND

    • At least 24 hours have passed since the resolution of a fever without use of fever-reducing medications AND

    • All other COVID-19 symptoms have improved.

If anyone visiting the office (clients, staff, or others) shows ANY symptoms of acute respiratory illness, they will be sent home immediately. A negative COVID-19 test will not override this guideline. 

Report Exposure to COVID-19

If you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, even if you are asymptomatic, we ask that you please report the exposure as soon as possible.  If you have recently traveled to a location that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified as having an active outbreak or their state considers “high risk,” you should notify Restoring Hope Counseling as well. This will allow for Restoring Hope Counseling to take necessary steps to prevent further spread of the virus to others. All reports of a positive test or exposure are anonymous; we will only inform those who may have been exposed. Your personal information will not be included in the notification.

Heightened Health Situations:

If you have a heightened health concern, we strongly recommend attending counseling sessions from home via video call. If you wish to utilize video call counseling, contact Restoring Hope Counseling to make the appropriate changes to your scheduled appointment. You do not need to disclose any health information. Below are examples of heightened health situations that might cause concern.

The client:

  • Is immunocompromised or lives with someone who is

  • Lives with an older family member who has a higher risk for the infection

  • Is pregnant

  • Has children home from school due to school closure and doesn’t have childcare coverage

  • Is experiencing significant mental health symptoms that would hinder being out in public.

Restoring Hope Counseling will not take adverse action against a client for exercising their rights under applicable laws. 

Nondiscrimination:
Restoring Hope Counseling will not discriminate against any client or staff member based on the fact the individual has COVID-19. However, Restoring Hope Counseling reserves the right to exclude a person with COVID-19 from facilities, programs and functions if it finds that such restriction is necessary for the welfare of the person who has COVID-19 and/or the welfare of others. All decisions will be based on current and well-informed medical judgments concerning the disease, the risks of transmitting the illness to others, the symptoms and special circumstances of each individual who has the disease, and a careful weighing of the identified risks.