Guidance for Shelter Volunteers - Best Practices for Preventing Spread of COVID-19

BEST PRACTICES

Wear face coverings at all times

• Wash hands or use hand sanitizer before touching your face.
• Wash clothing and cloth face coverings worn daily in the warmest water possible for the fabric, and dry on the highest heat setting possible.
• If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, new loss of taste or smell) or if you are identified as a close contact to a positive case, seek medical care and contact the local health department.
• Do not report to shelter if you have a fever (100.4°F or above), cough, vomiting or diarrhea.

PROTECTING RESIDENTS

• Limit close contact with other volunteers, staff, and residents to less than 15 total minutes and keep physical distance of at least 6 feet.
• Limit shared items among residents such as pens, toys or other personal items.
• Disable water fountains for direct drinking, and allow for use only for water bottle filling.
• Regularly disinfect high-touch surfaces such as tables, door handles, bathroom faucets, handrails, etc.
• Clean any visibly soiled surfaces with soap and water before disinfecting.

• CDC is recommending use of household bleach or disinfectants on the EPA list: go.ncsu.edu/epacovid-19
• Prepare a bleach solution, mix:
  • 5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) bleach per gallon of water
  • 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water

• Do not touch ice or opened food products with bare hands and instead use gloves and other utensils.
• Keep food out of temperature danger zone, which is between 41°F and 135°F.
• If individually plated meals are served, make sure they are eaten or thrown away within 4 hours.
• When receiving food, check temperature with a digital, thin probe thermometer.
  • Hot foods should be at or above 135°F and cold at or below 41°F.
  • If foods are received with a discard time, be sure to use and throw away accordingly.

HOW TO WASH HANDS

Stay informed: ext.vt.edu/covid-19updates
Updated August 26, 2020