Posts Tagged ‘Coronavirus’

HVCS’ Response to Coronavirus Pandemic: Office Closures

Friday, March 20th, 2020

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, starting on Monday, March 23, 2020, HVCS will be closing all its offices. Staff will be working from home.

All face-to-face meetings, testing, and support groups are suspended until further notice. Our THRIVES and Emily’s Pantry nutrition education clients will receive, mostly, vouchers to purchase food at local stores.

SEP vans will be operating on a reduced schedule of one day per week. Special arrangements will be made for Rockland County syringe exchange clients who need access to new syringes; we are also beefing up our ESAP program (vouchers for new syringes from pharmacies). We will be using telemedicine services to connect our Health Hub clients with Dr. Gomez for suboxone (buprenorphine) prescriptions.

If you have any critical needs or questions for HVCS, use our online contact form to connect to us.

 

 

HIV+ People & Coronavirus: HVCS’ JanetLynn Remy-Decastro Interview

Thursday, March 19th, 2020

Are HIV-positive people at greater risk for COVID-19? One reporter from Spectrum News asked that question and contacted us for perspective. JanetLynn Remy-Decastro, one of our peers, sat down for a television news interview with reporter Dominic McKenzie. He also talked with Jennifer Deekens, an infectious disease nurse practitioner from Cornerstone Family Healthcare for the medical side of this issue.

Watch the piece here: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/hudson-valley/coronavirus/2020/03/19/are-people-with-hiv-at-great-risk-for-coronavirus#

 

 

 

HVCS’ Response to Coronavirus Crisis

Wednesday, March 18th, 2020

Starting Wednesday, March 18, 2020 we will be operating our offices with smaller staff on duty each day.

Contingency plans also include:

  • For program specific information, guidelines and schedules, please contact your HVCS care/case manager or specialist.
  • All face-to-face meetings with clients are suspended until further notice, and there will be no walk-ins in any office.
  • All groups and educational sessions are suspended until further notice.
  • We will continue to provide regular food pantry bags. Until further notice, clients will need to call ahead to arrange for a food bag pickup. We will post flyers with a number to call on our doors.  Food bags will be left outside of the office door, so there is no physical contact. All food bags will need to be pre-packed (no client choice options). During this time, toiletries may not be available due to supply chain issues. If you are in an emergency situation and need food, bags will be provided outside our office space.

These plans will remain in effect for two weeks (until April 1). During this time we will continually re-evaluate our situation and may need to take further steps if we are required to do so by governmental authorities.

Remember these precautions:

  • Frequent handwashing is your best defense!
  • Practice social distancing: stay 6 feet away from others as much as you can. Greet people with a wave rather than physical contact.
  • Keep spaces clean and disinfected. Light switches and phones should be disinfected too!

More plans and news will be forthcoming as they become available. Stay healthy!

Coronavirus Case in New Rochelle + Comparison to Flu Epidemic

Thursday, March 5th, 2020

We received more Coronavirus information from an official press release from Westchester County. We’re sharing it to ensure we are providing you with relevant, non-repetitive news about the coronavirus.

  • 1 resident of New Rochelle has tested positive for COVID-19 and he is currently in a New York City hospital. Officials are investigating his community contacts and travel patterns.
  • If you have any concerns about COVID-19 please call 211 – they will have the most up-to-date information and they are here for you
    • 8am – 10pm  SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
    • Please call them – use this resource
  • If you think you are symptomatic – DO NOT GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM – YOU MUST CALL AHEAD BEFORE ARRIVAL.
  • 12 residents are currently in voluntary quarantine in their homes.

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AS OF RIGHT NOW – STEPS TAKEN

  • With Coronavirus spreading globally, the CDC has issued travel health notices.  To date, residents should avoid nonessential travel to  China, Iran, Italy and South Korea given the number of cases in these countries.
  • Older residents and those with chronic medical conditions should consider also avoiding travel to Japan.

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WHAT CAN YOU/RESIDENTS DO

  • Children are not overtly at risk
  • Stay informed, calm and don’t be alarmed
  • Wash hands -at least 20 seconds with soap and water
  • Stay home when sick
  • Cover your mouth when cough or sneeze  – elbow or tissue
  • Clean with non-green products (i.e. bleach-based) [note: cleaning kits were distributed in our offices to help keep our offices cleaner]
  • Get your flu shot

Some perspective from Cornerstone Family Healthcare’s Dr. Avi Silber, Chief Medical Officer:

It is important to view the Corona Virus in perspective. In the US in the ordinary 2019-2020 flu season so far,

  • 32  million people have had flu illnesses
  • 14 million have had flu medical visits
  • 310,000 people have been hospitalized for the flu
  • 18,000 people have died.

And these numbers are just in the US! Dr. Silber reemphasized the guidance that has already been provided and which is available in the easy-to-read flyers from the CDC. English Spanish

  • Wash your hands and wipe down your work space
  • If you have a fever and a cough, check with your medical provider, especially if you’re in a high risk group (elderly, diabetic, heart or lung disease)
  • Stay home if you’re sick