Step 7

Dealing with a Suspected Case of COVID-19

This details our procedure to be followed in the event of someone developing the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 while at work or while in the setting.

We have assigned a manager and put in place an isolation team to manage this situation, and provided them with information on how to do this safely (where this is possible, dependent on the number of staff in the setting). We have also identified and marked and isolation area(s) to be used to isolate the affected person from the rest of the setting and procedures to be followed to enable them to safely leave the premises. This area has been communicated with staff.

pending.......

COVID-19 Return to Work Protocol – Checklist No. 4 Dealing with a Suspected Case of Covid-19
These checklists have been prepared to help owners and managers to get their setting up and running again in a way that will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the safe return to work for all staff. Further information can be found at www.Gov.ie, www.hse.ie, www.hpsc.ie and www.hsa.ie
No.	Control	Yes/No	Action needed
			Action pending
	Procedures and Information
1.	Have you a system in place to identify and isolate staff, children or others who start to display symptoms of COVID-19 in the setting?	Yes
2.	Have you a COVID-19 contact/group work log in place to facilitate contact tracing?	yes
3.	Have you informed staff and parents/guardians of the purpose of the log?	yes- staff at the meeting on 8/06/20	parents will be notified by email
4.	Have you consulted with staff and parents/guardians on the purpose of the isolation procedure and when it should be used?	yes- staff at the meeting on 8/06/20	parents will be notified by email
5.	Have you displayed the COVID-19 posters in suitable locations highlighting the signs and symptoms of COVID-19?		until the end of the week (21/06/20)
	Instructions if a person(s) develops signs and symptoms of COVID-19 at work
6.	Have you instructed your staff about what they need to do if they develop signs and symptoms at work?	yes-Plan on the website
7.	Have you instructed your staff about what they need to do if they suspect that a child has developed signs and symptoms in the setting?	yes-Plan on the website
8.	Have you provided your staff and parents/guardians with up to date public health information on COVID-19 issued by the HSE , HPSC and GOV.ie?	yes -information on the website
	Reporting
9.	Have you made your staff aware of reporting procedures if they or a child develop signs and symptoms at work for COVID-19?	yes
	Response team
10.	Have you appointed a staff member to deal with any suspected case of COVID-19?	yes- Lidia Glowka
11.	Have you allocated staff members to support a response team(s) (depending on size of setting) to deal with a suspected case of COVID-19 in the setting and trained this team in what actions to take?	yes- Iwona Sawicka, Ela Grochowska
	Isolation area(s)
12.	Have you identified a place that can be used as an isolation area, preferably with a door that can be closed, in the event of a suspected case of COVID-19? Is this place suitable for children and provides for adequate supervision?	yes
13.	Is this isolation area accessible, including to persons with disabilities?	N/A
14.	Is the route to the isolation area accessible?	yes
15.	Have you a contingency plan for dealing with more than one suspected COVID-19 case? e.g. if more than one person is displaying signs and symptoms of COVID-19, are there additional isolation areas?	yes- Plan on the website
16.	Are the following available in the isolation area(s)? · ventilation, e.g. fresh air / ventilation/ability to open a window · tissues · hand sanitiser · disinfectant and/or wipes · gloves, masks · waste bags · pedal-operated, closed bin · Use of a thermometer is available (infared or with single use protective covers	yes
	Isolating a child displaying COVID-19 symptoms
17.	Are procedures in place for a member of the team to accompany the affected child to the isolation area, along the isolation route, while maintaining physical distancing (2 metres) from them (where possible)? Do such procedures have contingency to maintain ratios in the rest of the setting?	Yes
18.	Is the manager and response team familiar with this procedure?	Yes
19.	Have others been advised to maintain a distance of at least 2 metres from the affected person at all times?	Yes
20.	Is there a disposable mask available for the staff member accompanying the child to wear while in a common area and when exiting the building? Is the staff member aware that the child does not need to wear a mask?	Yes
	Isolating a staff member displaying COVID-19 symptoms
21.	Are procedures in place for a member of the team to accompany the affected staff member to the isolation area, along the isolation route, while maintaining physical distancing (2 metres) from them? Do such procedures have contingency to maintain ratios in the rest of the setting?	Yes
22.	Is the manager and response team familiar with this procedure?	Yes
23.	Have others been advised to maintain a distance of at least 2 metres from the affected staff member at all times?	Yes
24.	Is there a disposable mask for the staff member who is isolating to wear?	yes
	Arranging for the child to leave setting/Exit Strategy
25.	Have you up to date contact details for parent/guardian of each child so they can be contacted to take affected child home? Has the manager/isolation team let the child remain in isolation adequately surpervised, and arranged to contact parent/guardian?	yes
26.	Has the child’s parents/guardian been advised to avoid public transport?	yes- information on the website
	Arranging for the staff member to leave the setting/Exit Strategy
27.	Have you established, by asking them, if the affected person feels well enough to travel home?
28.	If the affected person considers themselves able to travel home, have you directed them to do so and to call their GP and self-isolate at home?
29.	If the affected person feels unable to go home, has the manager/isolation team let them remain in isolation, and enabled them to call their GP?
30.	Has the affected person been advised to avoid touching other people, surfaces and objects?
31.	Has the affected person been advised to cover their mouth and nose with the disposable tissue(s) provided when they cough or sneeze, and to put the tissue in the waste bag provided?
32.	Has transport home or to an assessment centre been arranged if the affected person has been directed to go there by their GP?
33.	Has the affected person been advised not to go to their GP’s surgery or any pharmacy or hospital?
34.	Has the affected person been advised they must not use public transport?
35.	Has the affected person been advised to continue wearing the face mask until they reach home?
	Follow-up
36.	Have you carried out an assessment of the incident to identify any follow- up actions needed? Have you communicated relevant actions to staff and parent/guardian?
37.	Are you available to provide advice and assistance if contacted by the HSE?
	Disinfection
38.	Have you taken the isolation area and any areas that the person/child was using out-of-use until cleaned and disinfected?
39.	Have you arranged for cleaning and disinfection of the isolation area and any works areas involved, at least one hour after the affected person/ child has left the building?
40.	Have persons responsible for cleaning been trained in dealing with contaminated areas and supplied with the appropriate PPE?	Yes
	Additional Information

Step 7

Signature - Lidia Glowka Date 5/06/2020 updated 18/06/2020