ARI-FLV COVID-19 Situation Update

as of October 9, 2020

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As a result of the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in Albany County, Wyoming, and with an abundance of caution, all Laramie-based Feeding Laramie Valley (FLV) and Action Resources International (ARI) staff are back to essential workers only working on-site beginning October 3, 2020 until further notice. The organization’s headquarters building has been closed to general public use since March, and remains closed until further notice. No volunteers or non-essential workers, and no essential workers considered to be in a high risk category, are utilizing the headquarters building until further notice. Full sanitation is practiced throughout every day the building is used as a staging place for its essential health-related services of healthy food preparation and distribution, and deep cleaning of the entire building is done on a regular basis. 

 

One Laramie-based staff member reported on October 2, 2020 that they had had unavoidable contact with someone who subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. That staff person has not been on-site since learning of that contact, was immediately quarantined and tested. The results of that test were positive, and the individual’s quarantine and isolation remain in effect for a minimum of 14 days from October 2. Only very mild symptoms have been reported in this case.   

 

All ARI-FLV staff members have been tested beginning October 3, 2020 at ARI expense, and are being tested on an ongoing basis. There have only been negative test results to date. As stated above, all ARI-FLV pandemic mitigation policies and procedures as recommended by public health and State officials are being followed or exceeded through ARI-FLV policies, and are being enforced at all times.  

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National Service Updates for All ARI Service Members

as of March 18, 2020

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Action Resources International is requiring that all National Service members work from home, effective starting Wednesday, March 18, 2020.The majority of Action Resources International (ARI) staff members are now working from home, while remaining active full-time in their work to be engaged in our food security and overall community health and wellness efforts. Please be assured that our entire staff and national service workers across Wyoming and Colorado are always financially covered by paid sick leave, and will have ongoing coverage as any COVID-19-related needs affect their lives.​

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AmeriCorps Member Hours

• If any of your members are unable to complete their weekly hours from home, please contact me as soon as possible so that we can develop a plan for them to stay on track with their minimum hour requirements. 

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Exceptions 

• Exceptions will be made for sites and members who are providing food distribution and direct health care services with a signed statement of the steps that have been taken to assure the health and safety of the members and the people receiving services.

• Any AmeriCorps site sponsored/funded by Action Resources International (ARI) wishing to retain their AmeriCorps members on-site as opposed to them working at home, must receive permission from the Program Coordinator.

 

Member Travel

• All business travel of any kind associated with, required by and/or funded by any Action Resources International or AmeriCorps is now cancelled until further notice.

• All members are being requested by ARI to conduct their personal life with the same health care measures we are following as an organization, including curtailing large group participation and personal travel involving crowded spaces (such as buses, trains, planes, lodging, etc.). Avoid being part of groups larger than 10 people.

 

Working from Home

• Members who will begin working from home have been reminded that this is not vacation time.

• In addition, members may be asked to increase their work load by virtue of the increased social and mental health needs that are arising within the communities we serve that are also being asked to conduct social distancing, along with continuing the essential projects they are already working on.

• Members will continue to work their normal number of hours during their normal working time frame (e.g. if they serve full time at your site, normally open from 9 AM – 4 PM, then they should be working and available during these hours from home).

• Members will also continue to log their hours and work descriptions as usual.

• Site Supervisors will also continue to sign off on hours as usual.

• We recognize that the sudden adjustment from working in a busy office with lots of interaction with co-workers and the community to working alone is not easy, and ARI staff will be providing ways for member and sites to receive extra support and interaction during this time.

 

Sick Leave

• If a member becomes too ill to work from home, as always, we ask they use their sick leave.

• If members develop a Coronavirus-COVID 19 related illness, members must alert their program coordinator and contact their doctor for instructions before seeking out medical care in person.

• Provisions have been made for extended emergency leave.

• If members use all of their sick days and still need more, members must contact their site supervisor and program coordinator immediately so I can make the proper arrangements for them to get the additional sick leave they may need.

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How You Can Help

We will begin announcing opportunities for local community members and all people supportive of community health work, to stay connected with us, and to sign on in a variety of ways for being involved with helping each other be well and connected during this challenging time. 

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Community Safety Updates

We are here to help everyone with this transition to a new way of working and socializing in our communities. To prevent the spread of this COVID-19, or other illnesses including the flu, here are some good practices we should all be following:

 

• Conduct Social Distancing. Social distancing is deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness. Examples of social distancing that allow you to avoid crowds and crowded spaces are:

  • staying at least six feet away from other people,

  • working from home instead of the office,

  • switching to online classes,

  • visiting with loved ones by electronic devices instead of in person, 

  • cancelling or postponing conferences, large meetings, or gatherings of more than 10 people.

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• Wash, Wash, Wash your hands.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. To ensure you wash for right amount of time, sing a song in your head such as twinkle twinkle little star. For a list of more songs you can sing visit this website.

 

• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Use a tissue or your arm to cover your mouth or nose and not your hands.

 

• Stay home when you’re sick.

If you get sick, and have flu-like symptoms (such as fever, coughing, sore throat or runny nose), call your doctor before seeking in-person medical care unless you are experiencing severe shortness of breath and/or are struggling to breathe. 

If you get sick, you can also call the COVID-19 Hotline at: 307-755-4750.

Telemedicine is now covered by Medicaid. To learn more visit their website.

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COVID-19 Online Resources

To learn more about COVID-19, preventative measures, and more visit the following sites.

Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resources Center

The Center for Disease Control

World Health Organization

Wyoming Department of Health

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