COVID-19 Safety Measures

Effective: 7/16/2021

A-1 Universal Care, Inc.’s (AUC) guidance below applies to ALL of our OPWDD settings.  These settings include Community Habilitation (Self-Hired and Agency Supported), Respite (Self-Hired and Agency Supported), Day Habilitation, Broker and Fiscal Intermediary Services.

This guidance is in accordance with a combination of the most recent Centers for Disease Control (CDC), NYS Department of Health (DOH) and OPWDD guidance as of 7/6/2021.

Masks/Face Coverings for Employees – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html

• AUC provides employees with disposable masks. You can contact out HR Coordinator to request additional masks.

Guidance on Masks/Face Coverings	If you are fully vaccinated	If you are not fully vaccinated
Indoors	In general, employees who are fully vaccinated are not required to wear a mask indoors or outdoors while providing services.   See the exceptions listed under the “Whether you are fully vaccinated” section below.	Employees who are not fully vaccinated must wear a mask when indoors & in public places while providng services.   Employees should encourage individuals receiving services who are not fully vaccinated to wear a mask when indoors & in public places if they are able to medically tolerate wearing a mask.
Outdoors	See above.   Note: For employees to be considered “fully vaccinated”, it must be at least 2 weeks from the last dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and proof of vaccination must be on file with AUC.  (Proof of vaccination can be uploaded to your Paycom profile under “Documents -> ‘+’ -> Generic Employee Document”.	In general, employees who are not fully vaccinated are not required to wear a mask in outdoor settings while providing services, with the following exceptions:   Employees who are not fully vaccinated must wear a mask outdoors when providing services within 6 feet of an individual who has a medical condition that makes them more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19* if the individual receiving services is not fully vaccinated.   *Per CDC, medical conditions that make people more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19 include: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html

Whether you are fully vaccinated or not fully vaccinated:

• If the community setting or private home requires a mask for entry, all employees are required to follow the mask policy of that setting or home while providing services.  Employees should encourage individuals receiving services to do the same if they are able to medically tolerate wearing a mask.

• Regardless of vaccination status, employees are required to defer to the instructions of the individual receiving services and/or their household members regarding mask requirements when working within the individual’s private home.

• Per CDC, “If you have a condition or are taking medications that weaken your immune system, you may need to keep taking steps to protect yourself, like wearing a mask, even if you are fully vaccinated.  Talk to your healthcare provider about steps you can take to manage your health and risks”.  Employees should defer to any medical advice given to the individual receiving services and/or their family to determine if the employee should encourage an individual receiving services who is fully vaccinated to continue to wear a mask or not.

• In general, employees should encourage individuals receiving services who are not fully vaccinated to wear a mask in outdoor settings within 6 feet of others if they have a medical condition that makes them more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19* if they are able to medically tolerate wearing a mask, unless the individual has received other medical advice. 

*Per CDC, medical conditions that make people more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19 include:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html

Guidance on Community & Group Activities During Services

• Low risk, outdoor activities are encouraged whenever possible.

• If the person receiving services is not fully vaccinated, employees should encourage them to practice social distancing.

Transportation During Services

Regardless of vaccination status:

• Prior to providing services, vehicles must be cleaned and disinfected.

• Individuals and staff will be required to wear masks, to the extent they can medically tolerate one, regardless of vaccination status, while being transported between OPWDD locations or transported as part of an OPWDD service (e.g. from a residence to a day program).

NY State Travel Advisory  – https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory

As of June 25, 2021, the New York State Travel Advisory is no longer in effect.  As such, travelers arriving in New York are no longer required to submit traveler health forms.  All domestic and international travelers should continue to follow all CDC travel requirements.

***Note:  AUC employees must immediately notify their direct Supervisor if they have a direct exposure (directly exposed to someone who has tested positive within the last 10 days) or if the employee is pending a COVID-19 rest result.