New Sanitizing Procedures for Covid-19

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We Have Re-Opened!

We are pleased to resume clinic and research operations at Center for Cognitive Health! Please take a moment to review our plans for sanitizing to ensure patient, subject, and staff safety during Covid-19. Please reach out to us with any questions or concerns. 

To protect patient and subject safety and support a sanitary, healthy, and safe workplace, the following practices have been implemented:  

  • Subjects and study partners will be masked and escorted directly into a clean room (see procedures below) for interviews and examinations upon entering the clinic.
  • Interaction with subjects and study partners will be conducted by masked employees.
  • Employees will wash their hands prior to seeing subjects, eating food, drink, or after going to the bathroom.
  • Proper and frequent hand washing is encouraged.
  • Employees have been encouraged to avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles with liners are provided at each workstation or in a common area. Gloves are required when removing garbage bags, handling, and disposing of trash followed by washing hands after handling or disposing of trash.
  • Soap has been provided at all bathroom and other sinks in the facility. If soap and water are not readily available, alcohol-based hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol has also been provided. If hands are visibly dirty, soap and water should be chosen over hand sanitizer.
  • Hand sanitizers have been placed in multiple locations for easy access and to encourage hand hygiene.
  • Handshaking and other forms of personal contact will be avoided.
  • Employees are required to follow coughing and sneezing etiquette.
  • Employees are instructed to not use other workers’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment, when possible. If necessary, clean and disinfect them before and after use.
  • Disposable wipes and/or cleaning rags with approved cleaners have been provided at key locations so that commonly used surfaces (e.g., doorknobs, keyboards, remote controls, desks, other work tools and equipment) can be wiped down by employees before each use and when necessary.
  • Sick workers are required stay at home or go home if they start to feel/look ill.

 Each employee will clean and disinfect or if clean, disinfect their workstation prior to beginning their shift with a focus on frequently touched surfaces. The frequently touched surfaces include worktables, tools, chairs, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, faucets, sinks, keyboards, printers, telephones, remote controls, copy machine parts, machine control stations, handrails, etc.

  • Cleaning personnel or designated employee will clean and disinfect or if clean, disinfect their workstation and cleaning supply cart prior to beginning their shift. They will also clean and sanitize frequently touched surfaces in common areas such as floors, walls, doors, doorknobs, push plates, and handles, worktables, tables, chairs, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, telephones, remote controls, faucets, sinks, toilets, bathrooms, soap dispensers, handrails, food preparation and storage equipment such as coffee makers, microwaves, refrigerators, garbage cans, etc. on a regular basis as determined by the need and it should be at least daily, but can be more frequent.
  • Shipping and receiving personnel will also either leave undisturbed for 24 hours or sanitize packages and mail in case they need to be opened immediately.

Sanitation Procedures for Routine Operations 

Wear disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. Gloves should be discarded after each cleaning. Wash hands immediately for 20 seconds after gloves are removed.  Cleaning and/or disinfecting shall be accomplished by using household cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants that are appropriate for the surface. All label instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product or disinfectant shall be followed including precautions to take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure there is good ventilation during use of the product. 

When cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and areas, the following procedures will be followed: 

  • If surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned using a detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
  • If EPA-registered household disinfectants are not available, diluted household bleach solutions can be used if appropriate for the surface. Unexpired household bleach is effective against corona viruses when properly diluted. A bleach solution can be prepared by mixing: 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water or 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water.

Sanitation Procedures When an Employee Is Infected 

Wear disposable gloves and a gown when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. Gloves and gown should be discarded after each cleaning. Wash hands for immediately 20 seconds after gloves are removed. When cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and areas, the following procedures will be followed: 

  • Close off areas used by the sick person.
  • Open outside doors and windows, if possible, or increase air circulation in the area by adjusting the Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning system. Wait 24 hours before you clean or disinfect. Clean and disinfect all areas used by the sick person, such as offices, bathrooms, common areas, shared electronic equipment like tablets, touch screens, keyboards, remote controls, and equipment.
  • If surfaces are dirty, they will be cleaned using a detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.

• For disinfection, most common EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective or a diluted bleach solution can be used if appropriate for the surface

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