March 13, 2020
Our commitment to keeping the young people we serve safe is always our number one priority. Following the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, it’s important that you know Boys & Girls Clubs of Maury County (BGCMC) is doing everything possible to keep our kids, our staff, and volunteers protected from its spread. We are also closely monitoring reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and our local health department for all updated information.
BGCMC has a policy in the parent handbook which addresses communicable diseases and Club member attendance. An excerpt from the BGCMC parent handbook on page 13 follows:
“Use your best judgment in bringing your child to the Club. If he/she appears unhealthy or has symptoms of being sick, please consider the health of other children, our staff, and parents before you drop your child off at the Club. CONTAGIOUS DISEASES: If the child has a confirmed case of a contagious disease, he/she must be kept at home and the facts regarding the condition must be reported to the Club so that notice can be posted within the Club site. Strep throat, pinworms, pink eye, viral infections, lice, infected ears, eyes, and/or sinuses, measles, mumps, chicken pox, scarlet fever, diarrhea, and impetigo are among those conditions categorized as highly contagious. Please notify the Club if your child has become ill with a highly contagious disease. Members with communicable and contagious illnesses or symptoms will be sent home. A child may return to the Club after a physician has evaluated the illness, medication prescribed, and any period of contagion has passed as determined by the licensed physician. A written statement from your child’s doctor is required.”
BGCMC will follow the same operating advisement of local public-school systems regarding closures related to this illness.
Secondly, BGCMC staff will be implementing additional daily cleaning protocols at our sites and reinforcing regular hand-washing habits with Club members throughout the Club day to help keep everyone safe.
As a reminder, we recommend these preventive actions every family should take to prevent exposure to COVID-19:
o Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
o Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
o Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
o Stay home when you are sick.
o Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning
spray or wipe.
o Follow the CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask:
o CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect
themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
o Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent
the spread of the disease to others.
o Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to
the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
o It takes an average of 11.8 seconds to sing the entire Happy Birthday song, so if you sing it
twice, that will ensure you’ve scrubbed long enough. This is a great method to share with
children in your family. While this measure is simple, it is effective.
o If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least
60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
o For more information about handwashing, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has a website
filled with directions and other information (https://www.cdc.gov/)
At this time, there is no evidence that children are more susceptible. Children should engage in usual preventive actions to avoid infection, including cleaning hands often using soap and water (or alcohol-based hand sanitizer when hand washing is not available), avoiding people who are sick, and staying up to date on vaccinations, including influenza vaccine.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers a Parent/Caregiver guide for COVID-19 with more helpful information for families, which can be found here.
Should you have any questions or concerns about this or any other matter, please do not hesitate to
contact Club staff directly. Our commitment to the children and families we serve is unwavering.
Sincerely,
Chief Executive Officer