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05/04/20 td Employee Travel
May 4, 2020

From: "Tracy Doughty" <tracy.doughty@hhsys.org>
To: "Tracy Doughty" <tracy.doughty@hhsys.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2020 2:27:51 PM
Subject: Employee Travel

HH Team,

Since we are transitioning to the “Safer at Home Order” issued by the Governor, we are well aware that employees will travel.  While we still encourage everyone  to “Stay at Home” we realize that is not possible or likely for everyone. 

If an employee does travel out of town (no matter the location), the expectation will be:

Protect yourself and others during your trip:

• Clean your hands often.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Avoid close contact with others.
• Keep 6 feet of physical distance from others.
• Avoiding close contact is especially important if you are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.
• Wear a cloth face covering in public. The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Pick up food at drive-throughs, curbside restaurant service, or stores.  Do not dine in restaurants (if you can avoid it).
• Avoid large crowds.
• Use common sense… Your travel could expose many people to this virus.

Consider the following risks you might face, If you must travel, depending on what type of travel you are planning:

• Air travel: Because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights. However, there may be a risk of getting COVID-19 on crowded flights if there are other travelers on board with COVID-19.
• Bus or train travel: Sitting or standing within 6 feet of others for a prolonged period of time can put you at risk of getting or spreading COVID-19.
• Car travel: The stops you need to make along the way could put you and others in the car with you in close contact with others who could be infected.
• RV travel: Traveling by RV means you may have to stop less often for food or bathrooms, but RV travelers typically have to stop at RV parks overnight and other public places to get gas and supplies. These stops may put you and those with you in the RV in close contact with others who could be infected.

Take these steps when you return:

• Wash all clothes (whether or not if they were worn).
• Take your temperature often.
• The individuals that traveled with you should take their temperatures as well.
• Report any temperature above 100.4 to your manager/supervisor before coming to work (at any point).
• Notify your supervisor/manager if you are not feeling well.

Note:

• It is not mandatory to complete any paperwork after returning from travel. 
• We will continue to take/monitor everyone’s temperature.
• We will ask questions about your travel when appropriate and expect that employees will take precautions when they do travel.
• Employees do not have to check in with employee health but we will encourage ALL employees to let your immediate manager/supervisor know of your travel.

Websites to review:

• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/index.html
• https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

Please call Employee Health at 256-265-8046 if there are any questions.  This number will be answered 24/7.