Blog

COVID-19 Response

ECHO continues to monitor developments regarding COVID-19 and we will keep you posted on our plans.  At this time ECHO is not closing any programs. We are keeping all of our programs open as a resource to the people and families we serve, while closely following information and guidance from the Loudoun County Department of Health. We encourage people to practice good hygiene and stay home when sick. As our current policy calls for, participants and staff who have a fever, diarrhea, and/or vomiting are required to stay home until they are symptom free for 24 hours. Direct support staff are working with participants daily on hand washing, coughing/sneezing into tissue or elbow and wiping down and cleaning areas regularly.

Participant and staff health and safety is our priority and we remain flexible in our operations to ensure that we can continue to provide the needed services and supports to the individuals that rely on us. We will continue to monitor the situation and work with our partners at the Loudoun County Department of Health to coordinate our response should the situation change, and will provide updates as necessary in-line with changing guidelines and decisions. Sign up for the ECHO text alert system by emailing [email protected] with your name and mobile phone number.

In the meantime, please take steps to help prevent the spread of illness, including COVID-19:

• Wash your hands often. Diligent hand washing with soap and water, performed frequently and for at least 20 seconds, is the best way to prevent the spread if germs. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs and viruses that you can pick up on your hands when touching surfaces. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid close contact, especially with people who are sick.
• Do not shake hands; use other noncontact methods of greeting.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.  Throw the tissue in the trash after use. Wash your hands after using a tissue.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Stay home if you or a family member or roommate are sick.  This will help prevent spreading illness to others. Do not come to ECHO if you or they have a fever, cough, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• If someone has a temperature of 100 or above:
  • Anyone who presents with symptoms of fever is expected to stay home until you have had no fever for at least 72 hours. This means three full days with no fever without the use of medicine to reduce fevers.
• If you have had a positive test result for COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) ECHO is following the CDC guidelines as follows:
  • If you have been tested for COVID-19 and will not be tested to determine if you will still be contagious, you may return to ECHO after these three things have happened:
    • You no longer have a fever without a medication that reduces fevers
  • AND
    • Other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough and shortness of breath have improved)
  • AND
    • It has been 7 days since your symptoms appeared
  • OR
  • If you have been tested for COVID-19 and will be tested to determine if you will still be contagious, you may return to ECHO after these three things have happened:
    • You no longer have a fever without a medication that reduces fevers
  • AND
    • Other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough and shortness of breath have improved)
  • AND
    • You received two negative tests in a row, 24 hours apart. Your doctor will follow CDC guidelines