ב״ה
Chabad of North Hollywood
COVID-19
Prevention Plan
For Synagogue Services at
13079 Chandler Blvd Sherman Oaks CA 91401
Prepared May 26, 2020
OVERVIEW
Chabad of North Hollywood remains committed to safely operating synagogue services within the guidelines of the State of California, and the LA County Department of Health.
To this end, we have prepared this COVID-19 Prevention Plan.
Key prevention practices include:
✓ physical distancing to the maximum extent possible,
✓ use of face coverings by employees and volunteers (where respiratory protection is not required) and congregants/visitors,
✓ frequent handwashing and regular cleaning and disinfection,
✓ training employees and volunteers on these and other elements of the COVID-19 prevention plan.
In addition, we have appropriate processes to identify new cases of illness G‑d forbid, at Chabad of North Hollywood, and, when they are identified, to intervene quickly and work with public health authorities to halt the spread of the virus.
General Guidelines:
Chabad will limit attendance to 25% of building capacity.
We will continue to adhere to:
1. All public health guidance and state/local orders, as the COVID-19 situation continues
2. All Cal/OSHA safety and health guidance as posted on their Cal/OSHA Guidance on Requirements to Protect Workers from Coronavirus webpage, and
3. All the CDC additional guidance for community- and faith-based organizations.
Workplace Specific Plan for
Chabad of North Hollywood
Rabbi Nachman Abend is designated to direct the implementation of the plan below. He will oversee:
1. A full risk assessment with the Chabad of North Hollywood board.
2. In the case of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis amongst any staff, congregants, or visitors, to communicate to the LA County Department of Health & Chabad of North Hollywood.
3. Training and communicating with staff and employee representatives on the plan.
4. Regularly evaluate workplaces for compliance with the plan and document and correct deficiencies identified.
5. Investigate any COVID-19 illness and determine if any work-related factors could have contributed to risk of infection. Update the plan as needed to prevent further cases.
6. Identify close contacts (within six feet for 15 minutes or more) of an infected staff member and take steps to isolate COVID-19 positive staff and close contacts.
7. Ensure all staff and congregants/visitors adhere to the guidelines below.
Topics for Employee and Volunteer Training
• Employees will be presented with information onCOVID-19, how to prevent it from spreading, and which underlying health conditions may make individuals more susceptible to contracting the virus.
• Chabad Employees are instructed to self-screen at home, for the following symptoms. (More information is available in the CDC guidelines.
• Temperature Check (Do not attend with temperature over 100.4F
• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• It is critical that you do not attend services if you or someone you live with have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
• To seek medical attention if their symptoms become severe, including persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion, or bluish lips or face. Updates and further details are available on CDC’s webpage.
• The importance of frequent handwashing with soap and water, including scrubbing with soap for 20 seconds (or using hand sanitizer with at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol when staff cannot get to a sink or handwashing station, perCDC guidelines).
• The importance of physical distancing, both at work and off work time (see Physical Distancing section below).
• Proper use of face coverings, including:
1. Face coverings do not protect the wearer and are not personal protective equipment (PPE).
2. Face coverings can help protect people near the wearer, but do not replace the need for physical distancing and frequent handwashing.
3. Face coverings must cover the nose and mouth.
4. Employees should wash or sanitize hands before and after using or adjusting face coverings.
5. Avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth.
6. Face coverings should be washed after each shift.
• All employees will be properly trained in COVID-19 prevention policies and have necessary PPE before resuming their responsibilities.
• Information on employer or government-sponsored leave benefits the employee may be entitled to receive that would make it financially easier to stay at home.
Individual Control Measures and Screening
• Chabad will provide temperature and/or symptom screenings for all staff at the beginning of their shift. Make sure the temperature/symptom screener avoids close contact with staff to the extent possible. Both screeners and staff should wear face coverings for the screening.
• Chabad requests from all participants to self-screening at home, according to the CDC guidelines, as described in the Topics for Employee Training section above. At the front gate, all participants will be screened by a trained greeter. Greeters will ask participants, “Did you self-screen for any symptoms of COVID-19?” In the case of a negative response, employee will screen with a temperature check, and/or symptom check.
• Staff and congregants/visitors who are sick or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, or who have family members who are ill, must stay home.
• Chabad staff and volunteers use all required protective equipment, including eye protection and gloves, where necessary.
• Staff who are screening others for symptoms or handling commonly touched items must wear gloves. All workers and volunteers should wear gloves when handling items contaminated by body fluids.
• Face coverings are strongly recommended when staff are in the vicinity of others. Chabad has face masks available for employees, or participants as required by employer rules or these guidelines. Face coverings must not be shared.
• Staff, volunteers, etc. should not enter the home or visit someone who as tested positive for, exhibited symptoms of, or has been in contact with someone infected with COVID-19 for an appropriate waiting period as described by CDC guidelines.
• Signs are posted to remind congregants/visitors that they should use face coverings and practice physical distancing and children under age two should not wear face coverings, in accordance withCDC guidelines.
• Our policies and procedures as outlined herein are posted on our website, social media, and physical signage. Greeters will remind participants of the prevention procedures as they arrive.
• Congregants/visitors will be screened for temperature and/or symptoms upon arrival and asked to use hand sanitizer and to wear face coverings.
Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols
Staff are trained to perform the following cleaning and disinfecting protocols:
• Perform thorough cleaning of high traffic areas such as shul, library, offices, and classrooms. Extra attention will be given to frequently disinfect commonly used surfaces including doorknobs, toilets, handwashing facilities, pulpits and podiums, donation boxes and seating areas.
• Workers must frequently clean and disinfect their personal work areas. A rotation of all full-time employees is scheduled to ensure regular cleaning and disinfecting.
• Participants will each have their own prayerbook and Tallis. Sharing items should be avoided wherever possible. Never share PPE.
• Where such items must be shared, disinfect between shifts or uses, whichever is more frequent, including the following: shared office equipment (copiers, printers, telephones, keyboards, staplers, etc.), Torah Eitz Chayim, Siddurim and Chuamshim, with a cleaner appropriate for the surface.
• Staff will ensure that sanitary facilities stay operational and stocked at all times and provide additional soap, paper towels, and hand sanitizer when needed. Consider more frequently cleaning and disinfecting handwashing facilities that are used more often. Handwashing signs are posted throughout the center
• Disinfect pulpits and podiums between each use.
• Hand sanitizer dispensers are available upon entry and at strategic locations.
• Congregants are encouraged to store their own prayer shawl in their own storage bags. Communal linens must be washed after each service or event, at the highest water setting possible. Wear gloves when handling others’ dirty linens, shoes, etc.
• Windows and doors are to remain open as much as possible to increase ventilation.
Physical Distancing Guidelines
• Classes and events will be held via Zoom whenever possible.
• Torah Reading Service will be held in-person, outdoors, whenever possible.
• Staff, and participants must always maintain physical distancing of at least six feet between all staff, congregants, and visitors, etc.
• Seats will be setup at least six feet away from each other. (When necessary, members of the same household may be seated together but should maintain at least six feet of distance from other households.)
• Rabbis and ushers will remind and assist everyone in maintain social distancing.
• Services will be shortened as much as possible to only include the critical components that require in-person prayer.
• Outside of the scheduled in-person services described above, Chabad continues to conduct all other services virtually, and our center is closed.
• Children should remain in the care of those in their household unit and not interact with children of other parties at any time while visiting facilities. Our playground is closed. Services for children will only begin when we are able to confirm that at least six feet social distancing can be maintained.
• When congregants arrive, they should go directly to their seat, and then directly outside the property after services.
• A greeter wearing gloves will open and close the main gate when possible, to avoid touching the handle.
• All of our indoor spaces will be closed and locked, except when inclement weather requires an indoor gathering in our Shul.
• Our water fountain is closed.
• All shared washing cups and utensils have been removed.
• When washing is a required activity, modify practices whenever possible to limit splashing and the need to clean and disinfect washing facilities. Please wash at home prior to entering Chabad, if possible.
∙Face coverings are strongly recommended at all times for congregants/visitors and staff, especially when physical distance of at least six feet is not possible.
• To protect the health of our congregants, staff and congregants/visitors should refrain from engaging in handshakes, hugs, and similar greetings that break physical distance.
• No food service or kiddush will take place until further notice.
• Participants should not kiss any shared ritual objects, in accordance with CDC guidelines.