MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM, INC.
Emergency Operating Policy: COVID-19 Pandemic
Effective March 16, 2020 – Until Further Notice
Mountain Community Action Program, Inc. (Mtn. CAP) serves low-income families and individuals in the counties of Smyth, Wythe, and Bland in Virginia. During this unprecedented event of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mtn. CAP is committed to maintaining services to its clients.
At Mountain CAP , it is our priority to keep our employees, their families and the clients they come in contact with healthy. As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to spread globally, Mtn. CAP is taking appropriate precautions to address the outbreak by following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Our current approach and response to COVID-19 are outlined below.
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is caused by a member of the coronavirus family, and it first appeared in late 2019 in Wuhan, China. Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, runny nose, cough and breathing trouble. While most people experience mild symptoms, some may develop more severe symptoms, which can be fatal.
COVID-19 is believed to be spread person to person, which means that infection can occur through close contact with infected individuals. Although it is believed that COVID-19 is most contagious when an infected individual is most symptomatic, an individual may still be contagious without exhibiting any symptoms.
Prevention Tips
According to the CDC, the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to avoid it. Do your part by practicing good hygiene at work and at home:
● Regularly wash your hands for at least 20 seconds throughout the day with warm water and
soap, specifically before eating.
● Cover coughs and sneezes.
● Avoid making close contact with others, such as shaking hands.
● Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
● Frequently clean and disinfect commonly used surfaces with household cleaning spray or wipes.
To help our employees, their families, as well as our clients remain healthy, Mountain CAP has hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes available throughout the office. We have limited amounts of these supplies and will continue to restock as we are able. It is suggested you wash your hands more frequently than normal. Additionally, as outlined in the Emergency Policy, Mountain CAP will disinfect key areas such as faucets and door handles on a daily basis, as well as limit employee-client contact.
For additional guidance on maintaining your health, see the CDC’s webpage on prevention and treatment or for more information regarding updates in the state of Virginia, please visit the Virginia Department of Health.
This policy may change as more information becomes available or as the situation changes. Mtn. CAP asks that all involved – staff, clients, volunteers, vendors, and partners approach this time with patience, kindness, and understanding. We are implementing this temporary policy for the safety and well-being of all people.
The information below pertains directly to clients.
CLIENTS
Clients may pick up application packets for services provided by Mtn CAP and take them home to complete. Once the application is complete, the client shall call and schedule an appointment to drop off the application and copy any required documents. During the intake process, clients will be seated at a designated area until intake is complete. No more than 2 related clients will be at the intake area at a time. Once a client application is completed by a worker, or a tax return is complete, the client will be contacted regarding the status of their assistance application or to pick up a tax return. Intake area will be disinfected after each use using products approved by the CDC.
