Policy Update
March 12, 2020

Cleaning and disinfecting vehicles in response to The Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Due to the onset of the Corona Virus and the confirmed cases within our geographic service area, we are instituting the following protocols effectively immediately:

Take everyday preventive actions:

• Wash your hands often throughout the day with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place.
• If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• To the extent possible, avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places – elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshaking with people, etc. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or finger if you must touch something.
• Wash your hands after touching surfaces in public places.
• Avoid touching your face, nose, eyes, etc.
• Clean and disinfect your home to remove germs: practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (for example: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks & cell phones)

Providence van specific protocols:

• After each client is unloaded, wipe or spray down the seat where the client was seated, the seatbelt, and the touch surfaces such as handrails and handles, with disinfectant spray or wipes.
• Spray or wipe down all seats and handrails with disinfecting wipes or spray at the conclusion of your shift.
• Use hand sanitizer in between hand washing throughout the day.
• Notify your supervisor and do not report to work if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms.
• Refuse transport to any passenger that is experiencing flu-like symptoms such as fever or persistent cough. If you encounter a client exhibiting these symptoms, contact the office for instruction.

These procedures are taken in part from the guidelines published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and may be amended as new information about the virus is learned. More information about the virus can be learned by going the CDC website at

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html