The current COVID-19 pandemic is a unique and rapidly changing event for our country and the world. We acknowledge the necessity for clear, transparent, and frequent communication.
Open Door is following guidance from federal, state, and local public health officials. While it is vital that our health centers remain open, as we face COVID-19, we continue to evaluate the situation and work to minimize risk to staff, patients, and the community.
The “shelter in place” order for Humboldt County and Governor Newsom’s order for the state of California, make exemption for health care, including health care workers and patients accessing care. However, Open Door is also developing stringent guidelines to mitigate spread of the disease.
Open Door’s strategy includes:
- Working with local partners to align efforts and increase our community capacity for screening
- Monitoring clinical guidance as it develops to keep staff and operations up to date
- Limiting numbers of people in the health center by developing infrastructure for staff to work from home, and for remote patient care when possible, rescheduling or canceling group visits, and asking patients not to bring companions to their appointments
If individuals follow the strategy of “social distancing,” before there are many local cases, we can greatly reduce the impact of COVID-19 on our community.
Please help Open Door help the community. In order to “flatten the curve”:
- Avoid non-essential social contact with other people and do not travel
- Wash your hands with soap and water regularly and thoroughly
- Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when you cannot use soap
- Avoid touching your face
- Do your best to eat healthy, stay active, and get adequate rest
- Recognize that medical appointments for routine, non-urgent care will need to be rescheduled
Open Door has served the North Coast for almost 50 year. We will continue this tradition and together we will make it through these difficult times.
