Health Board OKs revised COVID-19 policy

By Mary Zielinski
Posted 3/1/22

In a brief special meeting February 24, the Washington County Board of Health unanimously approved a revised COVID-19 policy regarding enforcement of workplace measures to comply with the Centers for …

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Health Board OKs revised COVID-19 policy

Posted

In a brief special meeting February 24, the Washington County Board of Health unanimously approved a revised COVID-19 policy regarding enforcement of workplace measures to comply with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Condition of Participation. The special session and approval came after the February 17 meeting’s 2-2 vote split regarding COVID-19 mitigation efforts. At that time board members Chris Grier and Trevor Martin, both doctors, took issue with the weekly testing requirement for any unvaccinated staff. 

The modified policy, presented to the members by Administrator Emily Tokheim on Thursday changed the weekly testing with enhanced mitigation procedures.  She noted that it was what the department “had been doing as an agency from the very beginning” of the health crisis.

The new policy also provides for additional documentation, especially regarding all staff verifying they are not experiencing symptoms, with measures enacted if they do have two or more.

Clinical Nurse Manager Karri Fisher will have the signed employee forms to guarantee documentation of mitigation measures. Staff with a fever or two or more symptoms of infection will be excluded from work until a negative COVID test and at least 24 hours have passed since the last fever and other symptoms have improved, or five days passed if no testing obtained, as well as 24 hours since last fever and other symptoms have improved with the employee wearing a mask for an additional five days when around others. The mask requirement is subject to change depending on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Mitigation measures also include that a N95, KN95, or surgical grade mask will be required at all times during direct patient care.

The policy will become effective after review and approval from the county attorney. 

During its regular February 17 meeting, members discussed testing as the “clearest way” to meet federal guidelines, the need for measurable mitigation procedures, and possibly being cited by CMS and open to civil monetary penalties if requirements are not met.

There also was a discussion about the use of vitamin D, when it was noted studies indicated the vitamin lowered risks from the virus. Further discussion followed about requiring staff to take the vitamin, as well as the CMS requirement for mitigation and documentation efforts.  After the tie vote, Grier and Martin were named to a committee to develop an alternative policy to what had been presented with likely action at the special session February 24.